Final2021 Week 9

Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers, Week 9 2021

Arizona Cardinals

AwayWon

31

San Francisco 49ers

Home

17

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Cardinals14314031
49ers077317

ARI 31SF 17 Final

  • Passing leader

    Jimmy Garoppolo

    SF · QB

    20.3PPR pts

    28/40, 326 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

  • Top fantasy scorer

    James Conner

    ARI · RB

    40.3PPR pts

    21 ATT, 96 YDS, 2 TD, 5 REC, 77 REC YDS, 1 REC TD

  • 49ers leader

    George Kittle

    SF · TE

    20.1PPR pts

    6 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TD

  • Defensive playmaker

    Budda Baker

    ARI

    1 INT, 7 TKL

Cardinals 31, 49ers 17: Arizona leads from start to finish

Arizona led 17–7 at halftime and outscored San Francisco 14–10 after the break to win 31–17. The Cardinals finished with a 437–337 edge in total offense and averaged 6.4 yards per play.

The gap showed up everywhere. The 49ers went 4-for-10 on third down and committed three turnovers, while the Cardinals kept the ball for 36:47 and finished without a giveaway.

The two teams meet again in Week 18 of 2026. If you roster anyone from either side, run the start/sit call in Redraft Command and it will weigh your lineup, your opponent and your league scoring, not only the player rankings.

Key advantages

  • +0.4 yards/play ARI 6.4 · SF 6.0
  • +3 turnover margin ARI 0 turnovers
  • +100 total yards ARI 437 · SF 337

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

Got a Cardinal or 49er on your fantasy team?

Check their next matchup with the Start/Sit Tool, compare their value in the Fantasy Trade Calculator, or connect your league for personalized advice in Redraft Command.

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Why the Cardinals Won

Arizona won the efficiency, turnover, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Cardinals vs 49ers
CardinalsStat49ers
6.4Yards per play6.0
0Turnovers3
437Total yards337
Other team stats
68Plays56
47%Third-down conversion40%
36:47Time of possession23:13

Scoring Summary

The Cardinals scored four touchdowns and one field goal; the 49ers scored two touchdowns and one field goal.

Scoring plays, Cardinals vs 49ers
TimeTeamPlayARISF
1st quarter
6:08ARIJames Conner 13-yard TD run Takes leadMatt Prater XP70
0:39ARIJames Conner 1-yard TD run Extends leadMatt Prater XP140
2nd quarter
4:02ARIMatt Prater 26-yard FG Extends lead170
0:16SFJimmy Garoppolo → George Kittle, 6-yard TDRobbie Gould XP177
3rd quarter
13:33ARIColt McCoy → James Conner, 45-yard TD Extends leadMatt Prater XP247
8:05ARIEno Benjamin 21-yard TD run Extends leadMatt Prater XP317
4:56SFJimmy Garoppolo → Brandon Aiyuk, 11-yard TDRobbie Gould XP3114
4th quarter
8:23SFRobbie Gould 26-yard FG3117

Fantasy Points: Cardinals vs 49ers, Week 9 2021

Fantasy leaders

  1. James ConnerARIRB39.3 PTSRB1
  2. Jimmy GaroppoloSFQB20.3 PTSQB8
  3. George KittleSFTE19.1 PTSTE2
  4. Brandon AiyukSFWR17.7 PTSWR10

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Jimmy GaroppoloSFQB20.3QB828/4032621130100.6
Colt McCoyARIQB16.3QB1322/26249107230119.4
Chris StrevelerARIQB0.2QB33————120—

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
James ConnerARIRB39.3RB1RB2196255771
George KittleSFTE19.1TE2TE———861011Start/Sit →
Brandon AiyukSFWR17.7WR10WR1-2086891
Christian KirkARIWR16.4WR15WR———66910
Elijah MitchellSFRB12.9RB20RB836055430
Deebo SamuelSFWR11.3WR27WR———95630
Eno BenjaminARIRB9.9RB32RB9391————
Antoine WesleyARIWR9.2WR37WR———33620
Rondale MooreARIWR7.5WR49WR———55250
Zach ErtzARITE5.7TE29TE———53270
JaMycal HastySFRB4.3RB50RB12043110
Mohamed SanuSFWR1.5WR91WR———3150
Darrell DanielsARITE1.0TE53TE———2100
Chase EdmondsARIRB0.3RB68RB130————

Fantasy Usage

Arizona Cardinals

Snap Share

  1. Christian KirkWR67 snaps96%
  2. Rondale MooreWR57 snaps81%
  3. Zach ErtzTE56 snaps80%
  4. James ConnerRB54 snaps77%
  5. Antoine WesleyWR54 snaps77%

