Cardinals’ Rosen, Kirk cap comeback win over 49ers

Cardinals insider Bob McManaman offers a quick recap from Sunday’s game between the Cardinals and the 49ers.

Quick recap: Josh Rosen hit fellow rookie Christian Kirk in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to play, and the Cardinals scored a come-from-behind 18-15 victory over the 49ers for their second win of the season on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

Just minutes earlier, Fred Warner recovered a fumble by tight end Jermaine Gresham while the Cardinals were driving for what they hoped would be the game-winning score. San Francisco could have held on for the win if its offense could have generated a couple of first downs, but Arizona’s defense held firm and forced a punt.

Rosen connected on two passes to Larry Fitzgerald for 31 yards, found Kirk for a 19-yard gain and delivered a strike to tight end Ricky Seals-Jones for 13 more yards. After the touchdown throw to Kirk, Rosen hit Fitzgerald for the two-point conversion.

Turning point: The 49ers got some separation in the game when wide receiver Marquise Goodwin got some separation from Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson and turned a short crossing route into a 55-yard touchdown and a 15-3 lead with 13:33 remaining. But that didn’t break the Cardinals, who went on a six-play, 71-yard drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rosen to Fitzgerald.

The touchdown, coming with 11:06 left to play and pulling the Cardinals within five points, breathed life back into the offense. It was a 37-yard bomb to Fitzgerald, in addition to a roughing-the-passer penalty on the 49ers, that helped set it up. Star of the game: Fitzgerald finished with eight receptions for 102 yards, the touchdown reception, and another scoring catch on a two-point conversion. He hadn’t been used like this all season and the 35-year-old veteran more than proved he’s still capable of having huge games.

Key injuries: Running back David Johnson was evaluated for a concussion late in the fourth quarter but managed to return to the game on the team’s game-winning drive.