The San Francisco 49ers fell to 1-4 on Sunday after a 28-18 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals. A fumble returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter sealed Arizona's win. Here's what we learned in Week 5.
1. The 49ers had the ball, trailing by just two points, before Haason Reddick had a strip sack of C.J. Beathard. Josh Bynes scooped up the loose ball and returned it 23 yards to the house. San Francisco had five turnovers - three lost fumbles and two interceptions. Conversely, the 49ers defense wasn't able to get any takeaways.
2. Beathard threw for 349 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. He also added a 1-yard touchdown run. San Francisco opened the game with an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 5-yard shovel pass to Matt Breida. Beathard's second touchdown came on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Beathard rolled to his right and found Taylor at the front pylon. That score pulled the 49ers to within two points, however, the ensuing two-point conversion attempt was no good. It felt like a step backward for Beathard and the offense as the group was fairly stagnant for most of the game.
3. San Francisco's defense was pretty darn good apart from one play. Josh Rosen hit Christian Kirk for a 75-yard touchdown on Arizona's first play from scrimmage. From there, the 49ers limited the Cardinals offense. Rosen threw for just 170 yards on 10-of-25 passing, but he didn't turn the ball over. San Francisco held David Johnson to just 55 yards on 18 carries. Johnson did score twice, though, once in the second quarter and again late in the fourth quarter once the game was already decided. Larry Fitzgerald had just 35 yards on two receptions. Arizona finished the game with just 10 first downs and just 2-of-12 on third down.
4. Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle paced San Francisco's pass catchers. Kittle had 83 yards and continues to be the 49ers most dangerous target in the passing game. Juszczyk added six receptions for 75 yards. The fullback has turned into San Francisco's third-down running back. The 49ers wide receivers were quiet again in this one. Trent Taylor posted seven receptions for 61 yards and a score. Pierre Garçon had five receptions for 47 yards on 12 targets.
5. The 49ers lost Breida to an ankle injury in the first half, and he did not return. He was cooking before getting hurt, racking 56 yards on just eight carries. He posted a pair of 17-yard runs. Alfred Morris assumed most of the workload with Raheem Mostert pitching in.
6. It wasn't a banner day for the 49ers special teams. Robbie Gould's streak of 33 consecutive made field goals came to an end on Sunday. Gould missed a 45-yarder in the second half. The 49ers also aborted the point after try following the opening drive touchdown as Bradley Pinion couldn't get the hold down. It was a costly miscue because San Francisco was unable to convert a potential game-tying two-point conversion following Taylor's fourth quarter touchdown.
