George Kittle became the answer when the San Francisco 49ers needed one most. With Arizona charging back and Levi’s Stadium suddenly tense, Kittle caught a 20-yard touchdown with 1:31 left to lift San Francisco to a 36-30 win. The 49ers, who entered at 2-0, stayed unbeaten, while the Cardinals showed their young offense could battle a powerful division rival.

Arizona opened with a patient drive behind rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who ran for 90 yards on 21 carries. But the Cardinals could not finish that first march. San Francisco then struck with a play that looked small at first. Brock Purdy threw a short pass to Mike Evans, who lateraled the ball to Deebo Samuel Sr. Samuel raced 80 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The 49ers kept rolling early in the second quarter. Purdy found Evans deep down the right side for a 23-yard touchdown, making it 14-0. Arizona answered with two field goals from Chad Ryland and trailed 14-6 late in the half. Then Purdy hit Jordan Watkins for 34 yards to set up Eddy Pineiro’s 57-yard field goal as time ran out. That kick gave San Francisco a 17-6 halftime lead and made Arizona’s climb steeper.

The 49ers appeared ready to pull away after halftime. Kittle caught two big passes on the opening drive, and McCaffrey powered in from 1 yard out for a 23-6 lead. Yet Arizona did not fade. Jacoby Brissett kept firing short throws to Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, his dependable tight end. Wilson’s 5-yard touchdown catch cut the lead to 23-13.

Then a muffed punt gave Arizona the ball at the San Francisco 28. The Cardinals turned that gift into points early in the fourth quarter, as Love caught a 1-yard touchdown pass. Suddenly, it was 23-20, and the 49ers needed their offense to settle the game.

Kittle answered first with a 10-yard touchdown catch for a 29-20 lead. Arizona answered again. Brissett led a fast march featuring catches by Marvin Harrison Jr., Kendrick Bourne, and McBride before sneaking across the goal line himself. With 2:51 left, the Cardinals trailed only 29-27.

San Francisco’s final drive was its biggest. A long Purdy touchdown scramble was erased by a holding penalty, but the 49ers stayed composed. After McCaffrey helped move the ball closer, Purdy lofted a deep pass to Kittle for the 20-yard score. Kittle finished with six catches, 82 yards, and two touchdowns, while Purdy threw for 297 yards and four scores without an interception.

Arizona added a late field goal, but San Francisco recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. The 49ers are 3-0 and head next to Denver with a championship-style habit of making plays in tight moments. The Cardinals fall to 1-2, but Brissett’s 280 passing yards and Arizona’s 38:44 of possession showed a resilient offense that can carry hope into its next game against the New York Giants.

George Kittle’s Late Touchdown Sends 49ers Past Cardinals