SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyler Murray used the brand new toy Arizona received him this offseason to get his second season off to a rousing begin.

Murray related on 14 passes to newcomer DeAndre Hopkins, together with the throw that arrange Kenyan Drake’s go-ahead 1-yard rating with 5:03 to play that led the Cardinals over the San Francisco 49ers 24-20 on Sunday.

Murray threw for 230 yards and a landing and ran for 91 yards and one other rating to assist the Cardinals overcome a pair of fourth-quarter deficits to beat the defending NFC champion 49ers in a smoky opener at an empty stadium.

”I knew we had one thing particular the day I walked into this constructing,” Hopkins stated. ”This staff works. How Kyler and this staff work. I have been round lots of nice folks and Kyler works prefer it’s his final day on this Earth … Nothing is a shock about what occurred at the moment.”

Hopkins was acquired in a commerce this offseason from Houston and took little time to make an affect. His 151 yards receiving made him one in every of 5 gamers with not less than 14 catches and 100 yards receiving within the season opener

His 33-yard cross to Hopkins received the ball all the way down to the 1 after which Drake ran it in on the following play to present Arizona the lead.

Jimmy Garoppolo led the 49ers all the way down to the 16 earlier than throwing an incomplete cross to Trent Taylor on fourth-and-5 that ended the comeback try.

”We had been in that scenario loads of occasions final 12 months,” Garoppolo stated. ”If you get in these conditions, clearly it is just a little completely different at the moment with out the gang, that game-day really feel wasn’t there. It simply comes all the way down to execution. Within the final minutes like that, each play is essential, each yard is essential. We simply did not execute.”

Garoppolo threw a 5-yard TD cross to Jerick McKinnon to present San Francisco a 20-17 lead with 8:38 to play earlier than Murray led a late comeback.

Murray had given the Cardinals the lead earlier within the fourth with a 22-yard scramble and his operating potential wore down San Francisco’s protection as the sport went on.

”That is probably the most proud I have been of him up to now as a result of that is a tricky protection,” coach Kliff Kingsbury stated. ”You get these monsters coming after you for 4 quarters, it isn’t straightforward to take a seat again there and proceed to hold within the pocket, proceed to make performs along with your toes and he simply saved preventing.”

Garoppolo completed 19 for 33 for 259 yards and two scores, additionally connecting on a 76-yarder to Raheem Mostert within the first quarter.

SMOKY SKIES

There had been concern all week in regards to the standing of the sport due to poor air circumstances from fires throughout Northern California. The Air High quality Index remained under the 200 threshold and the sport was performed as scheduled.

RACIAL JUSTICE

The 49ers stood on the objective line as a staff in the course of the taking part in of ”Raise Each Voice and Sing.” McKinnon and receiver Richie James Jr. kneeled in the course of the nationwide anthem. The Cardinals remained within the locker room for each.

BLOCKED

The Niners had been in command of the sport early with a 10-Zero lead till Ezekiel Turner broke by means of and blocked a punt by Mitch Wishnowsky. The Cardinals recovered on the 10 and scored on the following play on a cross from Murray to Chase Edmonds.

SAFETY FIRST

San Francisco received its first interception from a security in almost two years when Jaquiski Tartt got here up with a tip from teammate Dre Greenlaw. Tartt additionally had the earlier interception from a Niners security on Oct. 28, 2018, towards Arizona’s Josh Rosen.

SWITCHING SIDES

Niners CB Richard Sherman moved round and principally performed the extensive facet of the sphere quite than spending the day on the defensive left facet. In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Sherman had 23 snaps on the correct facet, almost twice as many as he had all final season. Hopkins had three catches for 22 yards on 15 performs going towards Sherman, in comparison with 10 catches for 96 yards towards Emmanuel Moseley.

INJURY REPORT

Cardinals: S Jalen Thompson left the sport with an ankle harm within the first half. … C Mason Cole left within the second half with a hamstring harm.

49ers: James left within the second half with a hamstring harm, leaving San Francisco with simply three wholesome receivers. … TE George Kittle performed the second half regardless of a lower-leg harm however wasn’t focused in 30 snaps after halftime.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Host Washington on Sunday.

49ers: Go to New York Jets on Sunday.

—

Extra AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL