On Sunday afternoon, you could not tell that the Arizona Cardinals lead the NFC West while the San Francisco 49ers sit at the bottom of the same division. Both teams looked evenly matched despite Arizona being a 10.5-point favorite.
The 49ers defense stepped up and held the Cardinals offense, ranked first in scoring (33.6 points-per-game average) and yards (417.3 yards-per-game), to just 13 points going into the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. However, a late 7-yard run by QB Carson Palmer followed by a missed field goal attempt would put the Cardinals up 19-13 with 2:28 left in the game.
Did poor officiating cost the #49ers a win against the Cardinals?
— 49erswebzone (@49erswebzone) November 30, 2015
A final attempt at a game-winning drive by QB Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers ended with a stop on a fourth down attempt with 1:12 left in the game and San Francisco would suffer their fourth loss in their past five games and their eighth loss of the season.
Gabbert would finish the game completing 25 of his 36 passes for a career-high 318 yards, one touchdown, an interception, and a passer rating of 115.4.
49ers TE Garrett Celek was carted off the field in the first quarter of the game with, according to 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula, a high ankle sprain. He would not return to the game and was seen in a walking boot and crutches after the loss. In his place, TE Vance McDonald caught the 49ers' lone touchdown and had 71 yards on six receptions. WR Anquan Boldin had eight receptions for 93 yards and rookie TE Blake Bell had three catches for 67 yards.
49ers Vance McDonald runs in TD
RB Shaun Draughn, filling in for the injured Carlos Hyde, rushed for 51 yards on 15 carries and had five receptions for 35 yards.
While the Cardinals' Palmer had a rushing touchdown, his first since 2012, he was not able to throw a touchdown pass in the game and finished 24 of 40 for 271 yards.
49ers Torrey Smith makes incredible catch for 41-yard gain
When asked about the officiating in the loss, Tomsula simply stated, "I will not comment on the officiating in the game." Safety Eric Reid would be a little more bold saying, "It's not my character to blame refs, but man, there were some questionable calls." DE Quinton Dial, who got flagged for roughing the passer on what looked like a clean sack said, "It was a bad call."
The 49ers will next travel to Chicago for a contest against the Bears on Sunday, December 6. It will be a matchup against former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (same position with Bears) and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, the man who nearly became the head coach for San Francisco.