Purdy throws four touchdown passes as San Francisco 49ers beat Arizona Cardinals 36-30
Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sept. 27, 2026. The victory came at San Francisco’s home stadium and improved the 49ers to 3-0 on the season. The result underscored the team’s ability to keep winning despite being described as injury-depleted.
Purdy connected on scoring plays that included a first-quarter completion to Mike Evans that was lateraled to Deebo Samuel for an 80-yard score and a 23-yard touchdown to Evans in the second quarter. He also threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns to George Kittle, a 10-yard catch and a 20-yard strike, to extend the lead late in the game. Christian McCaffrey added a one-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, though the extra point attempt failed on that drive.
Arizona answered with multiple scores from quarterback Jacoby Brissett, including a five-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson and a one-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiyah Love. Brissett also converted a one-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals continued to fight back. Kicker Chad Ryland made three field goals for Arizona, including a 49-yarder in the final minute, but the Cardinals fell short.
San Francisco’s special teams produced a 57-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro at the end of the second quarter. The 49ers’ defense held late enough for the offense to secure the win despite allowing 30 points. The victory kept the 49ers unbeaten and highlighted their depth amid injuries as the season begins.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Purdy’s four-touchdown performance demonstrated San Francisco’s continued offensive resilience despite injuries to key players. Contributions from Evans, Samuel and Kittle supplied big plays at critical moments to overcome Arizona’s comeback attempts. Arizona remained competitive behind Brissett and Ryland’s field goals, but the Cardinals could not close the gap in the final minutes. The 49ers’ ability to win close games will be a storyline to monitor as they navigate an early-season schedule while dealing with roster challenges.