Cardinals at 49ers score: Jimmy Garoppolo leads comeback as San Francisco fends off feisty Arizona

A back-and-forth fourth quarter ended in the Niners moving to 9-1 on the season

Just like their first matchup this season, the 49ers defeated the gritty Cardinals on the strength of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdown passes. After trailing 16-0 early, Garoppolo's 25-yard touchdown pass to running back Jeff Wilson with under a minute remaining gave the 49ers a 30-26 lead. D.J. Reed's fumble return for a score on the game's final play put the exclamation point on San Francisco's 36-26 win. 

The 49ers, who won despite accruing 127 penalty yards, rushing for just 34 yards and losing receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive end Dee Ford to injuries, are now 9-1 and still a game ahead of Seattle in the NFC West standings. The Cardinals, despite getting a three-touchdown performance by quarterback Kyler Murray, fell to 3-7-1. 

Here's a look at how the 49ers were able to pull off the come-from-behind victory 

Why the 49ers won 

The 49ers overcame the losses of Sanders and tight end George Kittle (who was ruled out before the start of the game) by spreading the ball around. Garoppolo had success throwing to tight end Deebo Samuel (eight catches, 134 yards), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (seven catches, 63 yards) and tight end Ross Dwelley, who caught the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. His first touchdown put the 49ers on the board, while his second touchdown in the third quarter gave the 49ers their first lead. 

After trying with no avail to get their running game going in the first half, the 49ers unleashed Garoppolo and the passing game in the second half. Garoppolo responded with gusto, completing nearly 76 percent of his passes that included all eight of his attempts on San Francisco's first scoring drive of the fourth quarter. Six days after enduring arguably the worst game of his career, Garoppolo bounced back with his best. 

San Francisco's defense, after struggling to contain Kyler Murray, Kenyan Drake and Larry Fitzgerald early, made the necessary adjustments in the second half, holding Murray to under 25 rushing yards in the second half while limiting him to 150 passing yards for the game. The 49ers, by forcing the Cardinals into a slew of third and long situations, held Arizona to just 3-of-10 on third down. San Francisco also turned up the head up on Murray, sacking him four times. 

Why the Cardinals lost 

Third down woes, penalties (10 for 104 yards), the inability to contain Garoppolo, and a lack of adjustment on the offensive end were the main reasons why the Cardinals could not hang onto their early lead. After having success early in the game using zone read options, the Cardinals were not able to respond after the 49ers started to neutralize Murray and Drake, who ran the ball just nine times in the second half. 

After dominating time of possession early, the Cardinals struggled to keep possession in the ball in the second half, running just 23 plays in the second half after running 35 plays in the first half. Miscues also played a role in the loss. Offensive pass interference called against receiver Christian Kirk wiped out Murray's touchdown pass to tight end Charles Clay on the game's first possession. Late in the first quarter, with a change to add to their 9-0 lead, Kirk dropped a third down pass that would have given the Cardinals a first down deep inside 49ers territory. 

The Cardinals also failed to get another big game out of Drake, who gained 80 yards on 22 touches after recording 162 total yards in Arizona's first game against San Francisco. 

Murray, despite being slowed in the second half, still had his moments after the break, giving the Cardinals a 26-23 lead with 6:30 left on this 22-yard touchdown run. 

Turning point 

The 49ers appeared to be on the verge of getting blown out before receiver Richie James' 57-yard catch set up Dwelley's first touchdown that got the 49ers on the board midway through the second quarter. San Francisco had gained just 30 yards on their previous three possessions before James' big play. The 49ers would score their next two possessions while taking their first lead. 

Play of the game

Wilson, who had just two receptions entering Sunday's game, caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds left. While Wilson deserves credit for his catch and score, credit is also due to Garoppolo, who withstood a heavy blitz to get the ball to Wilson. 

Quotable I

"He shows tremendous resolve. I think the view of him from the outside world is much different from the view we have in here … We believe wholeheartedly that he's gonna get the job done, that he's gonna score touchdowns on those [pivotal] drives. I don't think a tipped ball, or a great play by the defense is gonna discourage us at all. We have tremendous belief in him and what he can do, and the tremendous talent that he has. If the offensive line gives him time, he can be one of the best out there." — cornerback Richard Sherman on Garoppolo, who responded to his two second half interceptions with two touchdowns drives on the 49ers' next offensive possessions. 

Quotable II 

"It's the theme of our season. Great effort, great passion and intensity and all these things, but not making enough plays in critical moments. Penalties obviously don't help, and turnovers don't help, but the efforts been there all season, and we've gotta find a way — when we get back from this bye — to finish games." — Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, whose team has lost three straight games by a total of 15 points. 

What's next 

The 49ers will cap off their three-game home stand against the Packers, who are coming back from their bye week with an 8-2 record. Arizona will have a bye week this week before starting their three-game home stand with a game against the defending NFC champion Rams. 

Relive today's action by checking out our live blog below.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:37 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That will do it for today's live coverage of this game. Thanks for following, and we'll see you next time!

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:37 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Well, this game certainly lived up to the hype and was just as good as their Week 9 matchup. Garoppolo makes up for SF's penalties, lack of a running game and the injuries to Sanders and Ford to throw for 424 yards and four touchdowns. The 49ers defense wasn't great but improved throughout the game after allowing the Cardinals to score on their first three possessions. Nice bounce back win for the 49ers, who are now 9-1 and in first place in the NFC West.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:16 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Jeff Wilson scores what could be the game-winner for the 49ers. Cardinals blitzed and Garoppolo made a great throw.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:15 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

I'm guessing b/c they ruled it a first down initially is why it stands as a first down.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:13 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Easy review. That's a catch. 49ers are easily in field goal range. He is short of the first down, maybe inches.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:11 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chase McLaughlin made his only FG attempt today. He made a kick that forced OT last week but missed his game-winning attempt in OT.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:10 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Deebo Samuel's big game continues, a key catch as the 49ers cross midfield. SF has two timeouts remaining.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:06 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Big third down sack by Arik Armstead. I would have either called a screen to Drake or something to Fitzgerald.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 7:01 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Penalties, the inability to contain Murray, a lack of a running game and Garoppolo's two picks will be the reason why the 49ers lose this game if they lose it. Not a terrible throw on that pick but it was high, and the Cards' secondary took advantage of it.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 6:59 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Hicks got to Garoppolo, who threw the ball away and avoided getting intentional grounding called against him.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 6:56 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Samuel back in the game and immediately makes his presence felt, catching a first down pass as 49ers cross midfield. Garoppolo is having a very productive day, over 300 yards for the second time this season (both have come against Cardinals).

[Nov 17, 2019 at 6:54 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Great drive by the Cardinals that had a little of everything. Five touches by Drake that gained 28 yards, an 11-yard catch by Fitz, and Murray's 22-yard touchdown on a zone read.

[Nov 17, 2019 at 6:49 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Cardinals wisely going back to Drake, who is having a really nice drive getting yards between the tackles. The 49ers defense, for the first time since early in the second quarter, are back on their heels.