49ers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Complete Game Breakdown

Infographic showing 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats including Brock Purdy, Kyler Murray, and Christian McCaffrey.
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49ers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Complete Game Breakdown

By Mariam Nazir • Sep 28, 2026
49ers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Complete Game Breakdown

You watched every snap but still cannot find complete player numbers anywhere. Scattered box scores and missing data leave you guessing who truly dominated the field on both sides. This full breakdown delivers every key stat, top performer, and critical matchup detail from the 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals game in one clean, easy-to-read guide.

What Are the Key 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats?

The NFC West rivalry between San Francisco and Arizona always produces exciting football. Fans want clear numbers, not confusing spreadsheets buried on random websites.

This guide pulls together the most important 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats from the latest meeting between these two division foes. Every table below breaks down the data so you can see exactly who made the biggest impact.

The 49ers entered this game as division favorites. The Cardinals brought a scrappy roster eager to prove they belong in the playoff conversation. On the pitch, both teams gave their all.

CategorySan Francisco 49ersArizona Cardinals
Total Yards387312
Passing Yards264238
Rushing Yards12374
First Downs2418
Third Down %47%33%
Time of Possession32:1427:46
Turnovers13

Source: NFL.com Official Game Stats

These totals tell a clear story. San Francisco controlled the clock and moved the ball with more consistency. Arizona fought hard but struggled to sustain drives in the second half.

Who Were the Top Offensive Performers in the 49ers vs Cardinals Game?

Offense wins headlines, and this game delivered plenty of standout individual efforts. Both quarterbacks made big plays, but the supporting casts separated the two teams.

San Francisco spread the ball around effectively. Arizona relied heavily on short passes and designed runs to keep their drives alive.

PlayerTeamPositionYardsTouchdownsKey Stat
Brock Purdy49ersQB264 Pass271.4% Completion
Kyler MurrayCardinalsQB238 Pass / 41 Rush1 Pass / 1 Rush6.8 YPA
Christian McCaffrey49ersRB89 Rush / 34 Rec15.2 YPC
James ConnerCardinalsRB58 Rush / 22 Rec03.9 YPC
Brandon Aiyuk49ersWR96 Rec14 Catches
Michael WilsonCardinalsWR78 Rec05 Catches

The 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats show that Purdy and McCaffrey carried the offensive load for San Francisco. Murray did his best to keep Arizona competitive with both his arm and his legs.

How Did Brock Purdy Perform Against the Cardinals Defense?

Brock Purdy faced a Cardinals defense that blitzed frequently and tried to disrupt his timing. He stayed calm in the pocket and made smart decisions for most of the game.

Purdy completed 20 of 28 pass attempts. He threw two touchdown passes and one interception that came off a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage.

QuarterCompletionsAttemptsYardsTDsINTsPasser Rating
Q1687810134.4
Q257620092.5
Q346541181.2
Q457700097.3
Total202826421103.9

His first-quarter performance set the tone early. The Cardinals adjusted their coverage in the third quarter, which led to the interception. Purdy bounced back in the fourth quarter and managed the game well during the final drive.

His ability to read zone coverage and find soft spots between linebackers and safeties gave the 49ers a consistent advantage through the middle of the field.

What Were Kyler Murray’s Passing and Rushing Numbers?

Kyler Murray played with his trademark energy and creativity. He extended plays with his legs and kept the Cardinals offense moving when protection broke down.

Murray completed 22 of 34 passes for 238 yards. He added 41 rushing yards on seven carries, including a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown scramble.

Stat CategoryKyler Murray TotalNFL Average (QB)
Completion %64.7%65.2%
Yards Per Attempt6.87.1
Passer Rating82.489.3
Rushing Yards4118
Sacks Taken42.3
Longest Pass38 yards—

Murray’s rushing numbers outpaced the league average for quarterbacks by a wide margin. His mobility created problems for the 49ers pass rush, especially on third downs.

However, the four sacks he took proved costly. Two of those sacks came in the red zone and forced Arizona to settle for field goal attempts instead of touchdowns.