Target Share26 targets

  1. Christian Kirk23%, 6 targets
  2. Zach Ertz19%, 5 targets
  3. James Conner19%, 5 targets
  4. Rondale Moore19%, 5 targets
  5. Antoine Wesley12%, 3 targets
  6. Other8%, 2 targets

Carry Share39 carries

  1. James Conner54%, 21 carries
  2. Eno Benjamin23%, 9 carries
  3. Colt McCoy18%, 7 carries
  4. Chase Edmonds3%, 1 carries
  5. Chris Streveler3%, 1 carries

San Francisco 49ers

Snap Share

  1. Brandon AiyukWR55 snaps93%
  2. Deebo SamuelWR54 snaps92%
  3. George KittleTE43 snaps73%
  4. Elijah MitchellRB39 snaps66%
  5. Mohamed SanuWR33 snaps56%

Target Share37 targets

  1. Deebo Samuel24%, 9 targets
  2. George Kittle22%, 8 targets
  3. Brandon Aiyuk22%, 8 targets
  4. Elijah Mitchell14%, 5 targets
  5. JaMycal Hasty11%, 4 targets
  6. Other8%, 3 targets

Carry Share11 carries

  1. Elijah Mitchell73%, 8 carries
  2. Jimmy Garoppolo9%, 1 carries
  3. Brandon Aiyuk9%, 1 carries
  4. JaMycal Hasty9%, 1 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Christian KirkARIWR6796%623%0
Brandon AiyukSFWR5593%822%1
Deebo SamuelSFWR5492%924%0
Rondale MooreARIWR5781%519%0
Zach ErtzARITE5680%519%0
James ConnerARIRB5477%519%21
Antoine WesleyARIWR5477%312%0
George KittleSFTE4373%822%0
Elijah MitchellSFRB3966%514%8
Mohamed SanuSFWR3356%38%0
Darrell DanielsARITE3246%28%0
JaMycal HastySFRB2034%411%1
Eno BenjaminARIRB1724%00%9
Charlie WoernerSFTE1119%00%0
Ross DwelleySFTE712%00%0
Andy IsabellaARIWR710%00%0
Jauan JenningsSFWR58%00%0
Trent SherfieldSFWR47%00%0
Greg DortchARIWR46%00%0
Chase EdmondsARIRB11%00%1
David WellsARITE11%00%0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+18.4James Conner40.3 PTS vs 21.9 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−3.9Deebo Samuel Sr.11.3 PTS vs 15.2 xFP
  • Highest expected volume21.9 xFPJames Conner40.3 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
James ConnerARI · RB40.321.9+18.477%54% car—02154%519%
Jimmy GaroppoloSF · QB20.318.2+2.1100%40 att—4019%00%
Colt McCoyARI · QB16.315.9+0.497%26 att—26718%00%
Deebo Samuel Sr.SF · WR11.315.2−3.992%23% tgt—000%923%
Brandon AiyukSF · WR18.714.1+4.693%21% tgt—019%821%
Elijah MitchellSF · RB12.913.6−0.766%73% car—0873%513%
George KittleSF · TE20.113.5+6.673%21% tgt—000%821%
Christian KirkARI · WR16.410.5+5.996%23% tgt—100%623%
Rondale MooreARI · WR7.58.4−0.981%19% tgt—000%519%
Zach ErtzARI · TE5.78.4−2.780%19% tgt—000%519%
JaMycal HastySF · RB4.37.4−3.134%10% tgt—019%410%
Eno BenjaminARI · RB9.95.8+4.124%23% car—0923%00%
Antoine WesleyARI · WR9.25.1+4.177%12% tgt—000%312%
Mohamed SanuSF · WR1.55.1−3.656%8% tgt—000%38%
Darrell DanielsARI · TE1.03.4−2.446%8% tgt—000%28%
Kyle JuszczykSF · RB3.43.40.0—5% tgt—000%25%
Chase EdmondsARI · RB0.30.6−0.31%3% car—013%00%
Chris StrevelerARI · QB0.20.6−0.43%0 att—013%00%

Team totals: Cardinals 26 targets and 39 carries; 49ers 39 targets and 11 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Colt McCoy

ARI · QB · 16.3 pts on 15.9 expected

22 of 26 passing for 249 yards, 1 touchdown; 7 carries for 23 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.9 expected.

Jimmy Garoppolo

SF · QB · 20.3 pts on 18.2 expected

28 of 40 passing for 326 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 1 carry for 3 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 18.2 expected.

