Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers Match Player Stats (Jan 05, 2025)
The Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers match player stats from their January 5, 2025 showdown reveal just how thoroughly Arizona controlled this game. Murray’s 4 TDs and zero turnovers led Arizona’s disciplined demolition as San Francisco self-destructed with 13 penalties. The Cardinals crushed San Francisco 47-24 at State Farm Stadium, with individual performances that deserve close examination for anyone who wants to understand what really happened in this Week 18 clash.
Quick Stats Summary
Final Score: Arizona Cardinals 47, San Francisco 49ers 24
Key Stats: Cardinals 0 turnovers vs 49ers 3 turnovers
Penalties: Cardinals 1-5 vs 49ers 13-85
Total Yards: 49ers 436 vs Cardinals 393
The Game That Defined Two Different Seasons
Week 18 matchups between eliminated teams usually produce sloppy, uninspired football. This game broke that mould completely.
Arizona played their cleanest game of the season. One penalty. Five yards. That’s it.
San Francisco? They racked up 13 flags for 85 yards while committing three crushing turnovers. The 49ers basically beat themselves before Arizona could.
Murray commanded the Cardinals offence with ruthless efficiency, while backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs struggled mightily in place of the injured Brock Purdy. The contrast between these two quarterbacks shaped everything that followed.
Quarterback Showdown: Murray’s Masterclass vs Dobbs’ Disaster
Kyler Murray’s Near-Perfect Performance
Murray delivered one of his finest performances in a Cardinals uniform. His efficiency stood out on every drive:
| Kyler Murray Stats | Performance |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 25/35 (71.4%) |
| Passing Yards | 242 |
| Touchdowns | 4 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 128.5 |
| Sacks Taken | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 22 (3 attempts) |
The zero in that sacks column highlights Arizona’s dominance up front. San Francisco’s pass rushers, including Nick Bosa, never touched Murray. Credit the offensive line for building a fortress around their quarterback.
According to NFL.com’s official game summary, Murray completed touchdown passes to four different receivers, spreading the ball effectively throughout the game.
Joshua Dobbs’ Nightmare in the Desert
Starting for the injured Brock Purdy, Dobbs showed why teams rarely win with backup quarterbacks:
| Joshua Dobbs Stats | Performance |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 29/43 (67.4%) |
| Passing Yards | 326 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 1 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 86.0 |
| PFF Grade | 51.5 |
Three turnovers sealed San Francisco’s fate. Both fourth-quarter giveaways handed Arizona short fields and easy touchdowns. Dobbs admitted after the game that “turnovers kind of killed us,” which might be the understatement of the season.
Cardinals’ Offensive Weapons Fire on All Cylinders
Arizona’s balanced attack kept San Francisco’s defence guessing all game. Six different players reached the endzone, preventing the 49ers from keying on any single threat.
Receiving Corps Excellence
Greg Dortch turned four targets into four catches and two touchdowns:
- Perfect 4-for-4 catching
- 47 receiving yards
- 2 red zone touchdowns
- Added 24 punt return yards
His reliability in crucial situations gave Murray a security blanket whenever needed.
Trey McBride continued building on his Pro Bowl season:
- 7 catches on 11 targets
- 65 yards gained
- 1 touchdown
- Set franchise record for tight end receptions (111)
McBride’s route running created consistent separation against both linebackers and safeties.
Marvin Harrison Jr. capped an impressive rookie campaign:
- 5 receptions on 6 targets
- 63 yards
- 1 touchdown (8th of season, tying franchise rookie record)
The first-round pick showed why Arizona drafted him, making contested catches look routine.
Ground Game Contributions
The rushing attack provided balance and clock control:
| Running Back | Carries | Yards | Average | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carter | 17 | 43 | 2.5 | 1 |
| Tony Jones Jr. | 4 | 55 | 13.8 | 1 |
| DeeJay Dallas | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 0 |
Tony Jones Jr.’s 46-yard touchdown run came with the game already decided, but it perfectly captured San Francisco’s defensive collapse. The 49ers had stopped fighting.
49ers’ Individual Bright Spots Amidst Team Collapse
Several 49ers deserve credit for strong individual efforts despite the team’s overall failure.
Patrick Taylor Jr.’s Breakout Game
After Isaac Guerendo left with an early injury, Taylor stepped up big time:
- 17 carries for 109 yards (6.4 average)
- First career 100-yard game
- PFF grade: 70.5
Taylor ran with determination and vision, finding creases in Arizona’s defence when few existed. His performance offered one positive for San Francisco to build on heading into the offseason.
Kyle Juszczyk’s Veteran Excellence
The 33-year-old fullback proved he still has plenty left:
- 2 receptions for 49 yards
- 1 spectacular 36-yard touchdown
- PFF grade: 86.6 (team high)
Juszczyk’s touchdown catch showcased his surprising athleticism. He split two defenders and outran the secondary for one of San Francisco’s few highlights. This contrasts sharply with how the 49ers looked in their matchup against Dallas earlier this season when they had their full complement of offensive weapons.
Defensive Struggles Tell the Tale
San Francisco’s defence completely fell apart:
| 49ers Defence | Stats |
|---|---|
| Sacks | 0 |
| Turnovers Forced | 0 |
| Points Allowed | 47 |
| Red Zone TDs Allowed | 4/4 (100%) |
Nick Bosa managed just two pressures without recording a sack. The entire defensive unit failed to make game-changing plays when needed most.
