NFL Week 5 updates: Highlights, schedule, inactives, predictions, odds and analysis
By Matt Barrows, Doug Haller and RJ Kraft
Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, thanks to the leg of Chad Ryland, rallied late on the road to stun the San Francisco 49ers 24-23.
Murray methodically led the Cardinals on a 14-play, 74-yard drive to set up a 35-yard Ryland field goal to take the late lead after they trailed by as much as 13 points earlier in the second half. Two plays after Ryland’s field goal, Arizona linebacker Kyzir White picked off Brock Purdy to steal the victory.
Murray led the way for the Cardinals in the air with 195 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception to go with 83 rushing yards, highlighted by a 50-yard rushing touchdown on Arizona’s first drive. A key two-point conversion by running back James Connor with 11:25 to play put the Cardinals down by two, setting the stage for Ryland’s heroics.
The 49ers offense started strong as Purdy (244 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) found a rhythm with Brandon Aiyuk (eight receptions for 147 yards on the day) for the first time this season. Jordan Mason contributed 89 rushing yards but had a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter as the 49ers tried to put the game away.
San Francisco’s special teams provided a big play with a blocked field goal return that was returned 61 yards for a touchdown by Deommodore Lenoir. On the ensuing kickoff, kicker Jake Moody suffered a high right ankle sprain that impacted the 49ers’ ability to put points on the board with no placekicker able to step in and hit from distance. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky stepped in and hit one field goal.
Arizona moves to 2-3 and will take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 6. It will be a short turnaround for San Francisco (2-3) with a road date on Thursday night in Seattle against the Seahawks.
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Comeback Cardinals show resiliency
Sunday marked Jonathan Gannon’s 22nd game as coach of the Cardinals. It’s not a stretch to say it was his biggest. At 1-3, down 13 to start the second half, the season was starting to teeter. The Cardinals responded with their best effort, blanking the 49ers in the second half. Credit linebacker Jesse Luketa, who had not played a defensive snap through Arizona’s first four games, with forcing a fumble with the 49ers in the red zone.
Credit OC Drew Petzing with sticking with what Arizona does best — running the football. Credit the offensive line. Conner rushed six times for 9 yards in the first half. In the second, he rushed 13 for 77. None were easy. Credit Ryland, playing in place of injured kicker Matt Prater, for kicking the go-ahead 35-yard FG.
Overall, credit the Cardinals for responding, something they had not for a couple weeks. This game does not necessarily change Arizona’s season. That’s yet to be determined. But it was without question one the Cardinals could not afford to lose.— Doug Haller, senior writer
Aiyuk’s big game great, but red zone woes concerning
The 49ers’ continuing red zone woes caused them to squander a breakout game from Aiyuk, who finished with 147 yards on the afternoon. The 49ers went 1-for-6 in the red zone with their issues exacerbated in the second half due to Moody’s absence. After driving deep inside the red zone in the third quarter, they lost so much yardage on a penalty and a Purdy sack, they were forced to go for it on fourth down. Then in the fourth quarter, Mason fumbled at the Arizona 12-yard line. The 49ers led the league in red-zone touchdown percentage last season but have been missing their best red-zone weapon, Christian McCaffrey, through five games this year. McCaffrey scored seven touchdowns in the two meetings with Arizona last season.
Aiyuk, meanwhile, averaged 41.8 yards a game over the first four weeks, a slow start magnified by the fact that he had held out of practice throughout the spring and summer while negotiating a contract that averages $30 million a season. His first big receiving game of the season left Aiyuk with 314 yards on the season, putting him second place on the 49ers behind Jauan Jennings’ 377 yards. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat writer
Finding that connection
The one question that continues to linger is the production of Marvin Harrison Jr. The rookie receiver on Sunday had two catches for 36 yards. He was targeted seven times. One of his receptions came on a back-shoulder throw from Murray, a play in which the two had struggled through four games. That part is good. But for Arizona to become a threat in the NFC, it needs Harrison to play a bigger role. — Haller
The good and bad of special teams
The 49ers had used a rare big play on special teams and a Nick Bosa interception to pull away from the Cardinals in the second quarter. Jordan Elliott’s blocked field goal was returned 61 yards for a touchdown by Lenoir.
KICK BLOCKED! RETURNED FOR A @49ERS TD!
📺: #AZvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/SNgJN93pLw— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
The 49ers then converted Bosa’s interception, the second of his career, into a 26-yard Wishnowsky field goal at the end of the first half.
It was a costly win. Wishnowsky, the 49ers’ punter, had to handle kicking duties after Moody suffered an ankle injury while making a tackle attempt on a kickoff. Moody was carted off the field in the second quarter. His absence prompted the team to go for it on 4th-and-23 in the third quarter instead of attempting a 45-yard field goal. They did not convert the fourth down attempt.
The 49ers also played most of the game without safety Talanoa Hufanga, who injured his right wrist on a tackle attempt early in the second quarter. Rookie Malik Mustapha filled in the rest of the way. The 49ers have just three healthy safeties on the roster and may have to sign on or elevate one from the practice squad if Hufanga will be out for a while. — Barrows
Required reading
(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
