Arizona
What the 49ers are saying after winning NFC West title against Arizona
A sampling of what the 49ers were saying Sunday after a 45-29 road win over the Arizona Cardinals to wrap up their second straight NFC West title:
COACH KYLE SHANAHAN
Reaction to Brock Purdy injury
“I mean, just nervous. Not thinking much. Didn’t see what happened because I was looking down field. I assumed he got hit in the head. I was a little nervous. Once he got to the sideline, they told me it was a stinger. Sometimes those takes over a week, sometimes a couple of minutes.
On Christian McCaffrey
He means so much what a good football player he is. Everyone sees it. The type of guy he’s been, the way he works, how well he takes care of the body. He’s as committed to his job as any person I’ve been around.
McCaffrey’s desire to play through injuries
He wanted to play in game. When you have some tough injuries and the way he came out of his career, I might mess this up, unbelievable rookie year and tough injuries. If I ever insinuate that he’ll bite my head off, won’t say wear and tear. He wants to prove everybody wrong all the time, and he’s usually right.
Winning the division
Our No. 1 goal was to get in the playoffs and we got that last week. Winning the division last year and this year it’s huge. Winning the division, it’s a better road in the playoffs. I know our guys are pumped. Now we want to get two (playoff) home games and a bye.
Brock Purdy’s best trait
That he can see the whole field, that nothing he can’t do. He has poise and can react. When he doesn’t have time, he can get it to a checkdown and not take a sack. He has great command of the offense. The amount of plays he’s made the past two years is more than any quarterback I’ve been around.
Crowd chanting for Purdy
Real cool for him, to hear that..cool for me to hear it for him. He said he had a lot of people here. I didn’t realize (it was his homecoming) until last couple of days. With a scare with the injury, to finish the game with the crowd chanting your name, it’s pretty cool.
Charvarius Ward playing with groin injury
Him battling to get back this game, I was impressed. I considered him a long shot earlier in the week and he kept saying he wasn’t. He has not hesitated on anything. Running through the ball. He’s getting his hands up and knocking the ball down better than anybody on the planet. He got that pick six and the next one. It’s like they stick to his hands now. It’s cool he did the first one and hopefully there are plenty more now.
The run defense
Looking at it live, I thought we missed way too many tackles. Give them credit, they have guys who are tough to tackle. It was disappointing on the missed tackles. We definitely didn’t play the run good enough and that was obvious. But we came with one thing on the mind and that was to get a win.
Purdy vs. McCaffrey for MVP
I don’t have to differentiate, thank goodness. Been around a couple of MVPs in my career. These two, they’re the most obvious to me. I might be bias being on my team but look at the numbers or the film.
Steve Wilks and the challenge of Arizona
We talked a lot all week, they have too many good players and they run a good scheme and there’d be times they got us. If we could survive the day … we did that. I know the stat board doesn’t look great but the defense is why we won today, too.
McCaffrey’s knee
I wasn’t excited. But when there’s a play clock going and need to call plays, you can’t think about it.
FRED WARNER
On winning but giving up so many yards
Mixed emotions for sure. The No. 1 thing is you don’t want to ever take away from a win, and in the division, back to back years. that’s the standard now. Last year got in front team, we won the division, don’t come around all the time, and let’s cherish this. I immediately regretted saying that. Because this is the standard.
The run defense
Just missed tackles. I look at myself, first and foremost. I have to be the standard. If we do miss a tackle, we have to get guys to the football to get him down.
Charvarius Ward’s touchdown
That was amazing, we needed that, especially in the moment. Been at all-pro season leading league in PBUs but we needed interceptions to lock it down. We needed him big time today.
Importance of defensive touchdowns
If we can continue to do that, that’d be great. We have to focus on fundamentals though.
Winning the division
That’s the goal coming in. That’s the standard here with the Niners. Proud of how we played all season and to bounce back from adversity, it’s huge.
