Closer than expected---which is good. But the game stopped being competitive early into the second half...and the harsh reality of how far the Cardinals have fallen from contention in the NFC West sank in like the fog into the tide at San Francisco Bay.
I like what I saw in Brian Hoyer---but was leery to see that his first ten throws in each half were 10 yards or less. To his credit, he then went deep a few times to his favorite target Michael Floyd---with very good success, because by then the Niners were sitting on all the dinks and dunks...like everyone else does.
To this day---I do not have any understanding of why the coaches insist upon 2 yard passes to the TE. Another one of those 2 yard passes should have been intercepted today--and the others set up second or third and 8s.
I still don't understand why no matter who is the QB we can't even run a semblance of a screen pass.
Still don't understand why Williams Powell wasn't used more---
For that matter watching Senio Kelemete get his first taste of action---why has he been sitting through a 5-11 season gathering moth balls on the bench? Why?
Still do't understand how the coaches would elect to keep 4 TEs---one of whom did not play for weeks and weeks on end---and yet even after Skelton went down in the first game, and we all knew that Kolb was unfortunately one hit away from the IR---why a young QB like Brian Hoyer was sitting out there all this time (until PIT called him a few weeks ago)---and yet, no calls from the Cardinals with Jason Licht (of the Pats), as DOPP in the house to boot?
Don't understand why WE here at ASFN were crying out for the Cardinals to claim him during Labor Day weekend---and yet no such thing until Week 16.
Still don't understand how there is speculation that the HC will be retained after the following:
* 18-30 last three years
* losing streaks of 6, 7, and 9 games (Jim Harbaugh's biggest losing streak in SF in two years? One game. That's the competition folks---like it or not).
* 1-5 in the NFC West this year (last 5 games, not competitive, in fact the Cardinals lost to the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks by a combined 157-36).
* 3rd down conversions last 12 games?:
4-14 (STL)
5-16 (BUF)
1-10 (MIN)
2-14 (SF)
6-15 (GB)
2-16 (ATL)
4-13 (STL)
0-15 (NYJ)
2-12 (DET)
3-15 (CHI)
3-12 (SF)
32-142 (22.6%)
* interceptions the last 6 games: 9 (3 for TDs)
* TD passes the last 6 games: 1
Back to what happened today---
Don't understand how Patrick Peterson was so badly schooled by Michael Crabtree for two games in a row---or how Peterson could put up such a shabby effort after being named to the Pro Bowl.
Still don't understand how with Jay Feely every on-side kick is a penalty for off-sides or the ball not going 1o yards.
Glad to see the Cardinals clamp down some on Frank Gore for a half.
Glad to see William Gay make a great tackle.
Glad to see Justin Bethel busting his tail to try to block FGs and XPTs.
Glad to see Feely make his FGs.
Glad to see Zastudil add to the record.
Glad this difficult to watch season is over.
