Week 3 - After starting the season with back-to-back road games, the (2-0) San Francisco 49ers would return to Levi's Stadium to host the (2-0) Arizona Cardinals in front of the Faithful in their home-opener. Sitting atop the NFC Western Division standings at 2-0 in a three-way tie with the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers would have a chance to separate themselves a bit with what would be their second win against a division opponent in as many tries and the only team entering Sunday with a win within the division. With only one win against the vaunted NFC West a year ago, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers would be able to eclipse that mark on Sunday with a victory, while also looking to bounce back from dropping both games against the Cardinals in 2024-25. What would begin as an offensive struggle highlighted by stellar defensive play by both sides thru the first three quarters, quickly turned into a classic finish that would be won in large part thanks to the contributions of several of the 49ers' newest members.
But not before both teams were struck hard by the injury bug, claiming team captains from both sides with season-ending leg injuries. Having suffered several key injuries in the early going of the season through the first two weeks, the Niners got more bad news on Sunday when defensive-end and former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa went down in the first quarter with a knee injury. While Bosa was able to walk off the field gingerly under his own power, he would hit the deck on the sideline while being examined by the team's medical staff before giving a thumbs down to family members watching from the stands. Meanwhile, Arizona running back James Conner suffered an ankle injury that would require him to be carted off the field early in the second half. The injuries to both players would be a gut-punch to their respective teams and will undoubtedly leave a void on the field and in the clubhouse. But as always, the show must go on.
While neither team was able to do much of anything in the opening quarter, the limited success on offense came from Arizona on the Cardinals' opening-drive which spanned 14-plays before eventually stalling on a missed field goal attempt from kicker Chad Ryland who missed from 57-yards out. San Francisco on the other hand saw two possessions in the first quarter, both of which ending with a three and out punt. After Arizona struck first with a field goal on their next drive, San Francisco answered with a field goal of their own as the offense finally began to move the chains before kicker Eddy Pineiro tied the game at 3. Running the two-minute offense would become a thing of beauty for San Francisco on Sunday, as quarterback Mac Jones was able to stay cool, calm and collective in marching his team down the field to close out both halves against the Cardinals. After forcing an Arizona punt just before the two-minute warning, Jones was able to get his kicker in position to kick a go-ahead field goal just before halftime as Pineiro split the uprights from 51-yards out to give his team a 6-3 lead heading into the locker room.
Without one of their team captains on defense for 3+ quarters, guys like linebackers Fred Warner and Dee Winters as well as rookie defensive-end Mykel Williams would all have to step up in Bosa's absence. Behind the tutelage of defensive-coordinator Robert Saleh, the defense would answer the call and keep the Arizona offense at bay virtually all game long. With the Cardinals tying the game after a field goal on their first possession of the second half, the 49ers began a 12-play, 73-yard drive that spanned 6 minutes and 22 seconds of game time, their longest of the afternoon. Unfortunately, that drive would go up in flames near the goal line as San Francisco came up short on third and fourth downs from only a yard out. San Francisco's next possession, however, would have a much better outcome to open the fourth quarter.
Facing a 4th and 2 at the Arizona 40-yard line, head coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up a gutsy pass play that saw quarterback Mac Jones heave a deep ball down the sideline and into the bucket for 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall who has had quite the start to his sophomore campaign. Coming down with the 34-yard gain to keep the drive alive, Jones hit fullback Kyle Juszczyk in the end zone for the go-ahead score and the game's first touchdown with 10:50 remaining in regulation. With Arizona QB Kyler Murray held in check virtually all game long through the air with only short passes and minimal gains to show for, the aerial attack suddenly began to click as the Cardinals found gains of 32 and 33 yards thanks to a big reception from second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and a huge defensive pass interference call in the end zone from San Francisco's second-year cornerback Renardo Green. Murray would cash in on the crucial penalty two plays later with a 1-yard pass to standout tight-end Trey McBride for the game-tying touchdown.
