Look back on our live updates of the game, which was played at the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
San Francisco’s Eddy Pineiro kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Arizona Cardinals 16-15 on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The NFC West division rivals combined for just 615 yards of offense. The bulk of that came in the fourth quarter when each team scored its only touchdown and the teams combined for 19 of the game’s 31 total points.
The story of the game will likely be the injury report. The Cardinals lost running back James Conner to a leg injury in the third quarter. He was carted from the field and immediately ruled out. Meanwhile, the 49ers saw defensive end Nick Bosa leave the game in the first half with a knee injury. After a visit to the injury tent, he was ruled out.
Kyler Murray was 22-for-35 for 159 yards and a touchdown. Trey Benson had 10 carries for a team-leading 42 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. made just three catches out of six targets but had 44 yards.
Mac Jones, starting for the 49ers in place of injured Brock Purdy, was 27-for-41 for 284 yards with an interception and a touchdown. Christian McCaffrey had 17 catches for 52 yards. Ricky Pearsall had eight catches for 117 yards.
The fourth offensive holding against the 49ers proved most costly. The flag in the end zone resulted in a safety for Arizona.
Two plays earlier, Blake Gillikin pinned the 49ers at their own 6. San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones threw an incompletion on first down and was under pressure on the second-down play when Dominick Puni was called for offensive holding.
The Cardinals will also have the ball with 3:15 to play.
Score: Cardinals 15, 49ers 13 (3:15 Q4)
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson might have been the play of the game with his interception of a Mac Jones pass intended for Ricky Pearsall.
The 49ers were inside the Arizona 40 when Taylor-Demerson intercepted the pass and returned it 19 yards to the Arizona 39.
The Cardinals went three-and-out with Blake Gillikin punting the ball to the 49ers 6.
Score: Cardinals 13, 49ers 13 (3:35 Q4)
A 33-yard pass interference call against the 49ers set Arizona up on the 1-yard line.
A failed run on first down set up Kyler Murray’s 1-yard pass to tight end Trey McBride in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
The score game just 2:13 after the 49ers scored the first touchdown of the game. The first three quarters featured six field goals.
Murray is now 21-for-32 for 158 yards and a touchdown. McBride has five catches for 43 yards.
Score: Cardinals 13, 49ers 13 (8:37 Q4)
Mac Jones found Kyle Juszczyk in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass and a 13-7 lead over the Cardinals.
The play capped a six-play, 48-yard drive that produced the game’s first touchdown.
Jones is now 21-for-30 for 216 yards and a touchdown. The catch came on Juszczuk’s first target of the game.
The key play of the drive was a 34-yard pass to Ricky Rearsall. A second-year receiver, Pearsall has eight catches for 117 yards.
Score: 49ers 13, Cardinals 6 (10:50 Q4)
A 56-yard punt by Blake Gillikin was the best the Cardinals could hope for after Cardinals QB Kyler Murray narrowly escaped a safety.
Murray was flagged for intentional grounding, but was a football length outside the end zone when it happened. Gillikin punted from under his own goalpost.
The 49ers will start with the ball inside Cardinals territory for the first time today.
Facing fourth-and-goal from the Arizona 1, 49ers QB Mac Jones attempted a pass to Christian McCaffrey, but it was broken up by Mack Wilson — turning the ball over on downs.
McCaffrey also got the ball on second-and-goal from the Arizona 3 and third-and-goal from the Arizona 1. He has 11 carries for 33 yards in the game.
Score: Cardinals 6, 49ers 6 (0:15 Q3)
Trey Benson turned the biggest play of the game by breaking a 29-yard run for the Cardinals.
On two of the previous three plays, Emari Demercado took handoffs that didn’t go anywhere. The Cardinals are trying to find their footing after losing No. 1 running back James Conner to injury.
On third-and-5 from the 49ers 9, Kyler Murray attempted a short pass to Demarcado, but the running back dropped the ball.
The Cardinals settled for a 28-yard field goal from Chad Ryland.
Score: Cardinals 6, 49ers 6 (6:37 Q3)
The Arizona Cardinals took their first big shot down the field against the 49ers — only to have Marvin Harrison Jr. drop the ball. No defender was within 5 yards of the receiver.
The play came immediately after the game resumed following the James Conner injury.
Had Harrison caught the ball, it would have been a likely touchdown for the Cardinals.
Cardinals running back James Conner has left the game with a right leg injury.
Conner took a handoff on first down and ran for 9 yards. He didn’t get up after being tackled and left the field on a cart.
Conner has eight carries for 21 yards for the Cardinals against the 49ers. He has also caught three passes for 15 yards.
James Conner is down on the field with trainers. Right leg bent the wrong way. Players immediately waived for help.
