The Arizona Cardinals may have saved their season on Sunday by coming back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers 24-23.
The surprising victory was led by an unexpected hero — the defense.
The Cardinals kept the 49ers from scoring in the second half, allowing Kyler Murray and the offense to come back from a 23-10 deficit. Kyzir White made a crucial interception to seal the game, diving to catch a pass from Brock Purdy that had been tipped.
“We came out here and we battled,” White said. “We got punched in the mouth at times, but we kept punching back and came out with the win. Definitely proud of my guys.”
The Cardinals are now 2-3 overall but 2-0 against NFC West teams.
They have shown a lot of promise on offense with standout players like Murray, rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Trey McBride, and running back James Conner. Sunday’s strong defensive performance suggests the Cardinals could be a balanced team.
“That’s what it comes down to, guys,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “We won the game because guys made a bunch of plays, all three phases, point blank, done.”
Arizona’s defense has faced challenges, especially after a tough loss to Washington and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 4.
The team has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and has dealt with season-ending injuries to linebacker BJ Ojulari and defensive lineman Justin Jones.
However, they still have talent, especially at interior linebacker and safety. The core group of White, Mack Wilson, Budda Baker, and Jalen Thompson gives defensive coordinator Nick Rallis a strong set of experienced players.
