49ers play spoiler, deal Arizona a costly loss
Kittle, Beathard excel, but 49ers’ defense is real star in win 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 al l - 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 dualthreat 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.”
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 1412.
Earlier, Warner forced and recovered a thirdquarter 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 third- quarter interception. He did yield a 45yard completion to secondreceiver KeeSean Johnson in a speed mismatch. 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.”