GLENDALE, Ariz. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of pregame expectations, the San Francisco 49ers dominated the Arizona Cardinals, cruising to a 41-22 victory Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the 49ers building an insurmountable lead early while the Cardinals mounted a statistically prolific but ultimately futile comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. The result defied the projections, as the Cardinals had been installed as 3.5-point favorites and were given a 52.6 percent probability to win by statistical models.

San Francisco’s offense was ruthlessly efficient from the opening kickoff. The tone was set immediately when Ray-Ray McCloud III returned the game’s opening kickoff 98 yards to the Arizona 1-yard line. On the next play, Christian McCaffrey plunged into the end zone to give the 49ers a lead they would never relinquish just 16 seconds into the contest.

The 49ers’ aerial attack quickly extended the advantage. Quarterback Brock Purdy, playing in his home state, connected with tight end George Kittle on a 30-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter. Purdy finished an efficient day, completing 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

McCaffrey was the engine of the San Francisco offense, accounting for three touchdowns. He added his second score on a 9-yard reception from Purdy in the second quarter and sealed the game with a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth. He amassed 81 rushing yards on 13 carries and added 40 receiving yards on five catches.

Kittle was Purdy’s favorite target, hauling in six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers’ defense, while bending significantly in the second half, made critical plays to halt Arizona drives, including a key interception by Deommodore Lenoir in the third quarter.

While the final score was lopsided, Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett put together a massive performance in the losing effort. Brissett completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns, relentlessly targeting the San Francisco secondary, particularly in the second half.

Wide receiver Michael Wilson was the primary beneficiary of Brissett’s volume, catching 15 passes for 185 yards. Tight end Trey McBride was also a frequent target, finishing with 10 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the gaudy passing numbers, the Cardinals’ offense struggled to finish drives for three quarters. They managed only a single touchdown, a 6-yard run by Bam Knight in the first quarter, and a 26-yard Chad Ryland field goal in the second, entering the final period down 35-10.

Arizona’s offense finally found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter. McBride caught a 10-yard touchdown pass, and Greg Dortch scored on a 17-yard reception with 2:43 remaining. The Cardinals failed on both of their ensuing two-point conversion attempts. Dortch was a dynamic all-around weapon, contributing 66 receiving yards, 79 kick return yards, and 51 punt return yards to go with his touchdown.

The Cardinals’ comeback bid was hampered by their inability to stop the 49ers’ ground game and by critical penalties that negated big plays, including a 60-yard touchdown run by Knight that was called back due to a holding penalty in the third quarter.

Defensively, the 49ers were led by linebacker Curtis Robinson, who recorded 12 tackles. Dee Winters added 10 tackles for San Francisco. For Arizona, linebacker Cody Simon had a game-high 11 tackles, while safety Budda Baker contributed eight.

The victory improves San Francisco’s record to 7-4, providing a crucial rebound after a 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams the previous week. The Cardinals, meanwhile, fall to 3-7, continuing a difficult season despite the standout individual performance from Brissett.

San Francisco will look to build on the win as they host the Carolina Panthers next Monday night. The Cardinals will try to regroup when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home next Sunday.