The Arizona Cardinals faced the San Francisco 49ers on September 27, 2026, in a Week 3 NFC West matchup at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco secured a 36-30 victory after holding off a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback from Arizona. The 49ers improved to 3-0, while the Cardinals fell to 1-2. The game featured strong quarterback play from Brock Purdy, productive performances from Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, and several explosive moments from Arizona’s offense.
Arizona controlled possession for much of the afternoon and finished with 365 total yards. San Francisco, however, produced 437 yards from only 50 offensive plays. Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also adding a rushing touchdown.
Match Details
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers |
| Date | September 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Levi’s Stadium |
| Location | Santa Clara, California |
| Final Score | 49ers 36, Cardinals 30 |
| Competition | NFL Regular Season, Week 3 |
| Cardinals Record | 1-2 |
| 49ers Record | 3-0 |
The contest took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. San Francisco entered the matchup with a 2-0 record and continued its perfect start with another divisional win. Arizona entered at 1-1 and pushed the 49ers throughout the game, particularly during the final quarter. The Cardinals eventually reduced a 17-point deficit to two points before San Francisco responded with another touchdown from Kittle.
The game also featured an unusual offensive play that produced an 80-yard touchdown for Deebo Samuel Sr. Purdy completed a short pass to Mike Evans, who lateraled to Samuel. Samuel then raced down the field for the score. The 49ers also benefited from strong performances by McCaffrey and Kittle as they closed out their third straight victory.
Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
San Francisco opened the scoring in the first quarter when Purdy connected with Mike Evans, who lateraled the ball to Samuel for an 80-yard touchdown. Arizona remained scoreless during the opening period. The 49ers then added 10 points in the second quarter, including another Purdy touchdown pass, while the Cardinals scored two field goals. San Francisco entered halftime with a 17-6 lead.
The third quarter saw both teams find the end zone. McCaffrey scored on a one-yard run for San Francisco, while Brissett later connected with Michael Wilson for a touchdown. Arizona then erupted for 17 fourth-quarter points. Brissett added a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown to Love, but Kittle caught two late touchdowns from Purdy. Arizona kicked a 49-yard field goal with 39 seconds left, but Samuel recovered the ensuing onside kick.
| Quarter | Cardinals | 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 0 | 7 |
| Q2 | 6 | 10 |
| Q3 | 7 | 6 |
| Q4 | 17 | 13 |
| Final | 30 | 36 |
Brock Purdy Player Stats
Brock Purdy delivered one of the game’s most important performances. He completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception. His 11-yard average per completion attempt reflected San Francisco’s ability to create explosive plays, even though the Cardinals held the ball for considerably longer.
Purdy’s biggest moments came in the fourth quarter. With Arizona threatening to complete its comeback, he found Kittle for a 10-yard touchdown and later connected with him again for a 20-yard score. Those two throws helped the 49ers regain control after the Cardinals had closed the gap to two points.
| Passing Statistic | Brock Purdy |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 15/27 |
| Passing Yards | 297 |
| Touchdowns | 4 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 34 |
Jacoby Brissett Player Stats
Jacoby Brissett produced a high-volume passing performance for Arizona. He completed 38 of 52 attempts for 280 yards and two passing touchdowns without an interception. Brissett also rushed four times for four yards and scored a rushing touchdown, giving him three total touchdowns in the game.
Brissett kept Arizona competitive throughout the second half. His touchdown pass to Michael Wilson helped bring the Cardinals closer, while his fourth-quarter rushing score reduced San Francisco’s advantage further. He continued moving the offense late in the game, but Arizona ultimately ran out of time after San Francisco’s final touchdown and Samuel’s onside-kick recovery.
| Passing Statistic | Jacoby Brissett |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 38/52 |
| Passing Yards | 280 |
| Passing TDs | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Rushing TDs | 1 |
Cardinals Rushing Player Stats
Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love led Arizona’s rushing attack with 21 carries for 90 yards. He averaged 4.3 yards per attempt and provided an important ground presence while Brissett handled a large passing workload. Love also contributed as a receiver during Arizona’s late offensive push.
Brissett added four rushing attempts for four yards and a touchdown. Tyler Allgeier recorded two carries for minus-one yard. Arizona finished with 93 rushing yards overall, according to the available game statistics. The Cardinals therefore relied heavily on their passing game as they attempted to overcome San Francisco’s early advantage.
| Player | Carries | Rushing Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love | 21 | 90 | 0 |
| Jacoby Brissett | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 2 | -1 | 0 |
49ers Rushing Player Stats
Christian McCaffrey led San Francisco’s rushing production with 15 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed significantly as a receiver, finishing with 116 total yards from scrimmage. His one-yard rushing touchdown came during the third quarter and extended San Francisco’s lead after halftime.
