The San Francisco 49ers remained unbeaten in the 2026 NFL season after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 36–30 in a hard-fought Week 3 matchup at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, September 27.
Quarterback Brock Purdy played a major role in the victory, throwing for 297 yards and four touchdowns without an interception as the 49ers improved to 3–0.
Brock Purdy Leads the 49ers Offense
Purdy delivered one of his strongest performances of the young season despite San Francisco dealing with injuries and lineup changes.
The 49ers quarterback completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. His four passing touchdowns were a new season high.
Purdy connected with several key weapons throughout the game, helping San Francisco maintain its offensive production even as injuries affected the roster.
George Kittle Comes Up Big
Tight end George Kittle was one of Purdy's biggest targets against Arizona.
Kittle finished with six receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns. His two touchdown catches helped the 49ers maintain control during a game in which the Cardinals repeatedly threatened to complete a comeback.
Kittle's performance was particularly important as San Francisco dealt with injuries at wide receiver and along the offensive line.
Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans Make Big Plays
San Francisco also produced explosive plays through the passing game.
A play involving Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel helped give the 49ers an early advantage, while Evans later caught a 23-yard touchdown from Purdy. Evans subsequently left the game with a rib/oblique injury.
Samuel also provided a major early scoring play, giving San Francisco momentum against the Cardinals defense.
Christian McCaffrey Adds a Touchdown
Running back Christian McCaffrey continued to play an important role in the 49ers' offense.
McCaffrey rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries and scored a one-yard touchdown. The 49ers' rushing attack averaged 6.1 yards per attempt on 23 carries.
His production helped San Francisco keep the Cardinals defense from focusing entirely on Purdy and the passing game.
Cardinals Refuse to Go Away
Arizona kept the game competitive throughout the second half.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona's offense continued to pressure the 49ers defense even after San Francisco established a lead.
The Cardinals eventually closed the gap, turning what initially looked like a comfortable 49ers victory into a tense fourth-quarter contest.
49ers Win Despite Injury Challenges
San Francisco entered the game already dealing with significant injury concerns, and additional injuries made the victory even more challenging.
Mike Evans left with a rib/oblique injury, while left tackle Trent Williams also left the game after suffering a stinger. The 49ers were also short-handed along the defensive line.
Despite those issues, the 49ers found enough offensive production to finish the game with a six-point victory.
San Francisco Improves to 3–0
With the 36–30 victory, the 49ers moved to 3–0 and remained unbeaten after three weeks of the 2026 NFL season. San Francisco opened the season with a win over the Los Angeles Rams before defeating the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
The Week 3 victory was different from the first two wins, however. Instead of a comfortable finish, the 49ers had to withstand a strong Cardinals comeback attempt.
What the Win Means for Brock Purdy and the 49ers
Purdy's performance gives San Francisco another encouraging result early in the season. His four touchdown passes and zero interceptions helped the 49ers overcome a number of challenges and remain undefeated.
The bigger story may be the team's ability to win while dealing with injuries. San Francisco's depth will become increasingly important as the season continues.
The 49ers will now turn their attention toward Week 4 as they look to extend their unbeaten start to the 2026 NFL season.
Final Score
Arizona Cardinals 30
San Francisco 49ers 36
Brock Purdy Week 3 Stats
- Passing: 15/27
- Passing yards: 297
- Passing touchdowns: 4
- Interceptions: 0
- Passer rating: 133.8
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