Arizona Cardinals budding star running back DAVID JOHNSON, once again tonight proved all the hype that the media and fans have bestowed on him for the last two years has been warranted.
Johnson put together his fourth multiple touchdown game of his two-year career tonight as he led the Cardinals to a 33-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium.
Johnson ran to his left, he ran to his right, and he ran up the middle versus the 49ers defense. All those different directions added up to 27 carries for 157 yards and 2 scores tonight, as he helped take pressure off of number quarterback DREW STANTON who had a pedestrian night. Stanton went 11 of 28 for 124 yards and 2 scores on the night.
Stanton was also helped by the fact that receiver LARRY FITZGERALD had one of his better games of the season, with his two pivotal touchdowns that were included in his 6 catch for 81 yards night.
The Cardinals with this win run their record to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the NFC West, with the latter record putting them in a two-way tie for second place in their division. The 49ers on the other hand fall to 1-4 and 1-2 in the NFC West which puts them at fourth place in their division.
The 49ers scored the first points of the game, which came courtesy of a left corner of the end zone scoring reception by receiver JEREMY KERLEY. That nine-yard scoring play gave the Niners a 7-0 lead with 4:12 remaining in the second quarter.
Near the end of the second quarter, the Cardinals answered that score with one of their own. Fitzgerald got behind the defense to accept a 21-yard scoring pass from Stanton to tie the score at 7-7.
Johnson took advantage of a running into the kicker penalty by 49ers cornerback RASHARD ROBINSON, by sneaking down the right side for a 4-yard touchdown run on 1st down and goal. That run gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game at 14-7 with 12:45 left in the third quarter.
In the third quarter, Fitzgerald once again showed why age is just a number in his case. On 1st and 10 from the SF 29, he ran his route down field and accepted a Stanton pass in bracketed/double coverage. And then finally with Stanton’s pass firmly in his grasp, Fitzgerald fell down near the top right corner of the end zone. With 7:35 left in the quarter the Cardinals took a 21-7 lead.
But the 49ers answered that score when running back CARLOS HYDE (22 carries for 78 yards and 1 score) bullied his way into the end zone from 1 yard out. That score cut Arizona’s lead to 21-14 with 1:54 to go in the third quarter.
The Cardinals pretty much put this game away, when Johnson took a Stanton handoff and then broke a low-tackle by a 49ers defender, with him finally diving into the end zone for an eventual 31-14 count.
That play took place with 4:44 left in the game. But 49ers quarterback BLAINE GABBERT (18 of 31 for 162 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 picks) refused to let this game just die, as he carried the ball into the end zone from 1 yard out.
With 1:52 left in the game the 49ers cut the Cardinals lead to 31-21. The 49ers tried to execute an onside kick after Gabbert’s touchdown run, but third-year Cardinals receiver BRITTAN GOLDEN recovered the onside kick at the SF 43 to REALLY put this game away.
