I had the Cardinals plus 9.5, so for me it was an entertaining game. But I also sat Kenyan Drake for Phillip Lindsay at the last minute, so it could have been better.
• Jimmy Garoppolo is good enough. The Niners have an offensive mastermind running the show, fast backs, a top-five all-time TE and a professional receiver with Emmanuel Sanders. Garoppolo doesn't have to carry the team on his back, but he made big throws all game on third down, and Sanders could be a game-changer for him.
• It figures after a monster Week 8 Tevin Coleman would be shut down entirely this week. Matt Breida was the more effective runner, and this is still a roughly even timeshare.
• Deebo Samuel is a tough, physical receiver, but he had a bad drop in the end zone.
• Kyler Murray looks like a rookie Russell Wilson if Wilson had a weak supporting cast. He'll be a star soon. Partial as I am to Danny Dollars, I'd still take Murray ahead of him.
• Drake ran like the guy he was in Miami on the rare occasion they gave him carries. He's quick, smooth and elusive and a natural pass catcher. I have no idea what will happen once David Johnson and Chase Edmunds come back.
• Andy Isabella got me the cover on an 88-yard catch and run. It's hard to fathom why the Cardinals won't give their second-round pick any run, given the scrub receivers they're continuously trotting out. Isabella runs a 4.31 40, speed that was on display as he outran the entire 49ers secondary.
• Buddha Baker had 13 tackles and three passes defensed. It seemed like he was involved in every single defensive play. Patrick Peterson blew a coverage on Dante Pettis, leaving him wide open for a TD, a play that might have been the difference in the game.