NICK BOSA
His injury
“It was after the play. Someone got thrown into my foot but the foot’s fine.” (Bosa had a bag of ice wrapped around his right knee postgame.
Getting the win
We get everybody’s best shot. They have a very good team that’s getting better every week. We knew it’d be a dogfight and we were missing some guys. We didn’t expect a perfect game and we knew they’d make plays. But at this juncture we’re trying to win, win out, obviously. That’s the main goal.
Charvarius Ward’s performance
He’s playing at an All-Pro level. He had two today? The stats don’t always tell the whole story. But I’m very happy he got that. He deserves it. He’s a top corner in the league, no doubt. Whenever he comes out, we know. You’re not going to come out of the game unless you’re compromised. I was joking with him I’m sure glad you played.
Seeing Purdy injured
I saw Darnold in there, and I’m very confident in him, because he plays at a starter level. But I definitely was holding my breath.
Kyler Murray’ performance
The knee will progress. The first year is managing and a lot of extra work to play. His recovery went well and I’m happy for him.
The hometown kid is ballin. Brock Purdy to @CMC_22 for a 2nd time today!#ProBowlVote #SFvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/R0ZieCsVLj
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 17, 2023
BROCK PURDY
Level of concern after stinger
I never had one before, so when I got hit, I probably could have popped up, if someone grabbed my arm and pulled me up. But I was, ‘Alright, this is my first time having it.’ Based off what my teammates and guys have explained a stinger, I was, ‘That’s definitely how I’m feeling.’ It was on my left side. I just laid there for a second, let it calm down, then I got up and went to the tent. From there, I got better. Literally as time went on, it started going away. That’s why I was able to go back in there mid-drive.
Fans chanting his name
I did (hear them). But at that point I’m more concerned about my body. But that was cool, hearing that support from everybody.
Watching McCaffrey
I’m the guy that hands him the ball and then I turn and watch what he does, bouncing off guys, making cuts, twisting off guys when they’re holding onto him. I just see the beating he takes. His grit to continue to drive his legs and get extra yards and inches, then he goes off to the sideline and he’s immediately using Theraguns and moving his body. He’s nonstop moving. But we all respect it. He’s the guy that does it all. We’ll put him in the slot and throw him the ball. He just does everything. He’s smart. We definitely look up to him and his toughness. He sets the standard and we follow his lead.
On his extra yards
When he does it, it still blows my mind. But that’s Christian. He’s done that time and time again. To see him continue to do that, then get back in the huddle, then go run a route and catch the ball and have an explosive, it’s like, ‘Dude, this is crazy.’ I’m definitely thankful and blessed to be playing with him.
McCaffrey’s second touchdown catch
It was sort of an off-schedule play, bounce out of the pocket, then I saw him go down the field. I didn’t know, ‘Is he going to run straight? Is he turning to me?’ So I just put it up in the air. He did a good job tracking it down, catching it, then getting up and scoring. Though moment right then and there on where the ball should be, but we got it done.
His homecoming
It was definitely a special game for me, coming home. Played here in the Fiesta Bowl but that was COVID so there were only family and close friends (in the stands) To come back and have a whole stadium. In high school, I’d come and watch the Cardinals and it felt like that. Now I’m playing on that field, it was so cool. It’s definitely I’ll look back on in life and be very thankful for.
Ticket distribution
I only got tickets for my family. Because there are so many people in my life hitting me up for stuff, it was crazy. A lot of people in my life came and I’m very thankful for their support.
On business as usual
I didn’t want to go in there acting like it was a movie scene. It was more about, ‘Alright, I’m back in here, let’s actually read the defense, and what are we trying to do.’ That’s what we’re trying to do: Put up points. I saw Christian in end zone on a play and got it done.
On MVP
I think Christian should be MVP. I really do believe that. He does everything for us: runs the ball well, can catch the ball. He does everything. So in my eyes, that’s an MVP
On him being in MVP talk
I’m honored. But a great team around me and guys willing to make plays. I’m trying to do my part in helping our team win. I’m very honored to hear it. But I think we have an MVP team overall.
