49ers @ Cardinals: Live Updates and Analysis

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 16 "road game" against the Arizona Cardinals.

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 16 "road game" against the Arizona Cardinals. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from my living room.

11:45 Keys to the game for the 49ers:

1. Turn the ball over less than four times.

2. Keep the quarterback healthy for all four quarters.

3. Allow fewer than five sacks.

4. Don't let C.J. Beathard lose the game.

5. Don't let Mike McGlinchey lose the game.

6. Play George Kittle as little as possible so he doesn't suffer an injury in a meaningless game.

7. Run the ball at least 40 times. Give the ball to Tevin freaking Coleman if necessary.

8. Pass the ball as infrequently as possible.

9. Make sure Kyle Shanahan texts Grant if he has any questions.

12:00 Here are the 49ers inactives:

Javon Kinlaw

Richard Sherman

Dion Jordan

Kevin Givens

Jimmie Ward

Deebo Samuel

Matt Cole

12:01 Kinlaw's missed practice on Tuesday and Wednesday with a knee injury. Don't know if it's the same knee that was flagged as potentially arthritic at the NFL Scouting Combine. If it is, that's bad news. Kinlaw has 1.5 sacks and four QB hits this season.

12:02 I would be shocked if Sherman played another snap in a 49ers uniform. He needs to focus on finding a new team to sign him in a few months, but will he find that team? If I were a general manager, I wouldn't sign Sherman. His career is toast.

1:30 The 49ers win the toss and defer. The Cardinals will get the ball first.

FIRST QUARTER

1:37 On third and 8 from the 49ers 9, Christian Kirk drops a pass in the end zone, and Tarvarius Moore hits him in the head at the end of the play for good measure. The Cardinals kick a 27-yard field goal.

49ers 0, Cardinals 3.

1:38 Ahkello Witherspoon gave up a 38-yard deep pass to Kirk during that drive. Lets see if Witherspoon goes in the tank after one bad play the way he almost always does.

1:43 On third and 7 from the 49ers 37, C.J. Beathard gets sacked. Shocker. The 49ers punt. They were in third and long because Beathard threw an incomplete pass on first down after rushing for 14 yards on two carries. Good think Shanahan called that pass on first down.

1:47 On third and 10 from the Cardinals 27, Ahkello Witherspoon blitzes from Kyler Murray's right and makes his scramble to his left, which he doesn't want to do, so he spins back to his right into more pressure and throws the ball away. Great call by Robert Saleh.

1:56 On second and 8 from the Cardinals 21, Beathard throws a touchdown pass to Jeff Wilson Jr. over the middle. Excellent route and catch by Wilson. Terrific throw by Beathard. Beautiful drive by Kyle Shanahan.

49ers 7, Cardinals 3.

SECOND QUARTER

2:11 On third and 11 from the 49ers 39, Dre Greenlaw tackles Kenyan Drake for a one-yard loss. The 49ers get the ball at their 15 after the punt.

2:12 K'Waun Williams left the field on cart after injuring his leg.

2:19 On first and 10 from the Arizona 43, Kendrick Bourne commits a false start. Two plays later on second and 12, Kyle Juszczyk drops a pass over the middle. Next play, Richie James Jr. drops a short pass over the middle. Simple pass plays are such an adventure for the 49ers. They punt.

2:27 On third and 7 from the 49ers 39, DeAndre Hopkins drops a pass from Murray, and the Cardinals punt. The 49ers get it at their 9.

2:30 On second and 8 from the 49ers 11, Shanahan calls a straight drop-back pass for some inexplicable reason and Beathard gets sacked. The 49ers punt two plays later.

2:41 On third and 10 from the 49ers, Jason Verrett breaks up a deep pass intended for Hopkins in the end zone. Outstanding play by Verrett.

2:42 The Cardinals make a 43-yard field goal with 35 seconds left in the first half.

49ers 7, Cardinals 6.

2:48 Shanahan calls four straight drop-back passes in a row and the fourth one results in a fumble by Beathard after Mike McGlinchey gets beat around the edge. I'm surprised it took four plays for that to happen.

THIRD QUARTER

3:10 On third and 3 from the Cardinals 23, Beathard throws an incomplete pass over the middle intended for Jordan Reed.

3:12 Robbie Gould misses a 41-yard field goal wide right.

3:15 On second and 11, K'Waun Williams blitzes and sacks Murray for a seven-yard loss. Williams came from Murray's right side, so he couldn't scramble to his throwing arm's side. Brilliant adjustment from Robert Saleh, who forces a three and out. The 49ers get the ball at their 28 after the punt.

3:24 On third and 10 from the Cardinals 19, Beathard checks down to Jerick McKinnon, who breaks a tackle and gains 10 yards. Next play, Beathard throws a touchdown pass to Juszczyk in the flat. Beautiful drive by Beathard and Shanahan. Beathard is playing his way onto the 2021 roster.

49ers 14, Cardinals 6.

3:30 Murray completes a short pass to his tight end, the 49ers strip the ball from him and recover at the Arizona 36. The 49ers can now take a two-score lead with a field goal.

3:31 On second and 13, Beathard misses a layup in the flat to Wilson. And on third and 13, Beathard rolls to his right and almost gets picked off. The 49ers go three and out. Big missed opportunity as they punt and get zero points. Beathard is now playing his way back off the 2021 roster. That was quick.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:48 On third and goal from the 1, Kenyan Drake leaps over the pile and scores a touchdown. The Cardinals are going for two to tie the game.

3:49 Murray throws an incomplete pass low and away from Hopkins, who was covered tightly by Verrett. The 49ers need to find a way to re-sign Verrett this offseason.

49ers 14, Cardinals 12.

3:54 On the 49ers' next offensive series, Shanahan calls just one running play -- a zone read for Beathard, who gains a whopping two yards. Hilarious. The Cardinals get the ball at their 27 after the punt.

3:56 On fourth and 2 from the Arizona 35, Fred Warner bats down a quick pass intended for Hopkins, and the Cardinals turn the ball over on downs. Incredibly smart and clutch play by Warner.

4:01 Wilson runs for 34 yards on the first play of the drive. Next play, Beathard throws a touchdown pass to a wide-open Juszczyk. But Robbie Gould misses the extra point wide right. So it's still a one-point game. Gould has pushed two kicks wide right.

49ers 20, Cardinals 12.

4:10 On second and 11 from the 49ers 14, Witherspoon intercepts Murray in the end zone. WOW.

4:21 Gould hooks a 37-yard field-goal attempt wide left. That's the third kick he has missed in this game. The 49ers should have 27 points.

4:26 On fourth and 7 from the Arizona 43, Alex Barrett drills Murray as he throws an incomplete pass and turns it over on downs.

4:30 The 49ers win 20-12. Stay tuned for their grades.