Looking to answer right back, the 49ers began to march after a big rush from second-string running back Brian Robinson who got his team in field goal range. But just a few plays later, Jones would be intercepted when attempting to squeeze a pass thru a tight window intended for Ricky Pearsall. The Cardinals would fail to cash in with the turnover and were held to a quick three and out punt to pin the 49ers deep inside their own 10. The poor field position would prove to be costly as the 49ers were called for a safety in their own end zone after a holding penalty on guard Dominick Puni. Ironically, the 49ers defense nearly forced a safety a few possessions earlier on an intentional grounding penalty by Murray who was pinned back inside his own territory, but officials claimed the Arizona quarterback was not fully in the end zone at the time he released the ball. With Arizona now leading 15-13 and in possession of the ball following the safety, Murray and company had a chance to close out the game with a few first downs. They would manage to get just one before a pivotal pass breakup by 49ers rookie cornerback Upton Stout on a third and long, knocking the ball loose from receiver Zay Jones as both players went to the ground. Resulting a fourth and long, the Cardinals would be forced to punt, giving Mac Jones and the 49er offense one last chance to march their way to victory.
Taking over with 1:46 remaining in regulation, Jones began to chip away at the field, hitting a variety of receivers for gains of 11, 10, 7 and 11 yards before a big 20-yard completion to McCaffrey on a screen play, setting up kicker Eddy Pineiro for a game-winning field goal attempt. With six game-winning kicks under his belt entering Sunday, Pineiro added game-winner No. 7 by splitting the uprights from 35-yards out to give his team the 16-15 win in their home-opener and send the Levi's Stadium crowd into a frenzy as time expired. The come-from-behind win in the final moments would mark a series of firsts for the 49ers, including their first win when trailing in the final 10-seconds of regulation since their epic battle against Drew Brees and the Saints in 2019 that ended on a walk-off field goal by former kicker Robbie Gould. It would also mark the first time in franchise history that the 49ers would win three straight games to open a season all by seven points or less. After leaning on the defense to close out wins in each of the first two weeks, Sunday's resilient win was the team's first this season at the hands of the offense. The 49ers were able to claw their way to victory on Sunday despite losing the time of possession battle by 9-minutes and 18-seconds, their biggest deficit in a win since October 31, 2021 against the Chicago Bears.
Helping lead the team to a win for a second straight week, quarterback Mac Jones threw for 284 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception on Sunday, connecting on 8 passes to receiver Ricky Pearsall who totaled 117 yards receiving to become the first 49er since Antonio Bryant in 2006 with 100+ receiving yards in two of the team's first three games. Running back Christian McCaffrey tallied 140 total yards after 52 yards rushing and 88 yards receiving, with a game-high 10 receptions. It would be McCaffrey's 12th career game with 10+ receptions, extending his own NFL-record for the most among running backs. Arizona's Kyler Murray threw for 159 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another 37 yards in the loss.
Week 4 Preview: Improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2023 which ended with a trip to the Super Bowl, the 49ers are 1 of 6 remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL and will look to keep things rolling as they get set to welcome in the (2-1) Jacksonville Jaguars. The 49ers will get their first look at last year's Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The two-way college star has seen action playing both sides of the ball as a receiver and cornerback, having played 43 snaps on defense in Week 3 compared to 37 snaps on offense.
Serving as the backup to Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence a season ago where he made seven starts and amassed a record of 2-5, Mac Jones may get a crack at his former team if coach Kyle Shanahan decides to give first-string QB Brock Purdy an extra week of rest while recovering from shoulder and toe injuries suffered in Week 1. Labeled as a game-time decision in Week 3, time will tell if Purdy is ready as he's expected to return to practice this week. Then again, Jones himself was forced to finish Sunday's game with a knee brace after re-aggravated a PCL sprain he suffered during training camp. Whether it's Purdy or Jones that suit up under-center for the Niners in Week 4, San Francisco will look to improve their winning streak to four and hopefully go a week without suffering a key injury which they've been unable to avoid thru the first three weeks of the season with Kittle, Purdy, Jennings and now Bosa all missing time in the early going. If the Niners can continue to find ways to win without some of their best players, coach Shanahan will certainly be one of the top Coach of the Year candidates in the league.
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