Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers Match Player Stats: A Deep Dive into the Week 15 Showdown

The raw numbers behind the arizona cardinals vs 49ers match player stats reveal a story far beyond the final whistle. This wasn’t just a division rivalry game; it was a clinic in defensive pressure and capitalizing on quarterback mistakes. When San Francisco’s defensive line takes over a game this completely, the resulting box score reads like a checklist of offensive failures for the visitors.

Arizona entered Levi’s Stadium on December 17, 2023, hoping to claw back into the NFC playoff picture, but they left with a statistical profile that spelled doom from the first quarter. The 49ers’ 45-29 victory was a direct result of explosive plays generated by turnovers, turning Arizona’s rare positive rushing metrics into meaningless footnotes. We’re stripping away the surface-level narratives to dissect the specific performance data that defined this contest.

Match Overview Table

Core Match Statistics Overview

The total yardage gap was negligible, but the situational football metrics created a chasm. Arizona actually won the time of possession battle, yet San Francisco was playing a completely different game regarding points per drive.

Rushing Attack Neutralized by Game Script

Even a dominant ground performance can become irrelevant without points. The Cardinals’ backfield compiled a massive 234-yard day, yet internal drive metrics show a failure to finish.

• Arizona averaged a stunning 6.2 yards per carry, with James Conner and Emari Demercado gashing the interior, but two red-zone turnovers erased immediate scoring chances.
• The 49ers’ defensive interior allowed just 4.0 yards per carry to running backs between the tackles, forcing the Cardinals to rely on perimeter runs that ate clock but didn’t shrink the deficit.

Third Down Disparity and Quarterback Protection

The contrast in quarterback comfort directly created the scoring gap. The player stats highlight a clean pocket versus constant chaos.

• Brock Purdy operated with an average time to throw of 3.1 seconds, resulting in zero sacks; Kyler Murray faced pressure on 38% of dropbacks, leading to two critical interceptions during collapsing pocket scenarios.
• San Francisco converted 53.8% of third downs largely because their average distance to gain was 4.3 yards, whereas Arizona’s average third-down distance was a stifling 7.1 yards.

Period-by-Period Analysis

A look at the cumulative scoring runout shows exactly when the game slipped into blowout territory.

• 
  First Quarter Explosion: Christian McCaffrey recorded 55 all-purpose yards on the opening two drives. Charvarius Ward’s interception of Murray on a miscommunication with Trey McBride gifted the 49ers a short field for a 14-7 lead.
• Third Quarter Collapse: The critical swing occurred when Arizona’s offense stalled on a goal-line stand, leading to a safety. Deommodore Lenoir’s subsequent pick-six on the following possession widened the margin to 35-16, a deficit the ground game couldn’t shrink.
• Late Statistical Padding: Greg Dortch and Emari Demercado recorded 78 combined yards in the fourth quarter against soft zone coverage, polishing the final yardage numbers for Arizona but never threatening the lead.

Arizona Cardinals Player Statistics

The box score suggests a productive day for the stars, but the arizona cardinals vs 49ers match player stats show efficiency dipped under pressure.

Kyler Murray (QB)

• Passing: 26/39, 211 Yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
• Rushing: 6 Carries, 49 Yards
  Murray’s scrambles extended drives, but he completed only 55% of passes when blitzed. His two interceptions, both targeting double-covered receivers, resulted in a 38.3 passer rating against zone coverage.

James Conner (RB)

• Rushing: 14 Carries, 86 Yards, 1 TD
• Receiving: 3 Receptions, 3 Yards
  Conner punished arm tackles in the first half, averaging 5.4 yards after contact. However, his third-quarter fumble at the San Francisco 19-yard line evaporated Arizona’s comeback momentum.

Trey McBride (TE)

• Receiving: 10 Receptions, 102 Yards
  Operating as the security blanket, McBride dominated the middle seams. Eight of his ten catches resulted in first downs, making him the lone consistent chain-mover.

Budda Baker (S)

• Defense: 9 Total Tackles (7 Solo), 1 Pass Defensed
  Baker flew to the ball in run support, limiting Deebo Samuel to minimal yards after catch on crossers. His open-field tackle on McCaffrey saved a touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers Player Statistics

Efficiency metrics powered the 49ers’ scoring runs, with multiple weapons posting elite yards-per-touch averages.

Brock Purdy (QB)

• Passing: 16/25, 242 Yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
• Rushing: 1 Carry, 3 Yards
  Purdy posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating from a clean pocket. He averaged 15.1 yards per completion, carving up Arizona’s secondary on deep crossers without turning the ball over.

Christian McCaffrey (RB)

• Rushing: 18 Carries, 115 Yards, 1 TD
• Receiving: 5 Receptions, 72 Yards, 2 TD
  Proving total dominance, McCaffrey forced 8 missed tackles. His dual-threat production created matchup nightmares, scoring three times before the fourth quarter began.

