Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Garbage roughing call costs 49ers vs Cards

Week 12 - Sunday's meeting between the (3-7) San Francisco 49ers and (8-2) Arizona Cardinals featured the team with the most yards and points per game (AZ) versus the team with the least (SF). And though there would be a wide gap between both team's records and season statistics, it would be hard to tell as both teams were neck and neck for most of this one. Feeling generous, the 49ers would deliver several gifts to the opposition in the first half as the Cardinals punched in their first three points of the game with a field goal after recovering a muffed punt by 49ers returner Bruce Ellington. On their next drive, San Francisco QB Blaine Gabbert would be picked off on an errant pass that was intercepted by Arizona's Tyrann Mathieu. The Cardinals would once again turn the 49ers miscue into points, but not before cornerback Tremaine Brock dropped an easy interception in the end zone which he lost in the sun.

While San Francisco's self-inflicted miscues made things easier for Arizona, they did them no favors on offense as the 49er defense held their own and kept it a close game throughout. The penalties, however, would dig them an early grave. On one third quarter drive by Arizona, the 49ers were called for five penalties -- four pass interference calls and one for illegal hands to the face as the Cardinals used it to their advantage by scoring a 1-yard touchdown ran in by third-string running back David Johnson as both Andre Ellington and Chris Johnson left the game with injuries. San Francisco would answer with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive as Gabbert connected with tight-end Vance McDonald in the end zone for the second time in as many weeks. The touchdown coupled with Phil Dawson's second field goal of the day would tie things up at 13 heading into the fourth quarter, but San Francisco's inability to convert on a single third down attempt would make things difficult for the offense.
Though the 49ers would out-gain Arizona in total yards -- 368 to 337 as Blaine Gabbert threw for over 300 yards for only the second time in his career, it wouldn't be enough to pull off the victory as San Francisco was called for a bogus roughing the passer penalty on a sack by second-year defensive-end Quinton Dial. On what looked like any normal quarterback sack on second and long, the officials flagged Dial for brazing the helmet of Arizona's Carson Palmer. Instead of facing a third and 18 situation, the Cardinals were given 15-yards and a first down which changed the complexion of the game. Palmer and the Cardinals offense would eventually reach the end zone as Palmer ran it in himself on a drive that lasted nearly 8 minutes long, but kicker Chandler Catanzaro would miss the extra-point, leaving the door open for some late game heroics by Gabbert and company and a chance to steal a win with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. But after marching down the field all the way to the Arizona 30, Gabbert took a 10-yard sack that brought up fourth and 20. He would find receiver Anquan Boldin across the middle for an 18-yard gain but would come up 2-yards short of the first down as San Francisco turned the ball over on downs.

With the 19-13 victory over San Francisco, the Cardinals achieved their first road win and series sweep of the Niners since 2008. Also with the win, the Cardinals improved to 9-2 on the year, assuring them of their first string of three consecutive winning seasons since 1974-76. Meanwhile, San Francisco dropped to 3-8 with the loss and have officially been eliminated from competing for the division. As for the debatable rouging the passer penalty which basically cost the Niners the game as well as a few other eyebrow-raising calls, guard Alex Boone didn't shy away from letting the league know just how displeased he was with Sunday's officiating, saying in a post-game interview, "I thought those refs sucked." And he wasn't alone as many criticized the officials on Sunday during a variety of games, including the Sunday night game between the previously unbeaten Patriots and Denver Broncos. Whether or not you believe a handful of questionable calls cost New England their first loss of the season, one thing is certain -- the NFL officials have seen far greater days than the one they had on Sunday. 
Week 13 Preview - With the 49ers hitting the road to take on the (5-6) Chicago Bears who are coming off a big Thanksgiving night win against the Packers at Lambeau, they'll be tested on offense by Bears defensive-coordinator Vic Fangio who spent the last four years in San Francisco before landing the job in Chicago during the off-season. Fangio and the Bears D will have somewhat of an easier job defending the run as it's been learned that the 49ers will be without starting running back Carlos Hyde who's been ruled out for the fifth consecutive week as he continues to nurse a banged up foot. Joining him will be TE Garrett Celek who's also been ruled out for SF. But as for those playing in Sunday's game at Soldier Field, the 49ers will have to make Jay Cutler as uncomfortable as possible as the Bears QB has his team winning games once again and still alive in the playoff hunt. As you may recall, Cutler rallied his team to a 28-20 win in San Francisco last season after falling behind early, 17-0 in the first regular season game ever played at Levi's Stadium. 


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