The interception returned for a touchdown should only increase his stock value as one of the league's top corners.

Ward is playing like a bona fide Pro Bowler and perhaps even a first-team All-Pro this season, and he currently leads the NFL with 20 passes broken up. And it was the first pick-six of his career and the first the Niners recorded this season. Cardinals: Week 15 injury report, betting odds and how to watchĪccording to Next Gen Stats, Ward reached a top speed of 20.64 miles per hour on the play. 7 takes it back for 6! #ProBowlVote #SFvsAZ on CBS /y6NSWgp8Xy- San Francisco 49ers December 17, 2023 What was more impressive, though, was how Ward showed off some serious speed while evading would-be Cardinals tacklers all the way into the end zone for a 66-yard score:

On a 4th-and-3 play from the 49ers' 42-yard line, Ward jumped the route on a pass from Murray and pulled in his third interception of the year.

Ward, who was listed as questionable with a groin injury entering the game, helped ensure Arizona's aggressiveness did not pay off early. Charvarius Ward picks off Kyler Murray, returns it 66 yards for 49ers defensive TD With the Cardinals looking to respond and turn things into a shootout, Ward took advantage. Yet San Francisco answered back with quarterback Brock Purdy hitting wide receiver Deebo Samuel for a game-tying touchdown in the middle of the first quarter to make things 7-7. Sure, Arizona got off to solid start with a methodical seven-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard rushing touchdown by running back James Conner.

One of the Arizona Cardinals' strategies in Week 15 was to maintain aggressiveness against the San Francisco 49ers with the hope of turning a three-win season into one with at least four wins.Ĭornerback Charvarius Ward and the 10-win Niners weren't having any of that, though. The opportunistic 49ers defense took advantage of Kyler Murray and the Cardinals when Charvarius Ward notched a pick-six touchdown.

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