49ers vs. Cardinals: Live Score & Analysis for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers look to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in Week 2 to the Chicago Bears by taking on a NFC West division rival—the Arizona Cardinals.

San Francisco's Week 3 matchup versus Arizona kicked off on Sunday, September 21 at 4:05 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals sat atop the division after knocking off the San Diego Chargers and New York Giants in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively.

While Arizona was without starting quarterback Carson Palmer—having inserted Drew Stanton under center—the Cardinals offense looked to get production from wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd along with running back Andre Ellington. But wideout John Brown also had a huge game.

Fitzgerald was held to zero catches in the first half, but made a key grab late in the game.

San Francisco tried to get back on track from the epic collapse that befell the team a week ago. 

Most significantly, quarterback Colin Kaepernick needed to right the ship after a four-turnover game against the Bears. San Francisco's pass rush—largely absent from the 49ers' first two games of the season—floundered in the second half, allowing Arizona to come back in the game.

Two Cardinals field goals have provided all the Arizona offense in the first half. But the 49ers answered back with a 12-play drive, ending with a touchdown reception by Michael Crabtree, who continues his dominance against Arizona.

But Carlos Hyde also got on the scoreboard with a toss play from Kaepernick. This gave San Francisco its second touchdown of the day and Hyde's second touchdown of his short career.

The Cardinals answered back in the second half. Two Stanton passes to John Brown have put Arizona back on top.

San Francisco's first half was nothing like the epic meltdown endured in the second. A series of painful penalties, mistakes and miscues put the 49ers back in the loss column after having performed similarly bad a week ago.

The 49ers remain the only NFL team with zero points in the fourth quarter.

San Francisco didn't deserve to win this game, and it didn't.

49ers 14, Cardinals 23. FINAL 

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.

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