49ers vs. Cardinals: Best performances from win over NFC West rival

The San Francisco 49ers are still perfect. San Francisco improved to 3-0 with a 16-15 walk-off winner against NFC West division rival Arizona (2-1).

With the win, the 49ers are off to a quick 2-0 start against NFC West foes. San Francisco won at Seattle to open the season, 17-13.

It took significant contributions from a number of performers on Sunday in order to collect the 49ers’ third win of 2025. Let’s take a look at San Francisco’s best performers from Sunday’s win over the Cardinals.

Dee Winters

49ers vs. Cardinals: Best performances from win over NFC West rival — SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Dee Winters #53 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by teammate Marques Sigle #36 after breaking up a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

In a defensive struggle, every point mattered. And keeping points off the scoreboard was paramount, too. 49ers linebacker Dee Winters broke up a pass intended for running back James Conner in the end zone. Winters would go on to finish with eight tackles and one quarterback hurry.

Fred Warner

Fred Warner has an evergreen, permanent home here, but the 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker was seriously all over the place on Sunday. Warner notched a team-high 11 tackles and came away with two more passes defended to now stand all alone in the San Francisco history books.

Warner ran his career passes defended total up to 54, overtaking the great Patrick Willis to now rank atop the record books among 49ers linebackers in that category.

Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams

The 49ers lost star defensive end Nick Bosa to a knee injury early in the contest. Defensive end Mykel Williams would briefly exit and return, too.

But, pairing Williams and defensive end Bryce Huff together here thanks to their important contributions minus Bosa. Huff in particular had a really strong performance, coming up with a sack of Kyler Murray and batted down another pass.

Williams also had a tackle for loss.

Mac Jones

The 49ers had seven yards on six plays in the first quarter as Arizona dominated time of possession. But, 49ers quarterback Mac Jones didn’t panic.

Given a chance to direct the 49ers to a win, that’s exactly what Jones did. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound signal-caller orchestrated a 10-play, 63-yard drive to set up Eddy Pineiro for the walk-off winner.

Jones finished 27-of-41 passing for 284 yards with one touchdown pass and an interception.

Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco wide receiver Ricky Pearsall reeled in eight grabs for 117 yards for this third career 100-plus yards receiving game and his third in the 49ers’ past five games.

Eddy Pineiro

Eddy Pineiro was money all day, connecting from 38, 51 and, of course, from 35 yards to win it. San Francisco fans finally have someone they can trust to go win a football game for them.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers vs. Cardinals: Best performances from win over NFC West rival