San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
Final Score: 49ers 41, Cardinals 22
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
This game was effectively over after the very first play. The 49ers jumped out to a 7-0 lead within the first 30 seconds thanks to a 99-yard kick return by Skyy Moore that immediately set up the opening touchdown. San Francisco took advantage of short fields for most of its drives, allowing them to score often despite barely controlling the time of possession.
While the first half stayed competitive, everything ultimately broke the 49ers’ way, and they never looked back. A major issue for the Cardinals was penalties — they were flagged 17 times for 130 yards. It’s nearly impossible to sustain drives when so many positive plays get erased. Arizona did produce several solid offensive moments, but with Brock Purdy back, the 49ers capitalized on every mistake and kept the momentum firmly on their side.
Four Up
- Brock Purdy — In his first game back, Purdy looked good for the most part. Had some rough moments, but threw the ball very well and connected with his receivers often on the field. You could also say Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are up as well.
- Michael Wilson — Got thrown in as the WR1 for the offense and dominated with 15 receptions for 185 yards. Wilson was just catching everything coming his way.
- Trey McBride — The same could be said for McBride, who went over 100 yards and caught 10 of his 11 targets in this game.
- Jacoby Brissett — When you complete an NFL record 47 passes, you deserve an up performance because this game wasn’t lost due to Brissett.
Two Down
- Elijah Higgins — Fumbled the ball right before going over the goal line for a touchdown.
- Kendrick Bourne — Zero targets in this game. He is firmly back with the second-team offense now.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Brock Purdy: 19/26, 200 Yards, 3 TDs | 1 Carry, -7 Yards
We got the return of Brock Purdy at quarterback, and despite what the box score may suggest, it was an uneven performance at times. Starting with the positives, he looked comfortable in the pocket whenever he had solid protection. His lower-body movement looked unrestricted, and he showed no signs of limitation while making throws. His best play of the afternoon was his touchdown to George Kittle — a beautiful fade that he placed perfectly. Throughout the game, Purdy continued to deliver several strong, on-time throws.
However, there was definitely some rust he needed to shake off. Purdy nearly threw two interceptions, including one especially poor decision where he forced the ball into a tight window. Another noticeable element was the complete lack of rushing. Purdy had added mobility to his game last season, but we didn’t see him use his legs at all in this matchup. That could be due to it being his first game back — or simply because the 49ers had control and didn’t need it.
Moving forward, Purdy looks healthy again, and this offense could begin to pick up serious momentum in the second half of the season.
Mac Jones: 3 Carries, -3 Yards
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey: 13 Carries, 81 Yards, 2 TDs | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 40 Yards, TD
What more can we even say about Christian McCaffrey at this point? He set the tone immediately, punching in a 1-yard touchdown on the very first offensive play of the game. He later added a second score in the fourth quarter, and his third came on a short pass in the flat where he was completely uncovered and walked into the end zone with ease.
Outside of the touchdowns, McCaffrey ran with his usual consistency, routinely ripping off gains of 6 or more yards. In the fourth quarter, the 49ers leaned on him heavily to chew the clock, and he responded with multiple chunk runs of 15 or more yards that helped them put the game away.
His role in the receiving game didn’t change much — he saw slightly fewer targets, but that was more a product of game script, as San Francisco was in control from the start. With Purdy back and the offense beginning to click again, McCaffrey should continue to see plenty of scoring opportunities moving forward.
Brian Robinson Jr.: 8 Carries, 24 Yards | 1 Target
Kyle Juszczyk: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
George Kittle: 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 67 Yards, 2 TDs
Veteran tight end George Kittle had himself a big day, finding the end zone twice. His first touchdown came on a beautifully thrown over-the-shoulder catch in the opening quarter, where he cleanly beat his defender and created plenty of separation for Purdy to drop the ball right in. His second score showcased that same ability to separate, slipping free in coverage and giving his quarterback an easy target to hit.
Kittle looked sharp throughout the game and reminded everyone of the strong connection he shares with Purdy. While his production has been a bit up and down this season, Purdy’s return could be the spark that brings more consistency to Kittle’s fantasy output moving forward.
Jauan Jennings: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 54 Yards
WR1 Jauan Jennings delivered a solid performance and even tied for the team lead in targets despite the 49ers playing from ahead most of the game. Jennings was involved early and often, showing strong separation at times and making several impressive grabs. One of his best plays came on a tightly contested catch that helped move the chains and keep the offense rolling.
