The 49ers edged out the Arizona Cardinals 36–30, improving to 3–0 on the season. Brock Purdy delivered another strong performance, Deebo Samuel Sr. took a hook‑and‑ladder from Mike Evans for an 80‑yard touchdown, and despite a late scare after a muffed punt, the 49ers responded and closed the game out.
The 49ers totaled 437 yards — 297 passing and 140 rushing — allowed 0 sacks for the third straight week, and committed 0 turnovers for the second straight week.
Brock Purdy went 15/27 for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding 34 yards on the ground. Through three weeks, Purdy is firmly in the super early MVP conversation — and rightfully so.
Christian McCaffrey led the ground attack with 15 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, along with 4 receptions for 41 yards. The run game looked much improved, and the 15 carries marked CMC’s highest workload of the season.
George Kittle hauled in 6 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns, stacking together back‑to‑back standout games. Deebo Samuel Sr. posted the stat of the day: 0 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown on the hook‑and‑ladder. Jordan Watkins stepped up after Mike Evans went down, catching 2 passes for 60 yards, with his first grab setting up three points before halftime.
Overall, the offense looked the part again — no sacks, no turnovers, and clutch execution even after losing Evans and Trent Williams. When it mattered most, Purdy and the offense delivered.
The 49ers defense allowed 365 total yards — 272 passing and 93 rushing — recorded 2 sacks, and forced no turnovers.
Keion White has now logged a sack in two straight weeks, and Ogbo Okoronkwo picked up his first sack as a 49er. Rookie Gracen Halton continues to shine, and fresh off the practice squad, Sebastian Valdez had a strong showing filling in for a depleted defensive line.
Fred Warner led the team with 17 tackles, looking like he’s already in midseason form. Dre Greenlaw is starting to resemble the Greenlaw of old; despite leaving with an injury, he’s expected to be good to go this week.
Arizona chipped away with short passes throughout the game, but the secondary avoided giving up any explosive plays. Overall, the defense played okay — they got off the field early, but the Cardinals kept drives alive by methodically moving the ball. The pass rush was so‑so, but considering how banged up that group is, they did enough to secure the win.
The special teams unit struggled. Eddy Pineiro went 1/1 on his lone field goal attempt — a 57‑yarder — but missed two extra points. Siran Neal accidentally muffed a punt that led to a Cardinals touchdown. Mistakes like this happen, and better they happen early in the season than later.
The 49ers adjusted and overcame adversity throughout the game. Despite coming in shorthanded, they contained the Cardinals until the muffed punt shifted momentum. The staff kept the team composed and ready to respond when it mattered.
The Cardinals have some legitimate weapons on offense and look like a team capable of giving opponents trouble as the season progresses. They travel to New York for a Week 4 matchup against the Giants.
The 49ers host the 2–1 Denver Broncos, who are coming off a win over the Los Angeles Rams.
After three weeks, the 49ers sit at 3–0 and look like one of the league’s top teams early on. The biggest storyline so far is Brock Purdy’s play — he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September, and he’s operating on another level. As the competition stiffens, it’s going to be fun to see how high Purdy can climb.
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