Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers Box Score on Oct 06, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 6, 2016

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- David Johnson rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, quarterback Drew Stanton threw two scoring passes to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 33-21 on Thursday night at Levi's Stadium.

Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who sustained a concussion Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, missed the game, and Stanton, a 10-year pro out of Michigan State, made his first start since Dec. 11, 2014, at St. Louis. Stanton completed 11 of 28 passes for 124 yards and two scores with no interceptions.

Johnson, who carried 27 times, increased his rushing total to 457 yards for the season.

Fitzgerald caught six passes for 81 yards. He has 16 career touchdown catches against the 49ers, the most ever by any player against San Francisco.

The Cardinals (2-3) forced three turnovers and turned them into two touchdowns and a field goal. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell intercepted a pass in the second quarter, setting up a touchdown, and sacked 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the end zone with 1:17 left to play for a safety.

The 49ers' defense gave up at least 100 yards to an opposing running back for the fourth straight game.

Gabbert completed 18 of 31 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions for the 49ers (1-4), who lost their fourth straight game. He ran 10 times for 70 yards and a touchdown.

San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde carried 22 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

The 49ers were without All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who tore his left Achilles tendon Sunday against Dallas and was placed on injured reserve Thursday. Nick Bellore, a sixth-year pro from Central Michigan, started in his place.

The 49ers and Cardinals played to a 7-7 halftime tie combining for 12 punts. But on the second-half opening kick, Cardinals tight end Ifeanyi Momah stripped the ball from San Francisco's Chris Davis and recovered at the 49ers 14.

The 49ers appeared to hold Arizona to a 26-yard field goal, but cornerback Rashard Robinson was penalized for running into the kicker, extending the drive. One play later, Johnson scored on a 4-yard run, giving Arizona a 14-7 lead.

Arizona then forced a punt and drove 71 yards in six plays for a touchdown, with Stanton hitting Fitzgerald in the back right corner of the end zone for 29 yards with 7:35 still left in the third quarter. Fitzgerald got behind cornerback Tramaine Brock and made a leaping catch

San Francisco answered with an 11-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, cutting Arizona's lead to 21-14 on Hyde's 1-yard run with 1:54 left in the third.

But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Cardinals cornerback Marcus Cooper cut in front of Kerley to intercept Gabbert's pass along the left sideline and returned 12 yards to the 24. That set up Chandler Catanzaro's 36-yard field goal, extending Arizona's lead to 24-14 with 13:39 left to play.

Johnson increased Arizona's lead to 31-14 with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left to play. The 49ers cut San Francisco's lead to 31-21 on Gabbert's 1-yard run with 1:52 remaining.

The 49ers took a 7-0 lead with 4:12 left in the first half on Gabbert's 9-yard touchdown pass to Kerley. On third-and-goal, Kerley broke wide open along the left sideline, caught Gabbert's strike at the 5 and ran into the end zone untouched.

Arizona pulled even on Stanton's 21-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Fitzgerald with 1:40 left in the half.

NOTES: San Francisco OLB Aaron Lynch was activated and started against Arizona after serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. ... 49ers RCB Jimmie Ward (quadriceps) missed his second consecutive game, and rookie Rashard Robinson started again in his place. ... Cardinals starting TE Darren Fells (shoulder) was inactive. ... Arizona backup QB Zac Dysert, WR Brittan Golden and TE Hakeem Valles, who were promoted from the practice squad earlier this week, were active for the game. ... San Francisco starting TE Vance McDonald (hip) missed his second start in a row. Garrett Celek replaced him in the lineup. ... 49ers DE Glenn Dorsey (knee) was inactive.