Skyy Moore’s 98-yard kickoff return on the first play set the tone in 49ers Vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats, while Christian McCaffrey scored on their second possession with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, giving the 49ers an early edge over their opponents.
Balanced offensive execution and disciplined defense led to a victory for the 49ers, highlighted by QB decision-making, running back versatility, and essential defensive plays from key player performances in this matchup.
| Date | Winner | Score | Key Player (49ers) | 49ers Stats | Key Player (Cardinals) | Cardinals Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2025 | 49ers | SF 41–22 ARI | Brock Purdy | 2 TD passes | Kyler Murray | 250+ YDS, TD |
| 01 Oct 2025 | 49ers | SF 28–16 ARI | Christian McCaffrey | 100+ scrimmage YDS, TD | James Conner | 70+ rush YDS |
| 07 Jan 2024 | 49ers | SF 21–20 ARI | Elijah Mitchell | Key rushing yards | Kyler Murray | Passing TD |
| 01 Oct 2023 | 49ers | SF 35–16 ARI | Christian McCaffrey | 4 TD (rush + rec) | Joshua Dobbs | Passing effort |
| 08 Jan 2023 | 49ers | SF 38–13 ARI | George Kittle | 2 TD, 80+ YDS | David Blough | Passing TD |
Offense
After two strong opening weeks, the 49ers have struggled and become inconsistent against an improved Cardinals team this week. From poor play calling and receiver depth issues to Kyler Murray not seeing open targets when running plays, something seems off with this offense that needs addressing immediately – especially given James Conner’s injury status which further raises alarm bells.
San Francisco’s defense has been outstanding over the first three weeks and was able to stop Arizona Cardinals’ final drive on Sunday to give San Francisco victory. Safety Malik Mustapha recorded his first interception of the year by jumping a pass and intercepting it mid-drive in the second quarter, while rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir returned two interceptions for touchdowns later in the fourth quarter – including one picked off by Deommodore Lenoir himself! Additionally, DL Calais Campbell had forced fumble which was recovered by Keion White after having had one forced fumble occurred which was recovered by him from him forcing another drive by Arizona that ultimately gave San Francisco their win!
Tight end George Kittle earned an exceptional season-high grade of 87.6 on 48 snaps, catching six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns en route to leading all players with significant playing time in receiving grades.
This week, the 49ers’ rushing attack faltered somewhat as they only managed 98 yards on 24 attempts compared to their impressive showing in Week 2, as well as Christian McCaffrey being healthy again. This performance was especially disappointing given his excellent showing in Week 2.
K Eddy Pineiro made three consecutive successful field goal attempts as a starting kicker and tied former kicker Phil Dawson for third most consecutive successful kicks to kick-off a franchise career.
Defense
The 49ers’ defensive performance against the Cardinals sets expectations for this weekend’s showdown. Both teams have experienced close games recently, yet usually with Niners having a clear edge on both sides of the ball. Examining past results provides fans and analysts a way to identify each team’s individual strengths; setting up what should be a thrilling contest!
Pro Football Focus recently provided us with an evaluation and breakdown of every player who participated in that matchup, giving us an idea of their performance in each category.
For the first time since 2015, San Francisco held an opponent to under 40 rushing yards for just their fourth time this season and forced three takeaways, the highest total thus far this season. San Francisco scored its most points against Arizona since 2015 in this victory.
Brock Purdy had a 61.9 passing grade – tied for ninth-best among 49ers offensive players – while Jacoby Brissett posted an outstanding 78.7 pass-rushing grade and two touchdown throws.
On the other side of the field, the Cardinals’ defensive backfield struggled to contain Christian McCaffrey’s running attack and allowed a franchise-high 17 penalties totaling 130 yards; additionally they did not record a single sack or pressure.
Defense had an uphill climb against the 49ers on Thursday as their offensive dominance helped compensate for some silly mistakes from its defensemen. Instead of overreaching themselves by trying to do more than they are capable of doing, their defensive players need to learn how to play within their roles better and not try doing too much too soon.
For the third time this season, the Niners did not register a sack against the Cardinals. Their pass-rushers such as Bryce Huff and Curtis Robinson all failed to create any pressure. Luke Gifford was the sole Niners defender to play more than 20 defensive snaps and earn a positive grade; his pass-rush grade (69.1) was highest of any defender in this game while right tackle Spencer Burford surrendered seven pressures despite receiving adequate run blocking grade (54.8).
Situational
San Francisco improved their all-time record against Arizona Cardinals to 38-31 with a 41-22 win at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona during Week 11. This win marked San Francisco’s first regular season sweep since 2002 and marked their inaugural win outside of North America (it had initially been scheduled for Estadio Azteca in Mexico City).
Skyy Moore opened up scoring early for the Niners with an outstanding 98-yard kickoff return and Christian McCaffrey then scored on an explosive 20-yard touchdown run to give them an early advantage. Their defense then continued its strong play by forcing Arizona into a goal line stand that prevented tying scores; later Malik Mustapha made an interception off Jacoby Brissett pass to stop Arizona drives and make sure no points would be gained in second quarter.
Mistakes by the Cardinals in the third quarter put them in deep trouble against an impressive Niners team. A ticky-tack holding penalty allowed San Francisco to attempt another blocked field goal from 15 yards closer, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave them another opportunity for field goal attempts with under four seconds left on the clock.
As the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, San Francisco took control of possession and drove it towards field goal range before K Eddie Pineiro struck an impressive 35-yarder to seal their win.
The Niners offense was also impressive, scoring 25 points in the opening half alone – its highest first-half performance since 2002 and road game performance since 2023. Michael Wilson led this charge, catching 15 passes for 185 yards! Deontay West had one of his finest performances yet and became the NFL’s leading receiver through two games. Additionally, San Francisco’s defense made an impressionful showing as they secured a goalline stand and interception from rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. One downside was the Cardinals’ high penalty count; 17 in total set a franchise record. While some of those penalties may have been borderline, when your team commits so many in one game it indicates a lack of discipline on their part.
Advanced
Fans seeking insight and analysis when reviewing a box score want insight and analysis that showcase how individual player performances impacted the game. Efficiency metrics provide a truer reflection of impact than raw yardage or touchdown counts. Situational stats provide additional context. Dual-threat running backs, mobile quarterbacks and defensive disruptions all play important roles in increasing winning chances.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy connected on two touchdown passes to tight end George Kittle, marking 23 times in franchise history that this pairing has produced multiple scores. Carlos Hyde registered one rushing TD while also posting career-best two receptions of 102 yards; Hyde’s production provided balance to the offense while creating scoring opportunities.
Defense generated 4 sacks and 3 turnovers, leading to numerous high-leverage plays. Sacks and QB pressure directly affect scoring; red-zone efficiency determines winning chances; tight coverage limits passing effectiveness.
Deommodore Lenoir recorded 7 tackles and an interception against Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett that was returned for 64 yards, Lenoir’s first in the NFL and longest return by any 49ers defender since former CB Charvarius Ward returned an interception 66 yards for a TD against Tampa Bay (12/11/22). K Eddy Pineiro converted all 3 field goal attempts on Saturday while Skyy Moore recorded an historic 98-yd kickoff return – marking both franchise history and leaguewide excellence this season!