James Conner Ran hot

ARI · RB · 40.3 pts on 21.9 expected

5 targets (19% of the team's), 5 catches for 77 yards and 1 touchdown; 21 carries (54% of the team's) for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 21.9 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Christian Kirk Ran hot

ARI · WR · 16.4 pts on 10.5 expected

1 of 1 passing for 33 yards; 6 targets (23% of the team's), 6 catches for 91 yards.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 10.5 points; efficiency supplied the rest.

Deebo Samuel Sr.

SF · WR · 11.3 pts on 15.2 expected

9 targets (23% of the team's), 5 catches for 63 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.2 expected.

Brandon Aiyuk

SF · WR · 18.7 pts on 14.1 expected

8 targets (21% of the team's), 6 catches for 89 yards and 1 touchdown; 1 carry (9% of the team's) for -2 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.1 expected.

George Kittle Ran hot

SF · TE · 20.1 pts on 13.5 expected

8 targets (21% of the team's), 6 catches for 101 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 13.5 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: George Kittle →

Rondale Moore

ARI · WR · 7.5 pts on 8.4 expected

5 targets (19% of the team's), 5 catches for 25 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 8.4 expected.

Stock Up, Stock Down

Arizona Cardinals

  • Stock up: James Conner led the backfield with 77% of the snaps after trailing Chase Edmonds before this game.
  • Stock up: Christian Kirk played 96% of the snaps, up from a 67% season average.
  • Stock up: Rondale Moore played 81% of the snaps, up from a 46% season average.

San Francisco 49ers

  • Stock up: Brandon Aiyuk played 93% of the snaps, up from a 69% season average.
  • Stock down: George Kittle played 73% of the snaps, down from a 97% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Cardinals defense and 49ers defense
Points allowed toCardinals D49ers D
QBs16.517.7
RBs20.520.9
WRs37.935.4
TEs7.79.1

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

San Francisco opened at 66% win probability and fell below 2% in the third quarter.

49ers win probability

49ers win probability by game minute49ers started at 66%, stood at 23% at halftime and finished at 0%, across 8 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. −22Conner 13-yd TD run65% → 43%Q1 6:08
  2. −20Conner 1-yd TD run41% → 20%Q1 0:39
  3. −6Prater 26-yd FG14% → 9%Q2 4:02
  4. +16Garoppolo → Kittle, 6-yd TD7% → 23%Q2 0:16
  5. −15McCoy → Conner, 45-yd TD21% → 6%Q3 13:33

Swing in 49ers win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Cardinals vs 49ers
Arizona CardinalsMeasureSan Francisco 49ers
68Plays56
43%Pass rate80%
9.4Yds / dropback6.6
4.2Yds / carry3.5
7/15Third downs4/10

Efficiency edge Arizona ran 12 more plays and gained 2.8 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • ARI Kirk 23% · Conner 19% · Moore 19%
  • SF Samuel 23% · Aiyuk 21% · Kittle 21%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Cardinals vs 49ers
ResultARISF
Touchdowns42
Field goals11
Punts44
Turnovers03
Turnovers on downs10

ARI turnover edge: +3

  • The Cardinals opened the scoring on their second possession, a 9-play, 57-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
  • The Cardinals scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives.
All 22 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
SFQ1 15:006282:25Punt
ARIQ1 12:355131:58Punt
SFQ1 10:371180:08Fumble
ARIQ1 10:299574:21Touchdown
SFQ1 6:084111:30Punt
ARIQ1 4:388803:59Touchdown
SFQ1 0:396683:14Fumble
ARIQ2 12:2514858:23Field goal
SFQ2 4:029753:46Touchdown
ARIQ2 0:161-10:16End of half
ARIQ3 15:003721:27Touchdown
SFQ3 13:333-91:41Punt
ARIQ3 11:527713:47Touchdown
SFQ3 8:056753:09Touchdown
ARIQ3 4:566213:48Punt
SFQ3 1:087463:06Punt
ARIQ4 13:02312:05Punt
SFQ4 10:577282:34Field goal
ARIQ4 8:239204:51Punt
SFQ4 3:32350:29Interception
ARIQ4 3:03491:52Downs
SFQ4 1:115181:11End of game
About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Cardinals vs 49ers Head-to-Head

The Cardinals and 49ers first met in 1951 and have played 70 times since. They have been NFC West rivals since 2002.

