Cardinals 'battle back,' rally for win over 49ers

 Cardinals 'battle back,' rally for win over 49ers

Cardinals 'battle back,' rally for win over 49ers

The Arizona Cardinals bounced back from their blowout loss to the Washington Commanders with a gritty 24-23 comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. In scorching heat at Levi's Stadium, the Cardinals overcame early struggles and secured the victory with a 35-yard field goal from newly signed kicker Chad Ryland, who was filling in for the injured Matt Prater. The win moved Arizona to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the NFC West.


Quarterback Kyler Murray set the tone early with a 50-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage, but the Cardinals’ offense stalled after that, managing only two field goals until the fourth quarter. Despite Murray's interception and a blocked field goal returned for a 49ers touchdown in the second quarter, Arizona remained resilient.


Murray led a crucial 73-yard drive in the fourth quarter, culminating in a touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Higgins to bring the Cardinals within two points at 23-21. On a pivotal fourth-and-5 late in the game, Murray found rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 14-yard gain, which kept the drive alive and set up Ryland's game-winning field goal.


The Cardinals' defense played a critical role, forcing three turnovers and holding San Francisco to just three field goals despite the 49ers reaching the red zone multiple times. The defense also sealed the game when linebacker Kyzir White intercepted a pass from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on their final drive, ensuring Arizona’s victory.


Coach Jonathan Gannon praised his team's resilience, emphasizing how they rebounded from last week's poor performance. "I'm proud of how they battled," Gannon said. "We hung together, took the hit from last week, and focused everything on San Francisco."


With the win, the Cardinals now prepare to face the Green Bay Packers, looking to build on their momentum from this hard-fought victory.