The Arizona Cardinals cannot seem to shake their NFC West troubles. A week after a dismal performance against the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona’s furious second-half comeback attempt fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
Sunday’s game carried the early signs of a looming blowout. Head coach Mike LaFleur’s offense found itself staring down a 23-6 deficit in the early third quarter. They scored 24 points in the second half, including a 17-point fourth quarter. Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love had his first 100-plus-yard performance.
And yet, they simply couldn’t keep San Francisco from scoring. Arizona has now lost eight straight divisional games.
Jeremiyah Love has breakout performance for Cardinals
Coming in to Sunday, Cardinal fans had yet to experience Love as a star player, despite the rookie recording his first NFL touchdown in week one’s win over the Chargers.
But against San Francisco, it was clear the game plan ran through Love early. He had over 40 yards within the first eight minutes of the game, and continued filling up his box score as the day progressed.
Love was given 21 carries and five receptions through the air, amassing a total of 26 touches. He ran for 90 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry in the process. That, plus his 19 receiving yards and fourth-quarter touchdown, totaled a 109-yard game for the No. 3 overall pick. He was the only Arizona running back to secure a positive yardage total, as Tyler Allgeier was held to -1 yard on just two carries.
Love looked every bit the part of the dynamic player Arizona drafted. He displayed patience, agility, vision and post-contact explosiveness. Despite a pedestrian game from Arizona’s offensive line, Love consistently pounded ahead for the extra yard. The 21-year-old likely has a bright future ahead, barring injury.
Arizona’s offense, as a whole, struggled in the first half. All they could manage was two field goals, punting three times in a penalty-riddled, mistake-filled 30 minutes of football.
But whatever adjustments LaFleur made to his side of the football at halftime appeared to work. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett ended his day with a solid, albeit inefficient 280 yards and two scores. He needed 52 attempts (of which he completed 38) to do so. Arizona did not turn the ball over.
WR Michael Wilson led the aerial attack with 11 receptions, 89 yards and a touchdown. Trey McBride followed with nine catches and 75 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. was targeted five times, hauling in three for 40 yards after a week of noise surrounding his lack of early-season production.
Arizona’s offense, in total, was good for 365 yards. They dominated time of possession, holding the ball for just under 39 minutes. And in that number lies the very defensive woes that cost the Cardinals a chance at an upset over Kyle Shanahan and co.
Cardinals’ defense dominated by 49ers
The Cardinals’ defense was a major concern heading into 2026. Very few changes were made — both in terms of personnel and coaching — to a group that allowed a franchise-worst 488 points a year ago.
The defense that took the field on Sunday in Santa Clara looked just like that very unit.
On San Francisco’s first drive of the game, Arizona surrendered an 82-yard hook-and-ladder trick play for a touchdown to Deebo Samuel. They allowed a 93-yard touchdown drive spanning just over five minutes to open the second half.
They gave the 49ers room to kick a field goal with seconds left in the half to extend their lead to 17-6, then promptly let them make it 23-6 to open the third quarter in just seven plays.
When the comeback began to look real, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ unit could not hold up. Back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdown drives put the game just out of reach for Arizona.
The Cardinals’ defense was torched for 437 yards, including 140 on the ground on 23 rushes — a clip of 6.1 yards per carry. Despite 49ers QB Brock Purdy completing only 15 passes, those throws went for nearly 300 yards, four passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 133.8. He was not sacked once, as Arizona’s pass rush was mostly neutralized by the San Francisco offensive line.
In a way, it felt as if this performance restored order. This is the type of game that was expected heading in to the season. Expectations for the Cardinals’ defense were low. For the offense, they were a bit higher.
Putting up 30 points in a loss to a divisional opponent is disappointing, but it does align with both the talent and coaching staff present on each side of the football.
