Arizona Cardinals rally late, but fall to San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football

After the first series for each team, you had to feel good.

That ended quickly.

A quick 7-0 lead quickly turned to a 21-7 deficit and at the half the question was simply, would the Arizona Cardinals be embarrassed for the second consecutive Thursday Night Football game?

They rallied late, but the defense could not get off the field in a 28-25 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Kenyan Drake and the Cardinals offense moved the ball well to start the game.

Drake had 40 yards and a rushing touchdown that opened things up for the Cardinals.

Drake on the day had 162 yards from scrimmage, 7.2 per carry, two point conversion against one of best defenses in football.

For the Cardinals passing game, you saw why the 49ers are the best pass defense in the NFL.

They held Kyler Murray to 7/13 for 46 yards in the first half.

The first half was really indicative of how bad their defense can be.

After forcing pints on the first two 49ers series, the Cardinals gave up 235 yards and three touchdowns.

The second half started much the same way the first did.

The Arizona Cardinals forced a three and out, Chandler Jones had a sack, and the Cardinals used Kyler Murray’s arm and legs to go 83-yards for a touchdown.

Murray found fellow rookie KeeSean Johnson for a nine yard touchdown pass and the Cardinals had pulled the game to 21-14.

The defense and especially Patrick Peterson were not going to have any of it

Peterson was torched in this game, giving up two touchdowns, including a 21-yarder to Dante Pettis on a play that had the entire internet questioning if the cornerback wanted to be here still.

It would be 28-14 at the end of the third and while the Cardinals had a chance, it seemed like a tall task going into the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals were able to scratch out some points, after a dominant run game got them into field goal range, Kliff Kingsbury called an inexplicable wildcat play, that resulted in a hold and set the Cardinals back to a 2-19. A short screen pass that wasn’t blocked to Charles Clay and then a third down play that wasn’t blocked to a Zane Gonzalez field goal.

Then, it happened.

The Arizona Cardinals found Andy Isabella and figured out that he is dynamic with the ball in his hands.

Kyler Murray threw a perfect pass, hitting Isabella along the sideline on a deep crosser and Isabella did the rest, including leaving Richard Sherman looking for his jock on an 88-yard catch and run touchdown pass.

The Cardinals scored 25 points against a team who had not allowed more than 20 in a game this season.

Now, it was time for the Arizona Cardinals defense, which we know is a recipe for disaster.

The Arizona Cardinals had San Francisco in third down situations three times and it did not matter.

They went at Patrick Peterson for the first conversion. On the second, the edge was given up and the Cardinals couldn’t get outside quick enough to stop Tevin Coleman. Kliff Kingsbury challenged the spot, giving up a timeout. That’s just a bad decision by Kliff, but I get it. He knows his defense can’t make a play, so he’s just hoping.

On the third conversion, on 3-9, the Cardinals dropped eight and still have up a short throw and run to end the game.

They put up the offense they needed too. This is one of the best defenses in the NFL and the Cardinals put up 25 points against a team who had not given up more than 20 on the season.

Murray finished 17/24 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The best performance through the air on the season against the Niners.

However, it was not enough as the Cardinals fall 3-5-1.