49ers top Cardinals in Brock Purdy's return despite Jacoby Brissett's record day
Nov 16, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws the ball while Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (97) defends in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images Brock Purdy passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns in his first game since Sept. 28, Christian McCaffrey scored three touchdowns and the San Francisco 49ers beat the error-prone Arizona Cardinals 41-22 on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
Purdy completed 19 of 26 passes without an interception in his return from a turf toe injury suffered in the season opener and aggravated in a 26-21 loss to Jacksonville in Week 4.
McCaffrey scored the 49ers' first and last touchdowns, on 1- and 4- yards runs, and added a 9-yard scoring reception. He had 81 yards rushing and 121 yards from scrimmage.
Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL regular season-record 47 passes in 57 attempts for a career-high 452 yards, with two touchdowns and two picks. His streak of 166 consecutive passes without an interception ended in the final minute of the first half.
Brissett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trey McBride and a 17-yarder to Greg Dortch in the fourth quarter, after the 49ers built a 35-10 lead.
Niners tight end George Kittle had six receptions for 67 yards and scored on 30- and 4-yard catches.
Even with the win, the 49ers (7-4) remained eighth in the NFC playoff standings after Green Bay and Chicago won earlier Sunday.
The Cardinals committed a franchise-record 17 penalties, breaking a record set in 1936, for 130 yards.
A holding penalty negated a 60-yard scoring run by Bam Knight on fourth-and-inches on the Cardinals' first possession of the third quarter, when it was 25-10.
The Cardinals blocked a 62-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro on the final play of the first half, but an unnecessary roughness penalty gave Pineiro another chance from 47, which he converted.
Pineiro also made a 48-yard field goal and another 47-yarder to run his season-long streak of consecutive makes to 22. He beat the Cardinals 16-15 on a 35-yard field goal as time expired in Week 3.
Michael Wilson had career highs in receptions (15) and yards (185) for the Cardinals. McBride had 10 for 115. Knight had a 6-yard TD run in the first quarter, after the Niners built a 13-0 lead.
Elijah Higgins fumbled as he was hit just before he crossed the goal line to stop a Cardinals drive in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
--Field Level Media
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