CREDIT IS DUE
Kittle, Beathard excel, but defense is real star in victory over Cardinals
George Kittle and C. J. Beathard made triumphant comebacks Saturday.
It was the 49ers’ makeshift defense, however, that really rallied and keyed a 20-12 upset of the host Arizona Cardinals.
Led by Fred Warner’s all-around excellence and Ahkello Witherspoon’s endzone interception with 4:37 remaining, the 49ers (6-9) answered their elimination from playoff contention by knocking the wind out of the Cardinals’ chances.
Coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense came through with deceptive pressure, exceptional tackling and solid pass coverage to slow the Cardinals (8-7) and dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray. That defensive unit, by the way, did all that without three injured starters — Javon Kinlaw, Richard Sherman and Jimmie Ward. They’ve been playing most of the season without Nick Bosa and Dee Ford.
“We didn’t have many guys left in terms of who you decide to dress and play. You lose one other guy, it’s tough,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But our guys didn’t tap out. They played for (Saleh), they played for each other.”
Offensively, the 49ers did more than enough in Kittle’s first game since a Nov. 1 foot fracture and Beathard’s first start since 2018.
Beathard threw three touchdown passes, Kittle had four timely catches for 92 yards. Overlooked in it all was Jeff Wilson’s dominance (183 rushing yards, 21-yard touchdown catch).
Eliminated from playoff contention with last Sunday’s loss in Dallas, the 49ers snapped a threegame losing streak and won for only their second time in eight games. They’ll end the season next Sunday against the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, the 49ers’ home since Santa Clara County’s ban on contact sports in late November.
“We’re not proud of our record. We’d love to be better,” Shanahan said. “But that doesn’t tell the story of who these guys are, what they’ve been through all year and how they give everything on game day.”
Here are the highs, lows and all else you need to know:
KITTLE’S RETURN >> His first catch since Nov. 1 was a big gainer in classic Kittle fashion -- 24 yards, 23 of them coming after the catch. So, business as usual?
“Oh gosh no. The game was moving pretty fast,” Kittle said. “I only got 28 plays so I’ve got to make them most of those. It slowed down in the second half and I got a feel for it. I’m proud of our tight end room and the team itself.”
Kittle’s next catch also came on a Beathard bootleg, for an 18-yard gain. Later, a 27-yard Kittle catch helped set up the 49ers’ second touchdown.
Adding to the sweetness of his day, the Cardinals could lose out on the NFC’s No. 3 wild card berth if the Chicago Bears (7-7) win their remaining two games.
Said Kittle: “I grew up a Bears fan and the fact we helped the Bears makes me happy. Da Bears!” BEATHARD’S MOXIE >> Beathard’s first career game with three touchdown passes came on the same field as his last start, an October 2018 loss at Arizona. More emotionally, this start came a year after his youngest brother, Clayton, was murdered in Nashville.
“It means more than I can really put into words,” Beathard said. “Everything I’ve been through the last year and it being the year anniversary of my brother passing, you can’t put it into words other than it’s God, and you couldn’t write a script like this.
“Going into this, feeling the vibe of the locker room and practice, guys were going out there with nothing to lose.”
He was 13- of-22 for 182 yards with no interceptions, one fumble and three sacks.
Beathard’s first scoring strike was to Wilson for a 7-3, first- quarter lead. Then Beathard showed off his mobility and grit. Beathard’s 17- yard, zone- read scramble in the second quarter marked the longest run by a 49ers quarterback since Colin Kaepernick (30 yards, 2018 at Miami). Beathard also was a lead blocker to help Brandon Aiyuk gain 16 yards on a reverse on their series out of halftime.
WARNER STARS >> Time and again, Warner showed why he was just voted to his first Pro Bowl. His best play on a 14-tackle day came in the fourth quarter, when he batted down a fourth-down pass attempt with the 49ers leading 14-12.
Earlier, Warner forced
and recovered a third-quarter fumble on the Cardinals’ first snap after the 49ers took a 14- 6 lead. He also showed his elite coverage ability earlier in the game, and nearly made a thirdquarter interception. He did yield a 45-yard completion to second-year receiver KeeSean Johnson in a speed mismatch.
“Sometimes I’m asked to (cover) vertical and I should have had an interception on one and gave up an explosive play on one,” Warner. “Just try to run to the ball, attack the ball and be a great communicator. If I do that, I’ll make sure I’m running the show and doing what I’m supposed to do.” WITHERSPOON’S START >> Witherspoon started his second straight game, this time subbing in for Richard Sherman who missed his 10th game because of
a calf issue. Witherspoon started last Sunday at Dallas in place of Jason Verrett, who missed that game with an illness.
For Witherspoon, it represents a comeback of no small sort.
“I was hard for him at the beginning of the year, and for good reason. He lost his job and the backup job,” Shanahan said. “What was really cool was how he reacted. He didn’t pout.” QUICK NOTES >> Jeff Wilson (22 carries, 183 yards) had his second 100-yard rushing game this season and scored his team-high eighth TD.... Fullback Kyle Juszczyk has four touchdown catches in the past four games... Robbie Gould had made 31 consecutive field goal attempts inside 50 yards before he pushed a 41- yard attempt wide right. Of more concern, he missed a 37-yard attempt with 65 seconds remaining. He also missed a pointafter kick. The 49ers must decide before their season finale whether to exercise Gould’s 2021 option
Kerry Hyder Jr. set a career high and raised his team-leading total to 8 1/2 sacks... Kinlaw’s knee issue caused him to miss his first game of an impressive rookie season. Through 14 games, he totaled 34 tackles (tied for the 49ers’ eighth most), 1 1/2 sacks, one interception he returned for a touchdown, and, four passes defensed... Fellow defensive linemen Dion Jordan ( knee) and Kevin Givens (non-injury related) also were out, so that slim rotation was down to Arik Armstead, Kerry Hyder Jr., D. J. Jones, Jordan Willis, Kentavius Street and Darrion Daniels.