49ers crush Cardinals in Mexico
Jimmy Garoppolo threw four touchdown passes, including two each to Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, and the San Francisco 49ers won their third straight game by blowing past the Arizona Cardinals 38-10 on Monday night in Mexico City.
It was the fifth regular-season NFL game played in Mexico City and first since 2019. Technically a Cardinals home game, the festive, raucous announced crowd of 78,427 fans at Estadio Azteca heavily favored the 49ers, roaring particularly loud when Kittle and Deebo Samuel each scored on 39yard touchdowns.
San Francisco (6-4) has won five of its last seven and is tied with the Seahawks at the top of the NFC West. Garoppolo had another efficient performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards.
It was a tight game through much of the first half, but the 49ers pulled away in the second half, jumping ahead 24-10 early in the third quarter on a nifty end-around play. Samuel took the pitch and sprinted 39 yards, weaving through the Cardinals defense on his way to the end zone.
It capped a powerful eight-play San Francisco drive that included seven run plays. Aiyuk's second touchdown catch of the night — this one from 14 yards out — put the 49ers up 31-10 later in the third.
The Cardinals (4-7) played their second straight game without Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray, who has been battling a sore hamstring. Backup Colt McCoy had a 3-1 record in spot starts over the past two seasons — including a win over the Rams last week — but couldn't recreate the same magic in Mexico.
McCoy finished 24 of 34 passing for 218 yards and an interception. The 49ers hit him hard multiple times, connecting for three sacks
The cavernous Estadio Azteca — which is home to two of Mexico's top soccer teams — sits at an altitude of about 7,200 feet, which is much higher than both San Francisco and Phoenix.
The 49ers opted to train at altitude this week in Colorado, while the Cardinals decided to stay at their home practice facility in Tempe, Arizona.
Arizona's defense looked gassed in the second half, missing several tackles as the game slowly got out of hand.
Broncos waive Gordon after costly fumble in loss
Melvin Gordon's butterfingers finally cost him not just his starting job in Denver but his roster spot altogether.
The Broncos waived their veteran running back Monday, a day after his fumble at the goal line proved costly in their 22-16 overtime loss to the Los Vegas Raiders that sent them tumbling into the AFC West basement at 3-7.
Gordon, who has a penchant for fumbling in crucial situations in his career, burst up the middle on thirdand-1 from the Raiders 3 in the waning seconds of the first half.
He had the first down, but was still trying to get into the end zone when
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby punched the ball from his arms.
Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz recovered the loose ball at the 7, and Brandon McManus trotted out for a 25-yard field goal on fourth-and-5 that Crosby blocked as the first half expired.
That squandered the Broncos' long drive that started at their 16 and they followed that letdown with their seventh scoreless third quarter of the season on their way to their sixth onescore loss.
Gordon had two touchdown runs this season to go with five fumbles, two of which he lost. That gave him 26 career fumbles, 18 of them lost.
Nobody in the NFL has more fumbles or lost fumbles than Gordon over the past decade.
Falcons' Pitts put on IR
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was placed on injured reserve on Monday with an ailing right knee.
Coach Arthur Smith added that it's too early to know if Pitts, the No. 4 overall draft pick last year and a Pro Bowl pick as a rookie, will need surgery. He will miss at least the next four games.