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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey scored three touchdowns, Charvarius Ward had two interceptions — including a pick-6 — and the San Francisco 49ers extended their winning streak to six games with a 45-29 victory. Won the NFC West title. Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals.
San Francisco’s Brock Purdy – making his first NFL start at State Farm Stadium, which is about 45 miles from where he grew up – completed 16 of 25 passes for 242 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Reached the level. He also hit hard in the second quarter due to which he lost some games.
During their winning streak, the 49ers (11-3) have won all of their games by at least 12 points. They have also won 12 in a row against divisional opponents in the NFC West. San Francisco has won back-to-back division titles for the first time since the 2011–12 season.
McCaffrey scored his second touchdown early in the third quarter. Quietly sneaking out of the backfield for a 41-yard score. And a lead of 28-13. The running back was so wide open that he jumped for the catch, fell, and still had enough time to get to his feet and sprint to the end zone.
He made it there a third time in the third quarter after going 1-yard for a touchdown and a 35–16 lead. Deebo Samuel caught his second touchdown in the fourth, a 19-yard reception to make it 42–22.
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The 27-year-old McCaffrey finished with five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 115 yards and a score.
Ward put the 49ers ahead for good when he stepped in front of Trey McBride to catch Kyler Murray’s pass after the Cardinals (3-11) decided to go on fourth-and-3. The cornerback raced 66 yards the other way for a 14–7 lead, and dribbled away from a pair of Arizona defenders.
The mistake ended Murray’s streak of 96 passes without an interception.
Arizona’s Matt Prater made two field goals in the second quarter to cut the gap to 14–13, one from 58 yards and the other from 43 yards.
Purdy suffered a left shoulder injury during the second quarter after a big hit by Arizona’s Dennis Gardeck was called for a 15-yard penalty. But the quarterback came back later in the drive and hit McCaffrey for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:14 remaining before halftime for a 21–13 lead.
Murray completed 26 of 39 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Cardinals are 2-3 since returning from an ACL injury in his right knee last month.
Imari Demercado added a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. McBride caught 10 passes for 102 yards.
The Cardinals ran for 234 yards, finding some holes in the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense.
Arizona got off to a great start as Murray found McBride twice for a total of 49 yards in the air, before James Connor ran for a 2-yard touchdown to cap an efficient seven-play, 75-yard march.
But the 49ers didn’t last long, responding with a touchdown drive of their own that ended with Purdy hitting a wide-open Samuel for a 12-yard touchdown.
49ers: CB Demodore Lenoir (ribs) left in the second half and did not return.
Cardinals: TE Geoff Swain (calf) left in the second quarter and did not return. …WR Marquise Brown (heel) also was injured in the first half.
49ers: Home vs. Baltimore, Dec. 25.
Cardinals: At Chicago next Saturday.
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