Deebo Samuel (WR)

• Receiving: 4 Receptions, 48 Yards, 2 TD
• Rushing: 1 Carry, 11 Yards
  Lining up everywhere from tailback to the X-receiver, Samuel caught two red-zone touchdowns simply by dragging across the formation against slower linebackers.

Charvarius Ward (CB)

• Defense: 4 Tackles, 2 Interceptions, 3 Passes Defensed
  Ward’s physical press coverage disrupted timing. He read Murray’s eyes perfectly on a hitch route, jumping it for a drive-killing pick.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Why They Won / Why They Lost

Why San Francisco 49ers Won

Defensive Scoring Disparity

The 49ers didn’t just stop drives; they created instant points, a metric Arizona could not match.

The safety forced by the defensive line and Lenoir’s interception return accounted for 9 points independently, equal to the final margin of victory.

Elite Passer Rating Differential

The distribution of targets and quarterback efficiency were worlds apart. Purdy’s precision on intermediate throws (10-19 yards) kept the chains moving without negative plays.

• Purdy’s receiver group averaged 8.9 yards after the catch per reception, turning short passes into explosive gains.
• Arizona’s defensive front failed to register a single quarterback hit, allowing San Francisco to operate at a relaxed, surgical pace.

Why Arizona Cardinals Lost

Catastrophic Red Zone Giveaways

Arizona moved the ball between the 20s but disintegrated in scoring position. Conner’s fumble and a turnover on downs represented a potential 14-point swing. The Cardinals’ red zone scoring rate of 33.3% contrasted sharply with San Francisco’s crisp 75% mark.

Heavy Dependence on Two Players

Without Conner’s power rushing and McBride’s interior receiving, the Arizona offense held no gravitational threat on the perimeter. Wide receivers not named Greg Dortch combined for just 34 yards, allowing the 49ers’ safeties to crowd the box and dare Murray to throw outside the numbers—a challenge he lost.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

This game concluded the regular-season head-to-head, with San Francisco asserting complete divisional command.

Advanced Statistical Insights

The assist-to-field-goal concept translates in football terms to the passing success rate versus the run-blocking efficiency. Arizona’s Pro Football Focus rushing grade exceeded 80.0, indicating a winning performance in the trenches, yet their passing grade fell below 55.0. This stark split—elite rushing paired with dreadful passing protection—explains the 436-yard mirage. The 49ers’ defense focused solely on eliminating explosive vertical passes, conceding ground yards while waiting for the inevitable negative play that reset the down and distance.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for San Francisco 49ers

• Clinching the NFC West with this win validated a defense peaking at the right time, having forced multiple turnovers in four straight games.
• The dual-threat output of McCaffrey alongside Purdy’s distribution secures the top seed, guaranteeing a bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

What This Means for Arizona Cardinals

• Despite the loss, Conner’s post-contact metrics prove the rushing scheme works, but the inability to pass protect with four rushers caps the offensive ceiling.
• The defense’s 29th rank in generating pressure confirms a massive need for an edge rusher in the upcoming draft.

Key Lessons

• Turnover margin in the red zone directly correlates to double-digit scoring swings.
• Running the ball efficiently does not win games if the passing defense concedes points on 75% of red zone trips.
• Purdy’s ability to avoid sacks transforms a good offensive roster into a historically efficient one.
• The arizona cardinals vs 49ers match player stats reveal a pass coverage unit unable to defend the middle seam.
• Missing a vertical threat on the boundary lets opposing defenses condense the field into high-traffic zones.
• Pick-sixes must be avoided for clock management targeted at rushing against a potent offense to be effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who prevailed in the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals?

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals with a final score of 45-29.

What were Christian McCaffrey’s stats in the game?

McCaffrey posted a dominant stat line with 115 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards, and 3 total touchdowns, leading all scorers.

How did Kyler Murray perform in the game?

Kyler Murray threw for 211 yards and 1 touchdown while rushing for 49 yards, but his performance was marred by 2 critical interceptions and a lost fumble recovery.

What was the key turnover statistic in the match?

Arizona committed 3 turnovers compared to San Francisco’s 1. The 49ers scored 14 points directly off those takeaways.

Who was the top receiver for the Arizona Cardinals?

Tight end Trey McBride was the top receiver, securing 10 receptions for 102 yards and consistently moving the chains.

What did the advanced player stats reveal about the 49ers’ defense?

The advanced arizona cardinals vs 49ers match player stats revealed Charvarius Ward’s coverage lockdown, forcing a passer rating below 40.0 when targeted, while the defensive line generated consistent pressure without blitzing.

Conclusion

The lopsided scoreline masked a game where the losing team rushed for over 230 yards, proving yet again that explosive passing efficiency and defensive disruption remain the ultimate currency in the modern NFL. The 49ers’ ability to turn three Arizona miscues into immediate points rendered the Cardinals’ physical ground attack obsolete. It was a match defined by the quarterback position; one side avoided critical mistakes entirely while the other cratered under pressure, delivering a statistical blueprint for a deep playoff run.