49ers dominate Cardinals: Rapid reactions

On Sunday, Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall returned to the offensive lineup for the San Francisco 49ers. Purdy looked like he hadn't missed any time at all, as the offense dominated. The defense wasn't great, but they were good enough to win the game, creating three turnovers.

Here are my rapid reactions. These are my live responses to the game as it unfolded. Let's take a look.

• What an opening kick return by Skyy Moore. He took it 98 yards all the way to the one-yard line. And Christian McCaffrey gets it in from there. The 49ers took a 7-0 lead before I even sat down.

• Luke Gifford just tackled the Cardinals' kick returner with one hand.
• Nice job by the defense to get off the field and give Purdy the ball back. I'm excited to see him and Pearsall play again.
• Purdy looks sharp early. He hit George Kittle for a 30-yard touchdown. But the PAT is blocked.

• Two kickoffs. Two special teams tackles for Gifford.
• The defense wasn't good on that drive, and they gave up a touchdown, aided by Upton Stout surrendering a deep pass.
• The run game still stinks. A three-and-out gives the ball back to the Cardinals.
• And now the punt team gives up a big return. The 49ers are about to lose their lead just as quickly as they built it.
• The defense did its part, and the 49ers still have the lead.
• Purdy threw his second touchdown pass today. This one went to McCaffrey, who has two touchdowns on the day.

• Eddy Piñeiro just missed his second PAT of the day. Did someone let Jake Moody back in the building?
• What a stupid decision by Renardo Green to grab a player's facemask after the defense had stopped the Cardinals. Just a horrible choice.

• Green is hearing about it from Robert Saleh and Kyle Shanahan. And he should.

• Great play by Dee Winters on that second and goal play.

• Chase Lucas whiffed on that third-down screen, but Deommodore Lenoir and Ji'Ayir Brown cleaned it up. The Cardinals had to settle for a field goal. Those three points are on Green.
• Brian Robinson with a nice kick return.
• But the offense can't capitalize, and Arizona gets the ball back.
• There's the Purdy miscue, tossing it up into traffic. Fortunately, the defender dropped it. And Piñeiro makes the field goal to put San Francisco up 22-10. But Arizona has the ball with a chance to double-dip. The Cardinals get the ball first after the half.
• Malik Mustapha with the interception, and the 49ers will take a 12-point lead into the half.

• I was wrong. Piñeiro hits another one. Now the 49ers will take a 15-point lead into halftime. That's even better.
• Great coverage by Lenoir on that deep pass.
• The 49ers' defense is not very good at the screen game.
• The defense is fortunate that Arizona has been shooting itself in the foot all day. They committed two big penalties during that series.

• Ben Bartch's missed block just cost the 49ers a touchdown.
• And then Purdy is sacked right after that. But Piñeiro makes another field goal. It's an 18-point lead for the 49ers. I'm still mad at Bartch, though.
• The one time the pass rush gets pressure and Lenoir gives up a big pass play to the Cardinals' only good wide receiver.
• And then Lenoir picks off the pass and takes it down to the 15-yard line. What a play!

• Another touchdown to Kittle. Let's see if they can make the extra point.

• That's three touchdown passes for Purdy today. I'd say that's a solid comeback.
• Keion White recovers the fumble forced by Stout right at the goal line. And the 49ers have the ball. The defense has taken the ball away three times today.

• But the offense can't do anything with it. Arizona is getting the ball back.
• Gifford has had a good game, mostly on special teams, but he's also played well on defense when he's been in.
• Kyle Juszczyk does it all, including recovering onside kicks.
• I'd probably take Purdy and McCaffrey out of the game at this point, with a 19-point lead, but what do I know?
• McCaffrey scores his third touchdown of the game, and the 49ers have broken the 40-point barrier. It's 41-16.

The 49ers won 41-22 and improved to 7-4 on the season. Up next is a Monday Night Football clash with the Carolina Panthers. When the schedule was released, this looked like an easy win for San Francisco. It's certainly not going to be an easy one. But the 49ers should still win it.

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