While San Francisco didn’t need a massive outing from him, Jennings was reliable throughout and continues to take advantage of his opportunities. It will be interesting to see whether this level of involvement remains steady as Ricky Pearsall becomes more integrated into the offense.
Ricky Pearsall : 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 0 Yards
There wasn’t much to say about Ricky Pearsall in this one. Most of the targets thrown his way were off-target, and his lone reception came in the first quarter on a short pass that went for no gain. He was on the field frequently, but Purdy rarely looked in his direction.
This may simply be part of easing him back into the offense — letting him get game reps and adjust to the speed without forcing heavy involvement yet. As Pearsall continues to move further away from his injury, he should gradually see more meaningful opportunities.
Demarcus Robinson: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 13 Yards
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 47/57, 452 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs | 2 Carries, -2 Yards
Yes, you’re reading the stats correctly — Jacoby Brissett threw 57 passes and completed 47 of them, an NFL record. For the most part, Brissett continued to perform well within this Cardinals offense. He consistently worked through his progressions and delivered strong, accurate throws throughout the game. What stood out most was that he wasn’t just checking the ball down — he pushed it 15 or more yards downfield multiple times and connected with his receivers.
If Brissett hadn’t thrown those two critical interceptions, he would have been looking at an even more impressive outing. The first pick wasn’t entirely on him, as two receivers ended up running the same route and essentially pulled the defender right into the play. The second interception was on Brissett — he was rolling out and forced a throw into a spot he shouldn’t have.
Even with those mistakes, Brissett still had a very good game overall. He elevates this Cardinals offense when he’s on the field, and based on how he’s playing, he should continue to do so moving forward.
Running Back
Bam Knight: 5 Carries, 24 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 21 Yards
Emari Demercado: 5 Carries, 8 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards
Michael Carter: 2 Carries, 6 Yards | 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 22 Yards
The Cardinals’ backfield operated as a true committee in this game, with all three running backs playing roles at different points. Bam Knight opened the game as the lead back and handled the first several touches. He ran well overall and even scored an early touchdown. He also had a 60-yard touchdown called back, which would have dramatically boosted his final stat line. Knight was heavily involved in the first half while the game was still competitive, rotating with Emari Demercado.
Demercado, however, didn’t look as explosive as he had in previous weeks, and his day was cut short when he exited midway through the second quarter with an injury and did not return.
That shift opened the door for Michael Carter, who took over as the passing-down back for most of the second half. Knight ended up seeing fewer touches than Carter after halftime. Outside of their usage as checkdowns for Brissett, neither back made a major impact once the game script turned pass-heavy.
It will be interesting to see how the backfield looks next week — especially if Trey Benson returns and reshapes the rotation once again.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Wilson: 18 Targets, 15 Receptions, 185 Yards
Michael Wilson had a wild Week 11 performance. Coming into the game, it was hard to know what to expect from the veteran receiver — someone who has always flashed talent but rarely puts it all together when the opportunity presents itself. This time, he absolutely delivered. Thanks to Brissett looking his way 18 times, Wilson exploded for one of the most productive games of his career.
Wilson was used all over the field: curl routes, tough catches over the middle, you name it. Brissett trusted him to make plays, and he consistently came through. Even on deep shots, Wilson showed up — one of his early receptions was a deep bomb where he made a crazy, contested grab with a defender tight on him. He also created separation on his own, showing sharper route running than we’ve seen in recent weeks. Twelve of his targets would come in the second half of the game.
Don’t expect this type of output every week, but if Marvin Harrison Jr. remains out, things could get interesting for Wilson moving forward.
Trey McBride: 11 Targets, 10 Receptions, 115 Yards, TD
The star tight end continues to show why he’s one of the best at the position. While he didn’t see a massive 18-target outing, he still earned 11 targets and caught 10 of them. McBride looked open on seemingly every route, consistently finding soft spots in the defense and giving Brissett an easy, reliable option all game long.
As we’ve seen from McBride, his combination of speed, power, and yards-after-catch ability makes him a difference-maker whenever the ball is in his hands. He showcased that repeatedly in this matchup. His performance was capped off with a short 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter during garbage time.
McBride remains an elite focal point of this offense and continues to operate as one of the top tight ends in the league.
Greg Dortch: 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 66 Yards, TD
Xavier Weaver: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Elijah Higgins: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards, FUM (Lost)
Andre Baccellia: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards