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The Arizona Cardinals further extended their hot streak to start the season by overcoming the San Francisco 49ers in a 17-10 victory in Week 5. It wasn't the prettiest of victories as the team encountered tough luck along the way, but the Cardinals were still able to protect their perfect record thus far. This win will surely boost their confidence as they prepare for a huge matchup against the Cleveland Browns for Week 6 action, but first let's look at some Cardinals takeaways from Week 5.
Cardinals takeaways from Week 5 win over 49ers
3. The Cardinals' depth was tested
Arizona entered the Week 5 slate without starting cornerback Byron Murphy, who was recently ruled out with a rib injury. Another CB in rookie Marco Wilson also dealt with a similar injury as he was tagged as questionable prior to kickoff.
During the game, linebacker Isaiah Simmons headed to the locker room in the first half due to an apparent concussion but eventually returned to the field. Meanwhile, tight end Maxx Williams was carted off after suffering a major knee injury that could potentially end his 2021 campaign. Center Rodney Hudson was the last name on the list of injured players after he left the field with a rib injury on Sunday.
Without multiple starters, the Cardinals had to rely on some backups who stepped up and came out with valuable contributions for the team. The extended absences of those players will lend more playing time for the second unit, and the Cardinals will certainly need them to be at their best if they want to win their upcoming games.
2. Arizona's defense stepped up big time
The Cardinals' defensive unit showed out in Week 5, limiting the 49ers' offense to 10 points, especially with crucial stops on late downs. Veteran defensive end J.J. Watt has yet to tally a sack for his new team, but he had an impressive outing with three tackles, three quarterback hits, and a pass deflection.
Fellow pass rusher Zach Allen also made his presence felt as he contributed five tackles, a quarterback hit, and a sack against Trey Lance. With a depleted defensive unit, both Watt and Allen are expected to step up as the team will continue to bank on their production in the weeks to come.
1. The Kyler Murray-DeAndre Hopkins connection continues to be deadly
Certainly enough, Week 5 against the 49ers wasn't the best game for Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, who was having an impressive start to the 2021 season. On Sunday, he was sacked twice and failed to power the team to exceed 30 points for the first time this season.
However, the Pro Bowler did just enough to lead them to a win, and his connection with star receiver DeAndre Hopkins enabled him to do so. In the fourth quarter, the two players connected on a 30-yard pass play to bring them to the red zone. Afterward, Hopkins then caught a touchdown pass from Murray to extend their lead to 10 points before eventually ending the tilt with the 17-10 victory.
The veteran receiver also utilized his catching abilities late in the game to prevent San Francisco from having another possession. Hopkins generated 87 yards on six catches to go with the TD, while Murray finished with 239 yards on 22-of-31 attempts along with a passing touchdown.
Yes, it might have been a sloppy game for the Cardinals as they missed out on several key players against a gritty 49ers squad. However, the Cardinals leaned on the production of their top players to carve out a crucial victory in Week 5. At the end of the day, a win is still a win, and it was just enough to preserve their immaculate record and improve to 5-0 to start the season.