The Brock movie
If you just look at the whole grand scheme of it, right, being drafted last and all that, I guess people can start saying stuff about movies and stuff. But I’m just taking it one day at time. I’m playing football. I dreamed of playing in the NFL. I have a great team around me. That’s just where I’m at, trying to enjoy every day.
Hometown support
To come home and have everybody from my high school, Perry, and Queen Creek, Gilbert, to come and support like they have, it means everything to me. I’ve always dreamed of coming home to play in front of everybody, because I know how much they have my back and have supported me. I hope I was able to give them a good game. I appreciate all that they’ve done for me in my life.
Like a good neighbor, @CMC_22 is there.#ProBowlVote @brockpurdy13 pic.twitter.com/4RMpbzfP25
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 17, 2023
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY
On injury-prone label in Carolina
It definitely pisses you off. You miss games. That’s part of it. You just have to stay on the field. Obviously it pissed me off. But I didn’t think it was necessarily wrong. I needed to get on the field. I missed a lot of games in Carolina. But I had a lot of confidence I would bounce back.
On scoring TD after falling down
That was a first for me. I felt like an idiot backpedaling for so long. I didn’t see the ball until like halfway in the air. I was just happy we connected. Brock made a great play scrambling and sticking with it.
Scoring 7 TDs vs Cardinal this season
You don’t really know what games you’re going to have big games. Just approach it one game at a time, one snap at a time.
The Purdy injury
He’s tough as hell, so once he said, ‘I’ll be good,’ that’s when everybody calmed down a little.”
On his knee Sunday
I’m fine. It’s just a little stuff that goes on during a game.
Repeating as NFC West champs
Obviously winning the division is very important. It’s a big step for us. But everyone knows where we want to be. And we know each week you have to bring your best ball, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.
Trent for MVP?
He’s got my vote.
TRENT WILLIAMS
McCaffrey’s get off the deck touchdown
I did see him backpedaling. I was surprised he had time to fall on his face and get right back up and score.
Offensive ceiling
Who knows where the ceiling is. As long as we can take it one game at a time, we have so many playmakers, our offense should move the ball. I’m not surprised by that. We do have some ways to go before we can say we’ve arrived. But the weapons we have, with (McCaffrey), George, Deebo, Aiyuk, Juice, the list goes on … We still can get better.
Christian or Brock for MVP
We have the best running back in the NFL. For him to get MVP consideration, that’s his just due. Same way with Brock. Brock’s been playing his butt off, so for him being in the conversation, as a teammate, I couldn’t be prouder of both these guys. My job is to continue to help them have success. Who cares? As long as we bring that (Lombardi) Trophy back to Santa Clara, that’s all I’m worried about.
Arizona
Flagg quiets Arizona crowd as Duke aces road test
TUCSON, Ariz. — Seconds after No. 12 Duke’s players ran onto the court for pregame introductions at the McKale Center on Friday night, someone in the crowd hurled a beer can in their direction.
That moment did not define the largely positive and vibrant atmosphere at the arena, where Cooper Flagg’s 24-point effort led the Blue Devils to a 69-55 win over No. 17 Arizona.
But throughout the game, building security and local police gathered near Duke’s tunnel and the team’s family and friends section because of concerns that additional objects would be thrown, sources told ESPN. Those same security and police personnel also entered the Arizona student section at halftime to address at least one fan’s behavior.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer said he didn’t notice the off-court chaos, a metaphor for the way his team responded in its first true road game of the season.
“I didn’t even see that,” Scheyer said afterward about the beer-can incident. “First of all, I thought the environment and atmosphere was top notch. I mean, people were respectful. I thought there was just a big-time college basketball crowd, but at the end of the day, the crowd doesn’t control how you defend, how you sprint back on defense, how you take care of the ball.”
