49ers at Arizona Cardinals

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns and the 49ers held off the Arizona Cardinals 28-25 on Thursday Night Football at State Farm Stadium. Emmanuel Sanders, acquired in trade from the Broncos earlier in the week, had his first 49ers touchdown. Deebo Samuel caught a TD. Kyler Murray threw for 241 yards and a touchdown plus ran for one. The 49ers improved to 8-0.[1][2][3]

Emmanuel Sanders, acquired from the Broncos earlier in the week, caught a touchdown in his first game as a 49er. Deebo Samuel caught another. George Kittle caught a third. Tevin Coleman caught a fourth. Garoppolo threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns Thursday night at State Farm Stadium.

Kyler Murray threw for 241 and a touchdown and ran in another. The Cardinals' young rookie quarterback was the kind of mobile threat that, against the 49ers' defense, generated his most efficient game of the year. The 49ers won 28-25 in the kind of Thursday-night spot that two-touchdown favorites do not always handle on the road.

The 49ers' defense produced two sacks of Kyler Murray. Dre Greenlaw, the rookie linebacker, recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown. The kind of Thursday-night close-game win where the offense did the heavy lifting and the defense did just enough. 8-0 with the Seahawks coming up at home on Monday Night Football in 10 days.

49ers 28, Cardinals 25. Margin: +3. Eight-game record: 8-0, +133 differential.

• Garoppolo: 28-of-37 for 317, 4 TDs (1 INT).
• Emmanuel Sanders: 1st 49ers TD (Tuesday trade acquisition).
• Deebo Samuel: 1 TD.
• George Kittle: 1 TD.
• Tevin Coleman: 1 receiving TD.
• Kyler Murray: 17-of-24 for 241, 1 TD, 9 rushes for 34, 1 rushing TD.
• Dre Greenlaw: 1 fumble recovery.
• 49ers D: 2 sacks of Murray.
• 49ers 8-0 (first since 1990); Cardinals 3-5-1.

A 28-25 Thursday Night Football win at State Farm Stadium. The 49ers improve to 8-0, their first 8-0 start since 1990, in a game that featured the most points the 49ers had allowed in five weeks.

How it unfolded

The 49ers built a 14-7 first-half lead behind Garoppolo's first touchdown to Deebo Samuel and a Greenlaw fumble recovery that set up a Coleman touchdown. The Cardinals scored again on a Kyler Murray rushing TD. Garoppolo answered with a touchdown to Sanders to make it 21-14. The third quarter was a Kyler Murray TD pass and a 49ers Sanders catch. The fourth quarter was a Kittle touchdown to make it 28-25. The 49ers' defense held on the final possession.

The turning point

The 49ers' touchdown to George Kittle in the fourth quarter. With the lead at 21-19 and the Cardinals about to receive a kickoff after a defensive stop, Garoppolo's throw to Kittle pushed the lead to two scores with under five minutes left and gave the defense the cushion needed.

By the numbers

Garoppolo 28-of-37 for 317 with four TDs and one INT (best passing day of his career to that point). Emmanuel Sanders 4 catches for 25 with the debut TD. Kittle 6 catches for 79 with a TD. Deebo Samuel 4 catches for 79 with a TD. Coleman 16 carries for 38 plus a TD. Kyler Murray 17-of-24 for 241 with a TD and the rushing TD.

Personnel watch

Emmanuel Sanders' first 49ers game, three days after the trade from Denver. Garoppolo's career-best passing day. Kittle continuing to lead the tight-end position in receiving. Kyler Murray's most efficient game of the season against the league's best defense.

What it means

8-0. The Seahawks come up at home on Monday Night Football in 10 days. The Thursday-night close-game win is the kind of result that, on a short week against a divisional opponent, confirms the 49ers' staying power. The Sanders trade looked like a steal in the first 48 hours after the deal.