Quick Answer: Who Won the Cardinals vs 49ers Game?
| The San Francisco 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at home. Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes, and Arizona scored 17 points in the fourth quarter but ran out of time. The game kicked off at 4:05 pm ET (1:05 pm PT). |
Cardinals vs 49ers Final Score by Quarter
The 49ers built a lead early. The Cardinals nearly took it away late.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 7 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 36 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 30 |
San Francisco led 17-6 at half-time and 23-6 in the third quarter. Arizona then scored on three of its last four drives and got within a single score, twice.
How Did the 49ers Win?
The 49ers won because they made big plays and Arizona didn’t. San Francisco averaged 8.7 yards per play, while the Cardinals averaged 4.5.
Purdy Carried the Offence
Purdy finished with four touchdown passes and a passer rating of 133.8. He also threw for 297 yards on just 27 attempts, with no interceptions and no sacks.
His touchdown targets were:
- Wide receiver Evans: an 80-yard scoring play in the first quarter, plus a 23-yard touchdown early in the second
- Tight end George Kittle: a 10-yard touchdown and a 20-yard touchdown, both in the fourth quarter
The Kittle score with 1:36 left pushed the lead to 35-27 and was the play that ended Arizona’s comeback hopes.
McCaffrey Scored and Kicker Nailed a 57-Yarder
Christian McCaffrey scored a one-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter. Meanwhile, San Francisco had 140 yards of rushing at six and a quarter yards per carry.
Kicker Eddy Pineiro kicked a 57-yard field goal at the end of the first half. It moved the team from up 14-6 to 17-6 at halftime.
What Went Right (and Wrong) for the Cardinals?
Arizona moved the ball all afternoon but couldn’t turn drives into points until the fourth quarter.
The Good
- Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He added a one-yard rushing score.
- The Cardinals had the ball for 38 minutes 44 seconds, against 21:16 for San Francisco.
- They ran 81 plays to the 49ers’ 50.
- They didn’t turn the ball over, and kicker Chad Ryland made all three field goals.
The Bad
- Short passes: Brissett averaged just 5 yards per attempt, and Arizona’s longest catch was 19 yards.
- Red zone: the Cardinals got into the red zone on 11 pass attempts and 6 rush attempts, yet settled for field goals more than once.
- Penalties: 10 flags for 86 yards hurt several drives.
- Late timing: Arizona’s onside kick attempt failed, so they never got the ball back with a chance to tie.
Put simply, the Cardinals moved the ball well but didn’t score enough with it. That is hard to fix when the other team keeps hitting long plays.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Stat | 49ers | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 437 | 365 |
| Passing yards | 297 | 280 |
| Rushing yards | 140 | 93 |
| First downs | 23 | 27 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 7 for 69 yards | 10 for 86 yards |
| Sacks | 2 | 2 |
The 49ers lost a fumble and had fewer first downs, but they still won comfortably on yards and scoring. The average yards per play tells the story better than the raw totals.
What Happens Next?
After defeating the Rams (27-7) and Dolphins (35-13) at home so far this season, the 49ers have a 3-0 record and will return to the field this Sunday, 4 October, to host the visiting Denver Broncos.
The two clubs will face each other again in Arizona on 10 January 2027. Because it is a flex schedule date, the start time is not set yet and may be subject to change. Check back for the most up-to-date information.
Where to Check Scores and Stats
Scores and stats can change slightly after official review. For the latest numbers, these are reliable places to look:
- NFL.com scores and schedules
- ESPN NFL scoreboard
- San Francisco 49ers official site
- Arizona Cardinals official site
- Pro Football Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Cardinals vs 49ers game?
The San Francisco 49ers won 36-30 over the Arizona Cardinals on 27 September 2026.
What was the final score of Cardinals vs 49ers?
The final score was 49ers 36, Cardinals 30. San Francisco led 17-6 at half-time.
Who scored the touchdowns for the 49ers?
Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes: two to Evans and two to George Kittle. Christian McCaffrey scored one rushing touchdown.
How many yards did Brock Purdy throw for?
Purdy threw for 297 yards on 15 completions from 27 attempts. He had no interceptions and wasn’t sacked.
How did Jacoby Brissett play for the Cardinals?
Brissett was accurate but not explosive. He completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two touchdown passes, and scored once on the ground.
When do the Cardinals and 49ers play again?
Their next meeting is in Arizona on Sunday, 10 January 2027. It’s in the flex schedule, so the time may change.
Final Thoughts
The 49ers were victorious as the team’s explosive plays off set Arizona’s long, but slow drives. While the Cardinals displayed their ability to score late, the team will benefit from finishing drives earlier. A 3-0 start for San Francisco plus a solid Purdy game performance makes the win look well-earned.
Scoring stats and scores are taken from live NFL feeds of 28 September 2026 and may be subject to change following official review.