More than 14,000-plus gathered for the highly anticipated matchup involving a pair of teams that hadn’t met in Tucson since the 1980s. The notable personalities in the crowd gave the game a prime-time vibe. Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and his teammates faced an Arizona squad led by Caleb Love, a preseason All-American.
Mike Bibby and Gilbert Arenas, a pair of former NBA stars who anchored some of Arizona’s greatest teams, sat in the front row. Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal found his seat next to theirs early in the game, and Beal’s teammates Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen — who starred on Duke’s 2014-15 national title team — sat behind the Blue Devils’ bench.
Bryce James, son of LeBron James and a prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, also attended the matchup with his mother, Savannah James.
Flagg delivered his best performance this season in another high-profile matchup, more than a week after he committed multiple turnovers in the final seconds of a loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Atlanta. Arizona seemed to corral him in the first half, but Flagg dominated after the break, scoring 16 points.
Flagg, who shot 10-of-22 from the field, also finished with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal.
“He is tall, athletic and he can finish over a lot of bodies,” Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, who led his team with 18 points, said of Flagg. “He’s just super athletic. I feel like we did a good job of containing him in the first half. I think we just went away from the game plan and then didn’t talk, didn’t communicate as a group and he found openings in our defense. He provides mismatch problems for them. We get a smaller guard on him, he can take us inside and use his strength, his height advantage. We get a bigger guy on him, he can play quick, play fast and be able to shoot over the top or get by him.”
As his team entered halftime, Scheyer said, “We’ve been here before,” referencing Duke’s halftime lead over Kentucky in the Champions Classic loss. But Duke avoided a similar fate Friday when Flagg, Tyrese Proctor (8 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds) and Kon Knueppel (13 points, 3-for-6 on 3-pointers) wouldn’t yield.
“It was a high-level college basketball game,” Flagg said. “It was really physical, and they’re a very physical team. So I guess I found my footing [in the second half].”
Arizona entered the game ranked top five in adjusted tempo on KenPom and the Wildcats were also the top offensive rebounding team in the country. But against the Blue Devils, Arizona scored only six points on fast breaks and grabbed only six offensive rebounds.
After the game, the fears of security and police personnel were not realized. There were no further incidents, and Duke’s players, staff, family members and friends all safely exited the building without issue.
The Blue Devils, who next face No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas on Tuesday, had weathered storms on and off the court in their first true road test. Scheyer said he was impressed by his team’s resilience in a hostile environment, especially as Arizona tried to close the gap late.
“I thought there were a couple of stretches at the beginning of the second half late when I think it got cut to eight points … but to have the maturity to answer and then come back on defense, I think that’s a credit to these guys,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of game situations this year and in the preseason [in practice], but it’s really the maturity by them.”
Arizona
By the Numbers: Seahawks vs. Cardinals
The Seahawks and Cardinals are set to do battle at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday. This will be the first of two meetings over a three-week span between the NFC West rivals.
What numbers and themes are relevant in this game between frequent divisional opponents?
The Seahawks have won five straight games against the Arizona Cardinals. They last lost to Arizona on November 21, 2021, in Seattle. The Seahawks held the Cardinals to just 30 total points in the teams’ two matchups last year.
That is Kyler Murray’s record as a starter against the Seahawks. He hasn’t beaten Seattle since October 2020. That includes being sacked 12 times over the last three games. The Seahawks will need to continue to pressure Murray to keep him contained. Otherwise, he can hurt them with his legs or downfield in the passing game.
That is how many points per game the Seahawks are allowing in their last two games as a defense. The defense has stepped it up after an abysmal showing against the Buffalo Bills. The Cardinals have the 13th-ranked scoring offense and 12th-ranked total offense in the NFL. If Seattle can ride this momentum on defense, they should be able to beat the Cardinals a sixth straight time.