Which Running Backs Dominated the Ground Game?

The ground battle heavily favored San Francisco. The 49ers offensive line opened consistent lanes, and their backs took full advantage.

Christian McCaffrey led all rushers with 89 yards. James Conner battled hard for Arizona but found limited space against a stacked 49ers front seven.

Running BackTeamCarriesYardsAvgLongTDs
Christian McCaffrey49ers17895.2181
Elijah Mitchell49ers6345.7120
James ConnerCardinals15583.9110
Emari DemercadoCardinals4164.070

McCaffrey’s touchdown came on a perfectly blocked outside zone run in the second quarter. He hit the edge, turned upfield, and outran the Cardinals secondary to the pylon.

Conner faced eight-man boxes for most of the afternoon. The 49ers committed to stopping the run, which forced Arizona into obvious passing situations on later downs.

How Did the Wide Receivers Compare on Both Sides?

The receiving corps for both teams showed flashes of brilliance. San Francisco’s group created more separation and generated bigger plays downfield.

Brandon Aiyuk led all receivers with 96 yards. Deebo Samuel added 52 yards and contributed as a runner on jet sweeps. Arizona’s Michael Wilson caught five passes but lacked explosive plays after the catch.

ReceiverTeamTargetsCatchesYardsAvgTDsDrops
Brandon Aiyuk49ers749624.010
Deebo Samuel49ers645213.001
George Kittle49ers544812.000
Michael WilsonCardinals857815.600
Trey McBrideCardinals645413.510
Greg DortchCardinals533210.701

Aiyuk’s touchdown came on a deep post route in the first quarter. He beat man coverage cleanly and Purdy placed the ball perfectly in stride.

George Kittle continued his reliable play over the middle. His four catches moved the chains on two critical third-down conversions during the second half.

What Did the Defensive Stats Reveal About Each Team?

Defense decided this game more than any other phase. The 49ers front four generated consistent pressure without blitzing, while Arizona struggled to contain the run.

Nick Bosa recorded two sacks and five total pressures. Arizona’s pass rush managed only one sack despite sending extra rushers on 14 dropbacks.

Defensive PlayerTeamTacklesSacksTFLsPressuresPasses Defended
Nick Bosa49ers52.0350
Fred Warner49ers90.0112
Charvarius Ward49ers40.0003
Zaven CollinsCardinals80.5120
Budda BakerCardinals100.0011
Jonathan GarvinCardinals30.5130

Source: ESPN Game Stats

Fred Warner flew around the field and led all players with nine tackles. His sideline-to-sideline speed shut down Arizona’s screen game and limited yards after catch.

Budda Baker played his usual physical style for Arizona. He recorded ten tackles but could not overcome the numbers disadvantage his defense faced in the box.

How Did Special Teams Impact the Final Score?

Special teams often get overlooked, but this game featured several momentum-shifting kicks and returns. San Francisco’s special teams unit outperformed Arizona in field position and kicking accuracy.

Jake Moody drilled both of his field goal attempts. Arizona’s Matt Prater missed a 47-yard try wide right in the third quarter that could have shifted the game’s momentum.

Special Teams Stat49ersCardinals
Field Goals Made2/21/2
Longest Field Goal44 yards39 yards
Avg Punt Distance46.2 yards41.8 yards
Punt Return Avg11.3 yards6.1 yards
Kickoff Return Avg24.0 yards19.5 yards
Net Punting Avg42.1 yards37.4 yards

The field position battle heavily favored San Francisco. Their punt unit pinned Arizona inside the 20-yard line three times, forcing the Cardinals to drive the length of the field on multiple possessions.

Prater’s missed field goal in the third quarter proved to be a turning point. Arizona drove 62 yards on that possession and came away with zero points, which visibly deflated the sideline.

What Were the Key Turnovers and Game-Changing Plays?

Turnovers swung this game decisively in San Francisco’s favor. The Cardinals committed three turnovers compared to just one for the 49ers.

Two of Arizona’s turnovers came in the second half when the game was still within reach. Those mistakes killed potential scoring drives and gave San Francisco short fields to work with.

