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Kyler Murray leads the Cardinals past the 49ers, 24-23
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Kyler Murray leads the Cardinals past the 49ers, 24-23

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyler Murray’s day started with one 50-yard touchdown run where almost as soon as he crossed the line of scrimmage he pointed festively toward the end zone.

It ended with him driving the Arizona Cardinals into field goal position and then becoming a spectator watching his team’s fill-in kicker and defense come through at the end.

Both delivered as Chad Ryland kicked a 35-yard field goal with 1:37 to play and Kyzir White intercepted a pass from Brock Purdy to seal Arizona’s 24-23 comeback victory. San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

“I hated it,” Murray said of being out of control at the end. “I didn’t want to give them the ball back. I hoped we could convert and end the games on our terms. That didn’t happen. Chad was great making the field goal and the defense came into action.”

Murray did a lot with his touchdown run, touchdown pass and key late drive, but he also got a lot of help. James Conner ran 86 yards and scored on a two-point conversion, Marvin Harrison Jr. made a fourth-down catch to spark the winning drive and the defense pitched a shutout in the second half with three takeaways.

It was much different than a week ago, when the Cardinals (2-3) were embarrassed in a game 42-14 loss at home to Washington.

“We wanted to get to the fourth quarter and have a chance to win the game, and that’s what we did,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “Last week was not a good performance from us. They picked that up somehow.”

This marked the second time this season that San Francisco (2-3) blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to a division rival, having done so in Week 3. against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Niners have lost just one division game over the past two seasons as they won NFC West titles, but are already 0-2 this year after sixth leading by double digits in the fourth quarter of the regular season and the playoffs under Coach Kyle Shanahan.

“We kind of melted in the second half,” All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner said. “Too many leaking distances, missed tackles, poor passing.”

Murray threw for 195 yards and a TD and added 82 yards rushing.

The 49ers squandered several opportunities, scoring just one touchdown on six drives that reached the end zone. The most expensive came midway through the fourth quarter when Jordan Mason lost a fumble that Mack Wilson recovered at the 8 to keep Arizona within two points.

Murray then led the winning ride. On the key play for Harrison, Murray threw a pass under pressure that the rookie receiver hauled in for a 14-yard completion in Niners territory. The Cardinals then ran five straight to set up the field goal by Ryland, who quickly won over his teammates after being signed this week to fill in for the injured Matt Prater.

“They went crazy in the locker room,” Gannon said. “Half the boys didn’t even know him.”

Purdy went 18 for 33 for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the 49ers, who managed just one offensive touchdown with the other TD coming on a blocked field goal.

The Cardinals started fast by forcing a three-and-out to open the game and getting a 50-yard TD run from Murray on their second play from scrimmage.

The 49ers controlled the rest of the half, with Purdy throwing a 4-yard touchdown to George Kittle and Deommodore Lenoir answering a blocked Jordan Elliott field goal for a 61-yard score that helped San Francisco take a 23-10 lead at the break to take.

Injuries

Cardinals: RG Will Hernandez (knee) left in the fourth quarter and did not return.

49ers: K Jake Moody left the game in the second quarter with a high right ankle sprain after being hurt in a tackle on a kick return. P Mitch Wishnowsky hit a 26-yard FG late in the first half, but the Niners opted to go for it in the third quarter on fourth-and-23 of 27. … S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) left also in the first half half.

Next

Cardinals: Host Miami on Sunday.

49ers: Thursday night at Seattle.

___

AP N.F.L.: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl