49ers squandered a 13-point lead to Cardinals and lose
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
2024.10.06 – The Niners once again, with another second-half collapse that echoed their Week 3 loss to the Rams, as San Francisco squandered a 13-point second-half lead and lost 24-23 to the Arizona Cardinals.
The defense wilted in the heat, the offense couldn’t finish drives or protect the ball and the 49ers blew another late lead to a division opponent in frustrating fashion.
49ers QB Brock Purdy threw two interceptions in the second half, Jordan Mason lost a fumble in the red zone and San Francisco allowed Kyler Murray and the Cardinals to drive for two fourth-quarter scores.
Two weeks after blowing a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter to the Los Angeles Rams, the Niners (2-3) did it again as they couldn’t protect a 23-13 advantage against Arizona. This marked the sixth time they have blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter in the regular season and playoffs under coach Kyle Shanahan, tied for the most by any coach in the NFL since he was hired in 2017.
“It’s super frustrating,” All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams said. “Obviously, we have to figure out how to close out games and how to get teams out early when we have the chance.”
The Niners had plenty of chances to be in control thanks to a blocked field goal that Deommodore Lenoir returned for a touchdown in the first half and an interception by Nick Bosa that set up a field goal.
2024.10.06 (AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers) Game Highlights
Deommodore Lenoir (#2) blocked a field goal attempt that was recovered by the 49ers for a touchdown in the first half the San Francisco 49ers played the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2024.10.06 (AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers) Game Highlights – (CD-Highlights)
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
For Arizona, QB Murray’s day started with a 50-yard touchdown run where he pointed to the end zone in celebration almost as soon as he crossed the line of scrimmage.
Murray threw for 195 yards a touchdown and added 82 yards rushing for the day.
San Francisco let the Cardinals hang-in the game and Murray pulled it out late throwing a 2-yard TD pass to Elijah Higgins followed by James Conner’s 2-point conversion that made it 23-21.
Murray then converted a fourth-and-5 pass under heavy pressure to rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. on the winning drive with the running game doing the rest.
“In the second half, we kind of melted down,” All-Pro 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said. “Too much leaky yardage, missed tackles, not fitting it right.”
The blunders by the offense were even more costly. The 49ers settled for field goals three times after getting inside the 10 in the first half. They had another red zone drive in the second half end in a turnover on downs when they went for it on fourth-and-23 because kicker Jake Moody was out with a high ankle sprain.
Purdy went 18 of 33 for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the 49ers, who managed only one offensive touchdown.
The 49ers controlled the rest of the half with Purdy throwing a 4-yard TD to George Kittle and Lenoir returning a blocked field goal by Jordan Elliott for a 61-yard score that helped San Francisco take a 23-10 lead at the break.
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (#85) can’t prevent a game-clinching interception by Arizona Cardinals’ Kyzir White in 4th quarter of Niners’ 24-23 loss in NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 6, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
Then came the most costly mistake, when Mason lost a fumble on first and goal from the 8 with 6:20 to play and San Francisco protecting a two-point lead.
“I just got to be better and more aggressive down there, and collectively as a unit, obviously once we get down there, all of us our mindset man has to be we’ve got to punch this in,” Purdy said. “We know we can settle for a field goal, but we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard, and cross the goal line.”
Despite all that, the 49ers still had a chance when they took over at their own 27 with 1:32 to play. Purdy completed a 15-yard pass to Kittle to get the drive started. But on the next play Jalen Thompson came in unblocked on a blitz and hit Purdy, forcing him into a floater that was intercepted by Kyzir White to seal the win.
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy (#13) stands on the field after 24-23 loss to Arizona Cardinals during NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 6, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2024.10.06 – AZ Cardinals vs. SF 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
After going 11-1 in the division the past two seasons — with the only loss coming when several starters rested in a Week 18 game last season against the Rams — San Francisco has lost its first two NFC West games headed into a showdown with first-place Seattle on Thursday night.
“The standard here is excellence,” Purdy said. “What we’ve proven the last couple of years of the standard of what we can play at, that’s what we’re trying to get to. It’s early in the season and we’re still trying to find our true identity as a team. We’re getting there. It’s a couple of plays away and a couple of drives away from gelling and gluing together. So I’m confident that we’ll find it.
INJURIES
Cardinals: RG Will Hernandez (knee) left in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.
49ers: K Jake Moody left the game in the second quarter with a high right ankle sprain after getting hurt on a tackle on a kick return. P Mitch Wishnowsky hit a 26-yard FG at the end of the first half but the Niners opted to go for it in the third quarter on fourth and 23 from the 27. … S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) also left in the first half.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Host Miami on Sunday.
49ers: At Seattle on Thursday night.
Related: 49ers dominate Patriots from start to finish at Levi’s
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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