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) September 21, 2025
Conner has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
49ers DE Nick Bosa will not return. He has been ruled out with a knee injury.
The 49ers got the ball to start the second half, but the possession ended with a punt.
Score: 49ers 6, Cardinals 3 (13:12 Q3)
The Cardinals have 122 yards of total offense to the 49ers’ 119. Penalties were an issue for the Cardinals during their first possessions — 2 for 10 yards — but they have been clean since. There have been no turnovers.
The Cardinals are 4-for-9 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth down conversion attempts. The 49ers are 1-for-5 on third downs.
Kyler Murray is 14-for-20 for 81 yards for the Cardinals. Mac Jones is 12-for-18 for 112 yards for the 49ers.
Score: 49ers 6, Cardinals 3 (Half)
Eddy Pineiro made his second field goal of the game to give the 49ers a 6-3 lead.
Arizona got the ball back with 17 seconds. Kyler Murray was sacked on first down to end the half.
The 49ers will get the ball to start the second half after winning the coin flip and deferring to the second half.
Nick Bosa, the starting defensive end for the 49ers, is questionable to return with a right knee injury.
Bosa spent time in the medical tent during the first quarter. He went to the locker room during the second quarter.
Bosa tore his left ACL and underwent surgery in 2020.
The 49ers’ offense started clicking on its third drive.
Mac Jones completed passes to Ricky Pearsall, Kendrick Bourne and Jake Tonges for first downs. Jones was 5-for-6 passing for 50 yards on the drive.
The drive stalled at the Arizona 19. Eddy Pineiro tied the game with a 38-yard field goal.
Score: Cardinals 3, 49ers 3 (4:22 Q2)
Chad Ryland’s second field goal attempt of the game was better than his first. Ryland capped a 12-play, 49-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal.
The Cardinals picked up three first downs before the drive stalled.
Score: Cardinals 3, 49ers 0 (8:45 Q2)
San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa exited the game late in the first quarter. Bosa entered the injury tent and exited a few minutes later.
He was seen on the sidelines without his helmet as the 49ers defense was on the field to start the second quarter.
Bosa had two tackles and forced a fumble in the first quarter.
Through one quarter of play, Kyler Murray leads the Cardinals in rushing with 15 yards on two carries — both scrambles for first downs.
Murray is 7-for-11 passing, after starting the game 4-for-4. Running back James Conner has two catches for 14 yards, while four others have caught passes and seven players have been targeted.
San Francisco’s offense hasn’t done any better. The 49ers have 7 yards of total offense. Mac Jones, starting for the injured Brock Purdy, is 1-for-3 for 8 yards.
Scores: Cardinals 0, 49ers 0 (End Q1)
Chad Ryland’s 57-yard field goal attempt was wide as the Cardinals spoiled what started as a promising drive.
Quarterback Kyler Murray was 4-for-5 on the drive — but never targeted a wide receiver. His passes, totaling 23 yards, went to running backs James Conner and Trey Benson and tight ends Tip Reiman and Trey McBride.
The possession lasted 6:46.
The 49ers went three-and-out on their possession. Arizona takes over at its own 8.
Score: Cardinals 0, 49ers 0 (6:52 Q1)
The 49ers won the coin flip and deferred to the second half.
That puts Kyler Murray and Company on the field for the opening drive.
The Cardinals will be without CB Will Johnson, LB Xavier Thomas and offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and Will Hernandez.
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Cardinals vs 49ers schedule: What time is NFL Week 3 game?
The NFL Week 3 game between the Cardinals and 49ers is on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1:25 p.m. MST, 4:25 p.m. ET.
49ers vs Cardinals TV: What channel is NFL Week 3 game on?
The 49ers vs Cardinals NFL Week 3 game can be seen on FOX.
Cardinals vs 49ers streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 3 game on livestream?
Streaming options for the Cardinals vs 49ers game include FUBO, which offers a free trial, and other streaming services that carry FOX, including Sling.
49ers vs Cardinals announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 3 game?
Adam Amin (play-by-play) and Mark Sanchez (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-49ers Week 3 NFL game.
Cardinals vs 49ers game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 3?
The 49ers are a 1.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 3 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
San Francisco is -120 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +100.
The over/under (point total) is set at 43.5 points.
49ers vs Cardinals picks, predictions: Who will win NFL Week 3 game?
The Arizona Republic’s Jeremy Cluff is predicting a 27-23 win for the 49ers over the Cardinals in the Week 3 NFL game today.
Other sites are split on the result of the Cardinals vs 49ers game in their NFL Week 3 picks and NFL Week 3 predictions for Sept. 21.
Pregame reading for Cardinals vs 49ers Week 3 NFL game today
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