6 Winners and 5 losers from the 49ers win over the Cardinals
Key Points:
- The San Francisco 49ers narrowly defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 in Week 3, with Kyle Shanahan's aggressive play-calling playing a key role in securing the win despite defensive struggles.
- Quarterback Brock Purdy excelled under pressure, completing key throws and scrambling effectively, achieving his 14th career game with a passer rating over 130, the most before age 27 in NFL history.
- George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey were standout offensive performers, with Kittle leading in impact plays and touchdowns, and McCaffrey contributing significant rushing and receiving yards.
- The 49ers' defense struggled with tackling and soft coverage, allowing many completions and missed tackles, which contributed to the Cardinals running 31 more plays and staying competitive.
- The offensive line and the makeshift defensive tackle group were bright spots, providing protection for Purdy and generating pressures and run stops despite injuries and lineup changes.