Purdy added 34 rushing yards on two attempts, including a long run of 35 yards. Kaelon Black carried four times for 17 yards. San Francisco finished with 140 rushing yards, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. The 49ers combined their rushing production with Purdy’s explosive passing plays to finish with 437 total yards.
| Player | Carries | Rushing Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | 15 | 75 | 1 |
| Brock Purdy | 2 | 34 | 0 |
| Kaelon Black | 4 | 17 | 0 |
Receiving Player Stats
Michael Wilson led Arizona with 11 receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Trey McBride added nine catches for 75 yards, while Marvin Harrison Jr. recorded three receptions for 40 yards. Wilson’s touchdown came during the third quarter and helped Arizona begin its comeback.
George Kittle was the standout receiver for San Francisco. He caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Evans recorded three receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Jordan Watkins caught two passes for 60 yards. Samuel’s unusual 80 receiving yards came on the lateral play despite him officially recording zero receptions.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 11 | 89 | 1 |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 9 | 75 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals | 3 | 40 | 0 |
| George Kittle | 49ers | 6 | 82 | 2 |
| Mike Evans | 49ers | 3 | 46 | 1 |
| Jordan Watkins | 49ers | 2 | 60 | 0 |
| Deebo Samuel Sr. | 49ers | 0 | 80 | 1 |
George Kittle and Deebo Samuel Highlights
George Kittle became a decisive figure during the fourth quarter. After Arizona cut San Francisco’s lead to 23-20, Purdy found Kittle for a 10-yard touchdown. Arizona responded again, but Kittle delivered another major play when he caught a 20-yard touchdown with about one minute remaining. That score pushed San Francisco’s advantage back to nine points.
Deebo Samuel also produced one of the game’s most memorable plays. The 49ers used a hook-and-lateral sequence involving Purdy, Evans and Samuel. Samuel took the lateral and ran 80 yards for a touchdown. His official receiving line was unusual because he recorded zero receptions while still producing 80 receiving yards.
Team Comparison and Game Statistics
Arizona actually possessed the ball for 38:44, compared with 21:16 for San Francisco. The Cardinals ran 81 offensive plays to the 49ers’ 50. Despite that advantage in possession and volume, San Francisco produced 437 total yards compared with Arizona’s 365. The 49ers averaged 8.7 yards per play, while Arizona averaged 4.5.
Turnovers also played a role. Arizona finished without a turnover, while San Francisco lost one fumble. The Cardinals committed 10 penalties for 86 yards, compared with seven penalties for 69 yards by the 49ers. Arizona’s inability to fully convert its opportunities helped San Francisco preserve its lead despite the Cardinals’ late offensive surge.
| Team Statistic | Cardinals | 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 365 | 437 |
| Passing Yards | 272 | 297 |
| Rushing Yards | 93 | 140 |
| Total Plays | 81 | 50 |
| Yards per Play | 4.5 | 8.7 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 10 | 7 |
| Penalty Yards | 86 | 69 |
| Possession | 38:44 | 21:16 |
Final Score and Key Takeaways
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 after surviving a major fourth-quarter comeback. Purdy finished with four touchdown passes, while Kittle caught two scores in the final period. McCaffrey added 75 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Samuel delivered an 80-yard trick-play touchdown. The 49ers also produced 437 total yards and remained unbeaten through three games.
Arizona’s offense showed resilience after falling behind 23-6. Brissett threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. Love rushed for 90 yards, while Wilson caught 11 passes for 89 yards and a score. The Cardinals reduced the margin to six points late in the fourth quarter, but San Francisco recovered the onside kick and ended the comeback attempt.
| Category | Arizona Cardinals | San Francisco 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 30 | 36 |
| Record After Game | 1-2 | 3-0 |
| Passing Leader | Jacoby Brissett — 280 yards | Brock Purdy — 297 yards |
| Rushing Leader | Jeremiyah Love — 90 yards | Christian McCaffrey — 75 yards |
| Receiving Leader | Michael Wilson — 89 yards | George Kittle — 82 yards |
| Passing TDs | 2 | 4 |
| Total Yards | 365 | 437 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Conclusion
The Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers matchup delivered a high-scoring Week 3 contest that remained competitive until the final seconds. San Francisco established an early advantage through Purdy’s passing and explosive plays, while Arizona gradually worked its way back into the game. Kittle’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns ultimately provided the difference. The 49ers finished 3-0 after the 36-30 victory, while the Cardinals moved to 1-2.
The player statistics also showed how differently the teams generated offense. Arizona ran 81 plays and held possession for nearly 39 minutes, but San Francisco gained 437 yards on just 50 plays. Purdy’s four touchdown passes, McCaffrey’s 116 total yards, Kittle’s two scores and Samuel’s 80-yard trick play powered the 49ers. Arizona’s late rally made the finish tense, but San Francisco made the final plays needed to secure the win.
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