THE STORY: SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Cardinals leaned on Jeremiyah Love. They figured out the passing game, looking much better than the week before.
But there were too many penalties and not enough stops of a high-level 49ers offense, and in the end coach Mike LaFleur's team was left with a 36-30 loss at Levi's Stadium, frustrated with another defeat within the NFC West.
The Cardinals (1-2) pulled within 23-20 in the fourth quarter, a Michael Wilson TD reception paying off a muffed punt return and subsequent Simi Fehoko recovery.
But the 49ers (3-0) moved down the field quickly, Brock Purdy hitting tight end George Kittle with a TD pass to extend the lead for good, after a third-down stop was nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty by Josh Sweat.
The Cardinals answered again with a Brissett QB sneak for a score, but the 49ers kept the ball for the last 2:51, when Christian McCaffrey powered his way for a 12-yard run on second-and-10 to all but seal it. A Purdy-to-Kittle TD shortly after did it for good.
Love had 90 yards on 21 carries after running for 70 total in the first two games of the season. Wilson finished with 11 catches for 89 yards, Trey McBride had nine for 75, while Marvin Harrison Jr. had three for 40. Purdy threw four TD passes, including an 82-yard hook-and-lateral with Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel to open the scoring.
More to come on azcardinals.com.
