Cardinals Rally Too Late in 36-30 Loss at San Francisco

# Game snapshot San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. The defeat left the Cardinals 1-2 for the season while the 49ers improved to 3-0.

# What happened offensively Arizona's offense looked much better after halftime. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards, two touchdown passes and no turnovers. He was sacked twice. Wide receiver Michael Wilson emerged as the clear No. 1 target with 11 catches on 17 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Trey McBride had nine catches for 75 yards. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love carried the load on the ground, rushing 21 times for 90 yards — his best game so far.

The Cardinals scored 24 points in the second half after a slow start and pulled within striking distance late in the game. Brissett said the group was "finding our mojo," and the offensive performance showed how the Cardinals can create a larger margin for error if they sustain that level of play.

# Why the defense mattered

Coach Mike LaFleur acknowledged the challenge of defending the 49ers' offense and stressed that the Cardinals need to execute consistently: "When you play this offense, you've got to be on your p's and q's at all times." Linebacker Josh Sweat pointed to tackling and self-inflicted mistakes as areas to correct.

# Key plays and extra details

• Michael Wilson's touchdown early in the fourth quarter pulled Arizona within 23-20 and ignited the comeback.
• Simi Fehoko recovered a muffed punt by the 49ers, a play that helped the Cardinals regain momentum.
• The Cardinals attempted an onside kick after a late field goal but failed to recover, which ended their comeback hopes.

# What this means next Arizona showed that its offense can score against strong defenses, giving the team a path forward if that level of execution becomes more consistent. The next game is on the road against the New York Giants, who will start backup quarterback Jameis Winston. The matchup presents a different challenge than the last two opponents and could be an opportunity for the Cardinals to build on the offensive progress while addressing the defensive breakdowns.

# Bottom line The Cardinals demonstrated offensive improvement in the second half, led by Brissett, Wilson, McBride and Love. However, defensive lapses and timely 49ers drives negated the comeback. The team leaves Levi's Stadium with a competitive performance that still produced a loss, and with clear, specific areas to clean up before the next game.