49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns and the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-26 at Levi's Stadium. Deebo Samuel caught 8 passes for 134 and a touchdown. Kendrick Bourne caught two TDs. Emmanuel Sanders caught a TD. Kyler Murray threw for 150 with one TD and one INT. The 49ers improved to 9-1.[1][2][3]

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 424 yards Sunday afternoon at Levi's Stadium. The most passing yards in any 49ers game since Joe Montana in 1990. Garoppolo connected with eight different receivers for completions. The 49ers beat the Cardinals 36-26.

Deebo Samuel had 134 receiving yards. Kendrick Bourne caught two touchdowns. Emmanuel Sanders, back from the ribs, caught one. The kind of Sunday afternoon home game where the offense, after the Monday-night letdown, produced its most explosive output of the season.

Nick Bosa, who had been quieter through the middle of the schedule, produced a sack. Dre Greenlaw added another. The defense, which had given up 27 to Seattle, held Kyler Murray to 150 passing yards. The kind of Sunday at Levi's that, paired with the Cardinals' first meeting six weeks ago, has the 49ers ahead in the NFC West and ready for the back-half schedule. The Packers come up next on Sunday Night Football at home.

49ers 36, Cardinals 26. Margin: +10. Ten-game record: 9-1, +140 differential.

• Garoppolo: 28-of-37 for 424, 4 TDs (most passing yards in a 49ers game since Joe Montana 1990).
• Deebo Samuel: 8 catches for 134, 1 TD.
• Kendrick Bourne: 2 TDs.
• Emmanuel Sanders: 1 TD (return from ribs).
• Kyler Murray: 16-of-26 for 150, 1 TD, 1 INT.
• Bosa: 1 sack.
• Garoppolo connected with 8 different receivers.
• 49ers 9-1; Cardinals 3-7-1.

A 36-26 home win over the Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers improve to 9-1 in Garoppolo's career-day passing performance.

How it unfolded

The Cardinals scored first on a Kyler Murray throw to Larry Fitzgerald. Garoppolo answered with a touchdown to Kendrick Bourne. Robbie Gould kicked a field goal. Bourne caught his second touchdown to make it 17-7. The 49ers added another touchdown to Deebo Samuel. The Cardinals scored before halftime on a Murray-to-Kirk completion. The third quarter was a Gould field goal and a Sanders touchdown to push it to 31-13. The Cardinals scored twice more in the fourth, including a Murray rushing TD, but the 49ers held on.

The turning point

Garoppolo's second-quarter touchdown to Bourne. With the score at 7-7 and the offense looking like it was finding its rhythm, the Bourne touchdown pushed the 49ers ahead by 10 and the Garoppolo passing day became the night's story.

By the numbers

Garoppolo 28-of-37 for 424 (most by a 49ers QB since Montana 1990) with four TDs. Deebo Samuel 8 catches for 134 with a TD. Kendrick Bourne 5 catches for 60 with two TDs. Sanders 7 for 81 with a TD. Coleman 12 carries for 35. Kyler Murray 150 passing on 26 attempts with one TD and one INT plus 32 rushing and a TD.

Personnel watch

Garoppolo's career-passing day. Bourne in his career game. Deebo Samuel in his career receiving game (134). Sanders back from the ribs producing in his second 49ers game. The defense generated four sacks. The kind of Sunday performance that has the offense in full operation.

What it means

9-1 with the Packers on Sunday Night Football at home next week. The kind of Sunday performance that, after the Monday-night setback, has the 49ers' offense looking like the version of itself the year-three project always projected. The NFC's #1 seed conversation remains a 49ers-vs-Saints-vs-Packers three-team race.