The Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 was already ugly enough. Then came the moment that had nothing to do with the scoreboard and everything to do with one of the strangest images of the NFL weekend.
A viral photo shared by Barstool Gambling on X showed an NFL official in the middle of trying to spot the ball when his hand ended up in the wrong place, catching an Arizona Cardinals player in the groin instead. The caption on the post said, “You’re spotting the wrong ball ref!”
The play happened during Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium, where the undefeated 49ers held on for a 36-30 win over their division rival. But the Cardinals’ day took on an even more awkward twist once the picture started making the rounds online.
The player involved wasn’t identifiable in the image, since his face and jersey number weren’t visible. That at least spared him the kind of public embarrassment that comes with a moment like this getting blasted across social media.
Still, the Cardinals have bigger problems than one bizarre sideline snapshot. They’re trying to keep pace in a loaded NFC West, where the 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams all sit as serious threats. The source material also notes that the Seahawks won the Super Bowl just last year, underscoring how steep the climb is in that division.
Arizona’s broader situation hasn’t exactly been stable, either. The franchise, described as the oldest continuously run professional football team in America, has gone through a turbulent five-year stretch filled with coaching and roster changes. The last time the Cardinals made the playoffs was the 2021 season, and the path back looks a lot tougher now.
In Other News...
Deebo Samuel Just Had One Of The Strangest Stat Lines Ever
Deebo Samuel delivered one of the oddest box-score quirks youll ever see in the 49ers win over the Cardinals, turning an 80-yard hook-and-ladder into a touchdown without officially catching a pass. It was the kind of play that reminded everyone how uniquely dangerous San Francisco can be when Samuel is lined up all over the field and the ball starts moving side to side.
Even stranger, the output came with a bit of history attached. Samuel finished with the most receiving yards in an NFL game without a reception, topping a mark that had stood since 1961, and he added two rushing attempts for 14 yards. For a player whose value often comes from his versatility, this was a rare line that fit the eye test, the highlight reel and the record book all at once. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Win Came With A Bigger Brock Purdy Concern
The 49ers got the result they needed Sunday, outlasting the Cardinals 36-30 in a game that had plenty of familiar San Francisco fingerprints on it. Brock Purdy handled the offense well despite the injury issues around him, George Kittle delivered a pair of touchdowns, Christian McCaffrey found the end zone on the ground, and Fred Warner again set the tone on defense with 17 tackles.
Still, the win came with the kind of discomfort that can linger beyond the final score. Mike Evans exited with a rib strain, Trent Williams was among the key injuries affecting the passing game, and Dre Greenlaw also left with a quad issue, leaving the 49ers to sort through what Sunday cost them as much as what it gave them. For a team that keeps finding ways to win, the bigger question now is how long it can keep doing it while pieces keep dropping out. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Win Came With A Bigger Concern Fans Could Feel
The 49ers got off to a fast start Sunday with a hook-and-ladder touchdown involving Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans, then kept stacking points even as the game started to turn into something more uneasy. Christian McCaffrey added a touchdown of his own, and the defense mixed in stops while the Cardinals found enough offense to stay around the fight, leaving San Francisco ahead at halftime with the kind of lead that can still feel fragile.
What made the win feel bigger than the scoreboard was the injury picture developing around it. Deommodore Lenoir and Mike Evans were among the players who dealt with issues, and for a team trying to build rhythm while scoring in spurts and trading field goals, the concern was impossible to ignore. The 49ers walked into the locker room with control of the game, but also with the kind of health questions that can linger long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]