Yards per rushing attempt by the Cardinals. That is the second-best in all the NFL. The running back tandem of James Conner and Trey Benson, alongside the lethal legs of quarterback Kyler Murray, make the Cardinals one of the most dynamic running teams in all of football. The Seahawks need to be disciplined in their run defense. If they are caught in the wrong gaps or miss tackles, the Cardinals could control the game on the ground.
Arizona’s pass rush win rate is next to last in the NFL. One of their top pass rushers has been former Seahawks first-round pick L.J. Collier. Dante Stills leads the team with 3.5 sacks. They rank 23rd in sacks as a team. Seattle’s offensive line needs to take advantage of not facing a stellar pass rush and give Geno Smith ample time to take shots downfield.
Yards receiving for running back James Conner against the Jets. He is a big play threat in the passing game as well as on the ground. The defense will need to be aware of Conner’s whereabouts at all times. They cannot afford to let Conner create big plays in the passing game, as he did against the Jets two weeks ago.
The Seahawks need to set a goal of getting at least 23 first downs. The Cardinals are 0-4 when they allow their opponents to get at least 23 first downs and 6-0 when they hold teams under 23. The Seahawks have only reached 23 first downs once. Incredibly, they got 38 first downs in their loss to the Lions. Racking up first downs is a positive result of having an offense in sync and sustaining drives. The longer Seattle can sustain drives, the less chances Kyler Murray and Arizona’s offense will have to make impact plays.
The Seahawks’ record over their six home games this season. This is a shocking development after the Seahawks enjoyed one of the best home-field advantages in all of the NFL for the better part of a decade. This includes having lost four straight. Their last win at home came on September 22 against the Dolphins. This game is a big opportunity to flip the script at home after a tough stretch.
Game Preview: Can Seahawks Retake NFC West Lead vs. Cardinals?
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Seahawks Look To Restore Home-Field Advantage
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Arizona
Best College Football Prop Bets for BYU vs. Arizona State in Week 13
In one of the biggest games of the Big 12 season, BYU travels to Tempe to face Arizona State in Week 13.
Both teams have been incredibly surprising in league play but after its first loss of the season, can BYU respond and stop a budding offense around running back Cam Skattebo? The ASU running back is in line for a big day with a plus matchup and highlights our player props for this marquee matchup.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
LJ Martin UNDER 63.5 Rushing Yards
Martin has been in and out of the lineup at times this season, but he has been on a tear in Big 12 play, clearing this number in the last four games with a pair of 100-yard rushing outputs.
However, this matchup will pit the Cougars against an elite rushing defense in Arizona State, who is 25th in EPA/Rush.
While Martin is a talented back, he has benefitted from facing several easy defenses and also does share reps with the likes of Hinckley Ropati.
Given the matchup, under is my preference on the BYU running back.
Cam Skattebo OVER 89.5 Rushing Yards
After missing the Sun Devils’ Week 11 game against UCF, Skattebo returned at Kansas State to pace the ASU backfield with 73 yards on 25 carries.
Despite a depressed output, Skattebo is in line for a big output against BYU’s defense that is 78th in EPA/Rush and 75th in yards per carry. The Cougars defense gets little push up front in run blocking, ranking 99th in tackles for loss, which should allow Skattebo to plow his way forward on a heavy workload.
He has rushed for over 100 yards in three of six conference games, and should flirt with triple digits yet again.
Jordyn Tyson UNDER 90.5 Receiving Yards
Tyson continues to emerge as one of the premiere threats in the Big 12, clearing 100 yards in two of the past four games and this prop in three of them.
However, I need to go under the sophomores receiving yards prop after a career best 12-catch, 176-yard outing against a shaky Kansas State secondary. This time around, he’ll face a top 25 defense in terms of EPA/Pass and is elite at limiting big plays, 25th in explosive pass defense.
There’s a sell point on every player, and I believe we have reached it with Tyson, who can have a great game while staying under this number.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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