FINAL SCORE: Cardinals fall 36-26 after taking 16-0 1st-half lead

Jimmy Garoppolo has a career high against the Cardinals again as he sends the Cardinals to their fourth straight loss.

The Arizona Cardinals came out and was ready to play on Sunday against a shorthanded San Francisco 49ers. They got out to a 16-0 lead but their defense could not make it hold up.

Jimmy Garoppolo was intercepted twice but threw for a career-high 424 yards and matched his career-high four of touchdown passes against the Cardinals, including the game-winning score with 31 seconds left in the game. The Cardinals lose 36-26 and fall to 3-7-1.

Here’s how it went down.

49ers 36, Cardinals 26

This ends up looking much worse than it was. The Cardinals use a last-ditch effort to score with some laterals, but they lose the ball and the 49ers score a touchdown as time expires.

Fumble

With under a minute left in the game, the Cardinals hoped to find some late-game magic. They didn’t. On their first play, rookie receiver KeeSean Johnson fumbles the ball, giving the 49ers the ball to run the clock out.

49ers 30, Cardinals 26

Well, the defense can’t get a stop. The offense is forced to punt after only three plays and then the 49ers get into field goal range. The Cardinals blitz and Jimmy Garoppolo completes a pass to running back Jeff Wilson. He goes 25 yards to score the touchdown and give the 49ers the lead with under a minute left.

PICK

Rookie Jalen Thompson ends a 49ers drive in scoring position by intercepting a tipped pass. The Cardinals have the ball with a three-point lead and 4:32 left in the game.

Cardinals 26, 49ers 23

The Cardinals start relying on the running game. Kenyan Drake gets a couple of first downs, Larry Fitzgerald has a reception and Kyler Murray scampers for a 22-yard TD run. The Cardinals now have 130 rushing yards.

49ers 23, Cardinals 19

The Cardinals get killed on screen passes and by fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Receiver Kendrick Bourne gets a two-yard touchdown reception. It is Jimmy Garoppolo’s third TD pass of the game. They don’t get the two-point attempt, so they have a four-point, fourth-quarter lead.

Cardinals 19, 49ers 17

The Cardinals take advantage of the turnover but only get a field goal. Andy Isabella doesn’t get his head turned around to see a back shoulder throw that would have given them the first down and Zane Gonzalez hits from 43 yards to take back the lead.

More 49ers injuries

Receiver Emmanuel Sanders gets looked at after being tackled hard. He entered the game with injured ribs. 49ers CB K’Waun Williams leaves with an injury and defensive end Dee Ford is ruled out with an injury. Receiver Deebo Samuel leaves with a shoulder injury after an incredible catch.

PICK!

The 49ers look like they are about to extend the lead but Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t see Jordan Hicks. He picks up his third interception of the season and returns it to San Francisco territory. It is a big play.

It erases what is an atrocious pass interference call on Joe Walker.

49ers 17, Cardinals 16

The 49ers have erased the lead. Tevin Coleman starts off the drive with a 37-yards catch and 15 yards get added to the play after Zach Kerr is called for roughing the passer. Ross Dwelley gets his second touchdown catch of the game and the Niners are in the lead.

Cardinals 16, 49ers 10

The 49ers close the half with a field goal and now have momentum.

Cardinals 16, 49ers 7

The 49ers finally get going offensively. A 57-yards screen play to Rickie James gets them to the 25-yard line and Jimmy Garoppolo throws a touchdown pass to tight end Ross Dwelley, who is replacing the injured George Kittle.

Cardinals 16, 49ers 0

The Cardinals do not score on their third possession but do on their fourth. It is a big play. Kyler Murray throws second touchdown pass of the afternoon, another five-yarder, as Pharoh Cooper jukes the defender for the score.

Cardinals 9, 49ers 0

After forcing a three-and-out for the Niners, the Cardinals again keep moving. They go 81 yards on 11 plays and Larry Fitzgerald is left wide open for a five-yard touchdown catch. Gonzalez misses the extra point.

Cardinals 3, 49ers 0

The Cardinals get the ball first and move the ball well. The Cardinals get an incomplete pass call turned into a pass interference on a Kliff Kingsbury challenge and appear to score a touchdown, but Christian Kirk is called for offensive pass interference. They settle on a 26-yard Zane Gonzalez field goal to take the early lead.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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