Jeremiyah Love finally got the kind of run that can change the feel of an offense, and Arizona still walked into halftime staring at a 17-6 deficit against San Francisco in Week 3.
For the Cardinals, the encouraging sign was clear: the rookie back was no longer just standing on the edge of the game plan. Love handled 10 carries for 49 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt, and added three catches for 10 yards. After weeks of being little more than an afterthought, he looked much more involved and made that workload count.
That was about the only thing going right for Arizona early. The 49ers controlled the game from the opening kickoff, dictating terms on both sides of the ball while the Cardinals kept getting dragged down by penalties and uneven play. San Francisco’s lead was firmly in place by halftime, and the Niners were set to receive the ball to open the third quarter.
Still, Arizona found a way to stay within striking distance. The offense squeezed out field goals, and the defense managed to force punts late in the first half, which kept the score from getting away completely.
Love, though, was the player who looked ready to build on the moment. That didn’t come out of nowhere. Heading into Week 3, he had already talked about wanting to explode on the field after a quieter stretch.
"On a personal level, you know, I want to bust out where I want to go crazy every single game. Last week I just didn't do it. ...
It's kind of hard. I come from a place where I'm going crazy every week, and it's kind of humbling a little bit," Love said leading into the week.
"I'm in a different place, different team. I got to get used to just the situation that I'm in, and it's been a challenge.
But I'm up for the challenge, and I'm excited to come out this week. Reset every single week to go out there and try to be my best.
But as of late, I kind of been learning from the past, and just trying to be better in the future."
He also made no secret of how much he was looking forward to lining up against Fred Warner. Love said the matchup was "circled" in San Francisco, and he spoke openly about wanting to test himself against one of the league’s top defenders.
“This week it’s been a heavy focus on him and being aware of him and just his ability to make plays. I’m excited to play against him," Love said to reporters this week.
"I want to see what he’s about first-hand and just play some good ball against some good guys. It's a blessing to be here in the NFL.
I get to play against great guys every single week, and he's just one of those guys where, I kind of got him like circled. I want to see what he's about.
I want to see how I fare against Fred Warner and really just the whole secondary, like those guys are great."
Whether Arizona keeps feeding him could shape the rest of the afternoon. If the Cardinals’ offense gives him the chances, Love has already shown enough to make the second half interesting.
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
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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 🡒]