49ers vs. Cardinals final score: Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins shine as Arizona stuns San Francisco

Hopkins sets a career-high in catches during his Arizona debut

The NFC West is already living up to the hype as the NFL's best division, as the Arizona Cardinals -- who had eight wins combined in the last two seasons -- stunned the San Francisco 49ers in Levi's Stadium on Sunday. Kyler Murray became the first Cardinals quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for 100 yards for a brief period in the fourth quarter (which was later taken away due to last second kneel-downs in victory formation) and DeAndre Hopkins notched a career-high 14 receptions in his debut with Arizona. The Cardinals won their first season opener since 2015. 

Hopkins finished with 151 receiving yards, the eighth time he's recorded 150 yards receiving in a game in his career. His 14 receptions in Week 1 broke Larry Fitzgerald's franchise record of 13 catches, which was set in 2005. Murray finished with 91 rushing yards, which ended up being the second-most for a Cardinals quarterback in the Super Bowl era -- behind his 93 rushing yards last year. 

The 49ers started 8-0 last season and didn't lose their first game until Week 10. Now, after just one week, they find themselves in the loss column.  

Jimmy Garoppolo led the NFL with four fourth-quarter comebacks last season, but couldn't find a way to give San Francisco the victory late in this one. Garoppolo's pass to Trent Taylor on fourth-and-5 at the Arizona 16 in the final minute was broken up by Budda Baker to seal the upset victory. Garoppolo threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, but the 49ers were noticeably depleted at wide receiver, as their players at the position caught just four passes on the afternoon. Raheem Mostert led San Francisco with 151 total yards, including a 76-yard catch to put San Francisco up 10 points in the first quarter. 

We'll break down this entire upset in our takeaways below, but you can also get the blow-for-blow breakdown in our live blog at the end of this space.

Why the Cardinals won

The Cardinals clearly won the offseason trade of DeAndre Hopkins, as he set a career-high with 14 catches in his debut with the team. Hopkins and quarterback Kyler Murray had an instant connection from the team's first offensive play on, as Hopkins finished with eight catches for 151 yards -- the final one going for 34 yards that took Arizona to the San Francisco 1-yard line (Kenyan Drake scored on the next play to give Arizona the 24-20 lead with 5:03 left). Arizona opened up the game plan when Murray started using his legs to make plays (he finished with 91 rushing yards), which freed up Hopkins in the second half.

Why the 49ers lost

The 49ers are the defending NFC champions, but San Francisco clearly missed its full contingent of wide receivers in this one. Kendrick Bourne was good, but he couldn't replace the production of Deebo Samuel (on short-term injured reserve). San Francisco's wide receivers finished with just four catches on a day where first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk was inactive. Kyle Shanahan was creative in finding ways to give Raheem Mostert the ball in space, but the 49ers missed a key part of their offense without a consistent outside presence. A first quarter blocked punt by Arizona on special teams certainly ignited the Cardinals with San Francisco up 10-0 early. 

Turning point

About that blocked punt ... San Francisco led 10-0 with 7:05 left in the first quarter at their own 31-yard line when Ezekiel Turner blocked the punt, and Dennis Gardeck recovered at the 49ers' 10-yard line. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on the next play as Kyler Murray found Chase Edmonds on a pass in the wishbone offense. All of a sudden Arizona was down 10-7 in a game San Francisco had dominated to that point. 

Play of the game

Murray's 34-yard pass to Hopkins that put the Cardinals in position to score the winning touchdown takes the cake. Hopkins showcased exactly why Arizona executed a trade then made him the highest-paid wide receiver in football. On a quick pass on third-and-6 to Hopkins, the yards-after-catch monster did the rest in getting the Cardinals to the 1. Cardinals fans are going to love Hopkins. 

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Up next

Arizona will host Washington as the Cardinals sit in first place in the NFC West at 1-0. San Francisco will look to avoid an 0-2 start in Week 2 when the 49ers travel to New York to face the Jets. 

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:50 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

That's it for me everyone. Be sure to stick around for takeaways. Long day doing two games, but well worth it to bring you all coverage. Have a good night!!!

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

What an upset by the Cardinals. Stay tuned for more takeaways on this one, but this is the statement win AZ needed. The NFC West will be a dogfight this year.

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:26 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Byron Murphy seals the upset for teh Cardinals! That wa snot a good pass by Garoppolo.

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:26 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

This will be the game. 4th-and-5 with 37 seconds left. I'd go for the first down here with all three time outs left.

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:24 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Kendrick Bourne got himself open in the end zone. Jimmy G needed to throw that better. Floated it up there. Gave Peterson plenty of time to face guard and make an elite play. 

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:21 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

The 49ers are in business after that Tevin Coleman 10-yard run. At the SF 32 with 2 minutes to play.

Jimmy Garoppolo led the NFL with 4 fourth quarter comebacks last year

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:17 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

DeAndre Hopkins is doing this against the No. 1 pass defense by the way. What was Bill O'Brien thinking?

[Sep 13, 2020 at 7:12 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

DeAndre Hopkins 14th catch in his debut.

Kyler Murray has 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career.

He's the 1st Cardinals QB to rush for 100 yards in a game.