The San Francisco 49ers offense is littered with veterans who can make the right play in the right situation and it showed on their first drive against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Brock Purdy found Mike Evans for a short completion. The wide receiver was about to go down to the ground but flipped the ball to Deebo Samuel, who then took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown.
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (19) catches a lateral from wide receiver Mike Evans (5) before running for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
The heads-up play helped put the 49ers up 7-0 with 8:26 left in the first quarter. For Samuel, the box score read one touchdown and 80 yards but no reception. For Evans, one catch for two yards but no touchdown. It’s funny sometimes how things like that can happen.
The 49ers came into the game with a laundry list of injuries. Evans was battling a hip injury coming into the contest. He was declared active hours before kickoff. The team is playing without defensive linemen Nick Bosa, Romello Height and James Thompson Jr. and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (5) celebrates with tight end George Kittle (85) during the first half of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
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Regardless, San Francisco has managed to start the season with two consecutive wins. The 49ers topped the Los Angeles Rams in Australia and put away the Miami Dolphins last week.
Arizona surprised the NFL world last week when they defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1. But meeting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks led to a 31-7 blowout loss.
Sunday’s game represents a huge NFC West matchup for both teams. A win for either notches a line in the divisional victories category.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
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So far, it looked like the 49ers had the Cardinals’ number.