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Brock Purdy threw for four touchdowns, including the clincher to George Kittle with 91 seconds left, as the 49ers overcame another slew of injuries to remain unbeaten.
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They held off the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium behind some heavy lifting from their offensive stars: Purdy, Kittle and, of course, Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey was at his best in the fourth quarter, setting the tone on the game-sealing drive with an 11-yard catch on the first play and later a 12-yard bull rush up the middle that moved the 49ers to the Arizona 42.
Purdy appeared to put the game on ice with a 45-yard scramble to the end zone that had the stadium rocking. But Kittle was called for a hold near the goal line, nullifying the score.
No problem.
Two snaps later, Purdy rolled to his right and connected with a wide open Kittle for a 20-yard touchdown that made it 36-27 with 1:31 to go.
Here are a few nuggets from the victory:
TURNING POINT
The 49ers seemed to be in control late in the third quarter, leading by 10 and about to send their offense back onto the field. But an Arizona punt inadvertently hit the leg of 49er Siran Neal. The Cardinals recovered at the San Francisco 28. The visitors then marched for a touchdown, turning the final quarter into a nail-biter.
STATS THAT TELL THE STORY
Say this about the 49ers: They were efficient on offense. They gained 437 yards in only 50 snaps and were 5 of 8 on third down. The Cardinals finished with 365 yards in 81 snaps and were 9 of 18 on third down.
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PUR-FECTION
Purdy continued his incredible start to the season, completing 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 34 yards in two carries. Would have been more had Kittle not been called for holding. For the season, Purdy has nine TD passes.
THEY SAID IT
“I am very comfortable with Brock throwing the ball. I feel like I’ve always been,” coach Kyle Shanahan said when asked about choosing to pass more than run with the 49ers in position to milk the clock late in the game.
WAIT, WHAT?
The 49ers’ defense, in its first game since star end Nick Bosa went down with a calf injury, was on the field for a staggering 38:44 on Sunday. The unit bent and occasionally broke — especially in the second half — but had enough to win another game.
WHAT A PLAY CALL
On third-and-12 from their own 18, the 49ers dialed up a heck of a play to score on their opening possession. Mike Evans caught a short pass from Purdy in the left flat and immediately tossed the ball to a curling Deebo Samuel, who sprinted down the sideline for an electric 82-yard touchdown play that made it 7-0.
MEDICAL TENT
Where do we start? Evans was carted off the field in the first half with a rib/oblique injury. Left tackle Trent Williams was carted off in the third quarter with a stinger in his shoulder and did not return. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton didn’t return after suffering cramps in the second half.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Niners have one more game to go in their stretch of three straight home games following the opener in Australia. Their Week 4 matchup is against the Denver Broncos next Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:25 p.m. The 49ers finally go back on the road for a huge Week 5 showdown in Seattle.
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This story was originally published September 27, 2026 at 6:15 PM.