According to Pro Football Focus analysis, multiple 49ers defenders earned failing grades, with Jordan Elliott (29.9) and Rock Ya-Sin (33.8) particularly struggling.
Critical Moments That Changed Everything
Football games turn on key moments. This contest had four that stand out:
First Quarter Surprise
DeeJay Dallas caught San Francisco completely off guard with a 22-yard fake punt run. This aggressive call set an early tone and led directly to points. The 49ers never recovered their composure after this play.
Second Quarter Ejections
Both teams lost key players when Sean Murphy-Bunting (Cardinals) and Jauan Jennings (49ers) got ejected for fighting. Jennings had already caught 7 passes for 52 yards, making his loss particularly damaging for San Francisco’s depleted receiving corps.
Halftime Dagger
Chad Ryland nailed a 49-yard field goal as the second quarter expired. This capped a lightning-quick 16-second drive that gave Arizona a 20-17 halftime lead and all the momentum.
Fourth Quarter Collapse
Dobbs lost a fumble at the 9:05 mark, then threw an interception at 6:40. These back-to-back turnovers transformed a competitive 26-24 game into a 47-24 laugher. The interception led directly to Murray’s touchdown pass to Harrison Jr., effectively ending any hope of a 49ers comeback.
Key Statistical Insights
The Yardage Paradox
Here’s something interesting: San Francisco actually outgained Arizona 436-393 in total yards. Didn’t matter one bit. This perfectly shows why turnovers and penalties matter more than moving the ball between the 20s.
Teams that win the turnover battle win the game over 70% of the time, according to Football Outsiders’ research. The Cardinals’ 3-0 advantage in turnovers made the yardage difference meaningless.
Red Zone Perfection
Both teams scored touchdowns on every red zone possession:
- Cardinals: 4 touchdowns on 4 trips
- 49ers: 2 touchdowns on 2 trips
The key difference? Arizona reached the red zone twice as often. San Francisco’s turnovers and penalties repeatedly killed drives before they could threaten to score.
Discipline Makes Champions
The penalty comparison remains staggering:
| Team | Penalties | Yards | First Downs Given |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 49ers | 13 | 85 | 4 |
This wasn’t random bad luck. It reflected preparation, coaching, and mental toughness. Arizona played smart, disciplined football while San Francisco lost their composure early and never recovered.
Season Implications and Future Outlook
The Cardinals finished 8-9 after winning just four games the previous season. Murray’s performance in this finale gives real reason for optimism heading into 2025. Young players like Harrison Jr. proved they belong at this level.
San Francisco limped to a 6-11 finish after entering the season with Super Bowl aspirations. They lost seven of their final eight games, raising serious questions about the roster’s depth and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust after key injuries.
The defensive regression particularly concerns 49ers fans. Allowing 47 points to a non-playoff team suggests problems beyond just missing injured starters.
Player Grades: The Numbers Behind the Performance
Pro Football Focus provided revealing grades that support what we saw on the field:
Top Performers
- Kyle Juszczyk (SF): 86.6 overall grade
- Nick Bosa (SF): 80.7 (despite no sacks)
- Patrick Taylor Jr. (SF): 70.5 rushing grade
- Kyler Murray (ARI): Season-high performance
Struggling Players
- Jordan Elliott (SF, DT): 29.9 grade
- Rock Ya-Sin (SF, CB): 33.8 grade
- Charlie Heck (SF, LT): 43.8 grade (allowed 5 pressures)
- Joshua Dobbs (SF, QB): 51.5 grade
The offensive line grades reveal the game’s biggest mismatch. Arizona’s line dominated while San Francisco’s protection broke down repeatedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the final Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers match player stats for touchdowns?
The Cardinals scored 6 offensive touchdowns (4 passing, 2 rushing) compared to San Francisco’s 3 offensive touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing). Greg Dortch led all players with 2 receiving touchdowns.
Which quarterback had better stats in the Cardinals vs 49ers game?
Kyler Murray significantly outplayed Joshua Dobbs. Murray threw 4 touchdowns with 0 interceptions and posted a 128.5 passer rating. Dobbs managed 2 passing touchdowns but committed 3 turnovers and earned just a 51.5 PFF grade.
How many penalties did each team have in the game?
The Cardinals committed just 1 penalty for 5 yards, showing remarkable discipline. The 49ers were flagged 13 times for 85 yards, consistently hurting their own drives with false starts, holding calls, and personal fouls.
Who were the leading rushers for both teams?
Patrick Taylor Jr. led all rushers with 109 yards on 17 carries for San Francisco. Tony Jones Jr. topped Arizona with 55 yards on just 4 carries, including a 46-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory.
What was the significance of this game for both teams’ seasons?
This Week 18 matchup served as the season finale for both teams who had already been eliminated from playoff contention. The Cardinals finished 8-9, showing marked improvement from the previous season. The 49ers ended 6-11 after a late-season collapse ruined their Super Bowl hopes.
The Bottom Line
The Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers match player stats from January 5, 2025, reveal a complete mismatch between a disciplined, efficient Cardinals team and a 49ers squad that beat itself with turnovers and penalties. Arizona executed nearly flawlessly with Murray’s 4-touchdown performance, zero turnovers, and just one penalty. San Francisco’s season ended in embarrassing fashion as three turnovers, 13 penalties, and defensive breakdowns led to a 47-24 defeat. These statistics and individual performances clearly show why the Cardinals dominated from start to finish in their most complete victory of the season.