All-time series
39–3149ers lead, 70 meetings since 1951
Postseason
0No playoff meetings
Largest Cardinals win
47–72015
Largest 49ers win
50–142003

Since 2021

7–4 49ers lead

11 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. 4 = 49ers win, C = Cardinals win, outlined = this game.

2026 Meetings

  • Week 18 49ers at Cardinals Upcoming

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Cardinals vs 49ers
CardinalsStat49ers
11-6Record10-7
26.4Points per game25.1
373.6Yards per game375.7
5.6Yards per play6.1
21.5Points allowed per game21.5
329.2Yards allowed per game310.0

Cardinals vs 49ers Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread
SF −5.549ers failed to cover by 19.5
Total
44.5Over: 48 points scored (by 3.5)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
TeamImpliedActualDifference
49ers25.017−8.0
Cardinals19.531+11.5

The Cardinals beat their implied total and the 49ers fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.

Betting Trends

Last 2 meetings: Cardinals 2–0 ATS, overs and unders 1–1.

Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Arizona Cardinals

Against the spread
7–2
Over/under
4–5
ATS as favorite
3–2
ATS as underdog
4–0
ATS on the road
5–0

San Francisco 49ers

Against the spread
2–6
Over/under
5–3
ATS as favorite
2–5
ATS as underdog
0–1
ATS at home
0–4

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Cardinals vs 49ers Fantasy Outlook for 2026

One meeting is left on the 2026 schedule: Week 18 in Arizona. Here's how to decide who to play in your league.

Keep Exploring

2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Cardinals vs 49ers Game FAQ

Who won the 2021 Cardinals vs 49ers Week 9 game?

The Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers 31–17 in Week 9 of the 2021 season. The game was played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on November 7, 2021. See the Cardinals' 2021 schedule.

What was the final score of Cardinals vs 49ers?

The final score was Cardinals 31, 49ers 17. The Cardinals led 17–7 at halftime, and the second half went Cardinals 14, 49ers 10.

What happened in the Cardinals vs 49ers game?

Arizona led 17–7 at halftime and outscored San Francisco 14–10 after the break to win 31–17. The Cardinals finished with a 437–337 edge in total offense and averaged 6.4 yards per play. James Conner led all players with 5 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, plus 21 carries for 96 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. The 49ers committed 3 turnovers, the Cardinals none.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Cardinals vs 49ers?

James Conner led the game with 39.3 PPR fantasy points, the RB1 of Week 9, on 5 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, plus 21 carries for 96 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Jimmy Garoppolo was next with 20.3 (QB8). See James Conner's 2021 game log.

Who led Cardinals vs 49ers in passing, rushing and receiving?

Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) led all passers with 28 of 40 for 326 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. James Conner (ARI) led in rushing with 21 carries for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns. George Kittle (SF) led in receiving with 6 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

How many fantasy points did James Conner score against the 49ers?

James Conner scored 39.3 points in PPR leagues, 36.8 in half-PPR and 34.3 in standard scoring against the 49ers in Week 9 of the 2021 season, on 5 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, plus 21 carries for 96 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. He handled 54% of his team's carries.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Cardinals vs 49ers?

James Conner outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 40.3 PPR points on 21.9 xFP (+18.4). Deebo Samuel Sr. fell furthest short, with 11.3 points on 15.2 xFP (−3.9). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Cardinals vs 49ers?

James Conner had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 21.9 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 40.3. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Cardinals beat the 49ers?

The Cardinals beat the 49ers 31–17 because they averaged 6.4 yards per play to 6.0, won the turnover battle 3–0, and outgained them 437–337.

Which team won the turnover battle in Cardinals vs 49ers?

The Cardinals won the turnover battle 3–0: the 49ers gave the ball away 3 times and the Cardinals not at all. The Cardinals won the game.

What is the all-time Cardinals vs 49ers record?

The 49ers lead the all-time series 39–31 across 70 meetings since 1951.

When did the Cardinals and 49ers last play before this game?

Before Week 9 of 2021, they last met in the 2021 season on October 10, 2021, when the Cardinals beat the 49ers 17–10.

What was the closing spread for Cardinals vs 49ers?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was 49ers −5.5, making the San Francisco 49ers 5.5-point favorites, with a closing total of 44.5. That implied about 25.0 points for the 49ers and 19.5 for the Cardinals.

Did Cardinals vs 49ers go over or under the total?

The game went over. The consensus closing total was 44.5, and the teams combined for 48 points, 3.5 over the number.

Who covered the spread in Cardinals vs 49ers?

The Cardinals covered as 5.5-point underdogs against the closing line of 49ers −5.5. The final margin was 14 points.