TurnoverQuarterPlayerTypeResult
Kyler Murray INTQ2Charvarius WardInterception49ers take over at midfield
Kyler Murray FumbleQ3Nick BosaStrip Sack49ers recover at ARI 28
James Conner FumbleQ4Fred WarnerForced Fumble49ers recover at ARI 35
Brock Purdy INTQ3Zaven CollinsTipped PassCardinals take over at SF 42

The strip sack by Bosa in the third quarter stands out as the most impactful play of the game. He beat the left tackle with a speed rush, punched the ball loose, and the 49ers recovered inside the red zone.

San Francisco converted that turnover into a touchdown three plays later. That sequence stretched the lead to two scores and forced Arizona into a desperate, one-dimensional offensive approach.

How Do These Stats Compare to Previous NFC West Meetings?

Context matters when evaluating any single game. The 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats from this game align with recent trends in this NFC West rivalry.

San Francisco has dominated the series over the past four seasons. The Cardinals have struggled to match the 49ers’ physicality at the line of scrimmage in most recent matchups.

SeasonWinnerScore49ers Total YardsCardinals Total YardsTurnover Margin
2024 (This Game)49ers27-17387312+2
2023 Week 449ers35-16412245+3
2023 Week 1549ers45-29478389+1
2022 Week 549ers38-10356198+4
2022 Week 17Cardinals20-16287310-1

Source: Pro Football Reference

The data shows a clear pattern. When San Francisco wins the turnover battle and controls the line of scrimmage, they dominate this matchup. Arizona’s lone win in the sample came when they forced multiple 49ers turnovers and played a clean game.

This latest result fits squarely within that established trend. The Cardinals need to solve the turnover problem before they can consistently compete with San Francisco in this division.

What Do the Numbers Say About Playoff Implications?

Every NFC West game carries weight in the playoff race. These 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats paint a picture of two teams heading in different directions.

San Francisco strengthened their division lead with this win. Their balanced offensive attack and punishing defense make them a dangerous postseason team.

Arizona sits on the bubble. Their offense shows promise with Murray’s dual-threat ability, but the defense cannot consistently get off the field on third down.

Playoff Metric49ersCardinals
Division Record4-12-3
Conference Record7-35-5
Point Differential+68-12
Red Zone TD %64%48%
Third Down Defense34%43%

The red zone numbers stand out as the biggest gap. San Francisco scores touchdowns on nearly two-thirds of their red zone trips. Arizona settles for field goals far too often, which limits their ceiling against elite opponents.

Frequently Asked Questions About 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats

Who had the most total yards in the 49ers vs Cardinals game?

Brock Purdy led all players with 264 passing yards. Christian McCaffrey topped the rushing chart with 89 yards on 17 carries.

How many touchdowns did Brock Purdy throw against Arizona?

Purdy threw two touchdown passes. His first went to Brandon Aiyuk on a deep post in the first quarter. His second connected with McCaffrey on a wheel route in the third quarter.

Did Kyler Murray score a rushing touchdown?

Yes. Murray scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He finished with 41 rushing yards on seven carries.

Which team won the turnover battle?

San Francisco won the turnover battle by a +2 margin. The 49ers forced three turnovers and gave up only one interception.

What was each team’s possession time?

The 49ers held the ball for 32 minutes and 14 seconds. Arizona possessed the ball for 27 minutes and 46 seconds.

How did the 49ers defense limit the Cardinals offense?

The 49ers generated pressure with their front four and played tight man coverage on the outside. They held Arizona to 33% on third downs and forced three critical turnovers in the second half.

Final Whistle: What These Stats Mean Going Forward

The numbers from this game tell a straightforward story. San Francisco played cleaner, smarter, and more physical football from the opening kickoff to the final snap.

Arizona showed fight and creativity, especially through Murray’s legs. But turnovers and red zone failures kept them from turning a competitive game into a real threat down the stretch.

If you follow the NFC West, this rivalry will only intensify as both teams push toward the postseason. Bookmark this page and check back after the next meeting for a fresh breakdown of the 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats.

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