49ers lock up NFC West again
McCaffrey’s three TDs highlight win
49ers 45 Cardinals 29
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Deebo Samuel was stunned to be so wide open for San Francisco’s first touchdown of the game. A few quarters later, Christian McCaffrey had enough time to catch a deep pass, fall to the turf, then scramble to his feet and run for a 41-yard touchdown.
Brock Purdy’s return to the desert as the 49ers quarterback Sunday was everything he ever dreamed — especially since Arizona’s defense was in a helpful mood.
McCaffrey scored three touchdowns, Samuel added two scores, and the 49ers clinched the NFC West title by pushing their winning streak to six games with a 4529 win over the Cardinals.
“In high school, I’d come watch the Cardinals, and now I’m playing on the field,” Purdy said. “It’s so cool. Definitely something I’ll look back on in life and be thankful.”
Purdy — making his first NFL start at State Farm Stadium, which is about 45 miles from where he grew up — completed 16 of 25 passes for 242 yards and tied a career high with four touchdowns. He also shook off a hard hit in the second quarter that caused him to miss a few plays.
Charvarius Ward had two interceptions, including a pick-6 in the first quarter.
During their winning streak, the 49ers (11-3) have won all of their games by at least 12 points. They’ve also won 12 straight against divisional opponents in the NFC West.
San Francisco has won back-toback division titles for the first time since the 2011-12 seasons.
“Winning the division is very important — it’s a big step for us,” McCaffrey said. “But everyone knows where we want to be.”
McCaffrey scored his second touchdown early in the third quarter, the running back sneaking out of the backfield for the 41-yard score and a 28-13 lead.
“He does everything for us,” Purdy said. “Runs the ball well, catches the ball, everything. In my eyes, that’s an MVP.”
McCaffrey made it to the end zone a third time later in the third quarter after plowing ahead 1yard for the touchdown and a 3516 advantage. Samuel followed with his second touchdown catch in the fourth, a 19-yard reception that made it 42-22.
McCaffrey finished with five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 115 yards and a score.
Ward put the 49ers ahead for good when he stepped in front of Trey McBride to grab Kyler Murray’s pass after the Cardinals (311) decided to go for it on fourth and 3. The cornerback ran 66 yards the other way for a 14-7 lead, pulling away from a pair of Arizona defenders.
Arizona’s Matt Prater cut the margin to 14-13 by making two field goals in the second, one from 58 yards and another from 43.
Purdy briefly left during the second quarter with a left shoulder stinger. He returned later in the drive and hit McCaffrey for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:14 left before halftime for a 21-13 lead.
“We’ve got to play cleaner than that to play a really good football team,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said.
Murray completed 26 of 39 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Emari Demercado added a 49yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. McBride caught 10 passes for 102 yards.
The Cardinals ran for 234 yards, finding some holes in the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense.
By hitting all six of his extra points, 49ers rookie Jake Moody has made 53 straight — the most since the NFL moved the PAT back to the 15-yard line in 2015. Stephen Gostkowski made 52 straight for the Patriots in 2015.