San Francisco 49ers Dominate Arizona Cardinals In NFC West Matchup
If you tuned into the 49ers-Cardinals game expecting a nail-biter, you probably spent most of your Sunday wondering if you could switch to competitive basket weaving instead. What we witnessed wasn’t so much a football game as it was a public shaming, with the San Francisco 49ers playing the role of the schoolyard bully and the Arizona Cardinals looking like they forgot their lunch money, their homework, and their pants. The final score of 41-22 doesn’t even do justice to the sheer, unadulterated beatdown that unfolded.
49ers Deliver a Masterclass In Mayhem
From the literal first seconds of the game, it was clear this was going to be the 49ers’ day. Skyy Moore took the opening kickoff and nearly housed it, getting tripped up just one yard shy of the end zone. It was a sign of things to come. Christian McCaffrey, a man who treats the end zone like his own personal timeshare, punched it in for a 1-yard score just 16 seconds into the game. Blink and you missed it. The 49ers were up 7-0 before most fans had even found their seats.
Speaking of McCaffrey, the dude was playing a different sport. He wrapped up the day with three total touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air, further cementing his NFL record for games with both a rushing and receiving score. At this point, defenses should just politely ask him which way he’s going. It would save everyone a lot of trouble.
And then there was Brock Purdy. Returning from a six-week hiatus with a toe injury, “Mr. Relevant” looked anything but rusty. He was slinging it with confidence, finishing with 200 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He connected with his favorite security blanket, George Kittle, for two of those scores, including a beautiful 30-yarder. The 49ers’ offense was a well-oiled machine, scoring on eight of their eleven possessions. It was a clinic.
The Cardinals’ Comedy Of Errors
Now, let’s talk about the Cardinals. Oh, the Cardinals. To say they were sloppy would be an insult to sloppy joes everywhere. They didn’t just shoot themselves in the foot; they brought a cannon to a knife fight and aimed it squarely at their own cleats. Arizona set a new, not-so-proud franchise record with a staggering 17 penalties. It was a masterclass in how not to play disciplined football.
There were false starts, holdings that nullified a 60-yard touchdown run by Bam Knight, and a truly bizarre sequence where Calais Campbell blocked a field goal, only to get flagged for illegally contacting the long snapper. The 49ers got a fresh set of downs and, of course, nailed the subsequent kick. It was that kind of day for Arizona. Every step forward was followed by two penalty-flag-induced steps back. Add in two interceptions and a lost fumble near the goal line, and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.
Despite the chaos, Jacoby Brissett actually set a regular-season NFL record with 47 completions, throwing for a whopping 452 yards. But much of that felt like statistical padding in a game that was long decided. It’s like bragging about the thread count of your sheets while your house is on fire.
Ultimately, the 49ers looked like a team with Super Bowl aspirations, while the Cardinals looked like a team that needs to spend the week running laps. For San Francisco, it was a dominant, statement-making victory. For Arizona, it was back to the drawing board after a performance that was, for lack of a better word, a complete train wreck.
