San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sun Jan 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco Forty-Niners put themselves into the #2 seed in the NFC, by preventing the Arizona Cardinals from flying around the Silicon Valley skies, 38-13..

Although they wanted to attain the #1 seed, those other birds, top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles,  took care of business in the City of Brotherly Love..

Arizona quieted the full house in Levi;s Stadium with a 77-yard bomb from QB David Blough to receiver AJ Green in less than a minute of the game’s opening drive,  Unfortunately, their kicker, the usually reliable Matt Prater missed the PAT.  

A few minutes later, the all-purpose weapon, Christian McCaffrey caught a 21-yard touchdown from quarterback Brock Purdy, and kicker Robbie Gould made his initial PAT.  After 15 minutes of play, 7-6 Niners.

In the second quarter, the 49ers hit paydirt twice and the Cardinals made it to the house once.

San Francisco running back Alijah Mitchell scampered for a 5-yard TD after a Tashaun Gipson interception of Blough.

Arizona ‘s running back Corey Clement blasted the line for a 1-yard touchdown, bringing the score to a margin of one point, 14-13.

With 19 seconds left in the half,  Niners’ star tight end George Kittle received a 4-yard touchdown, putting them up by eight at intermission, 21-13.

The Santa Clara inhabitants went on a 17-0 run in the third quarter, ballooning their lead to 25, 38-13 after 3,

Mitchell and Kittle both returned to the endzone, Gould kicked a 27-yard field goal and Gipson picked off another pass.

The fourth segment of the game was very uneventful, as the third quarter score remained the same as the final score, 38-13, in favor of the home team.

Mr. RELEVANT (Purdy) threw 3 touchdowns on 178 yards passing for the Niners, while Cardinals’ QB David Blough passed for 180 yards, tossed a touchdown, but had two attempts picked off.

At press time, the 49ers will host either the Green Bay Packers or the Seattle Seahawks next weekend, pending Green Bay’s later scoring total.

Cardinals’ defensive end JJ Watt played his last NFL game with an impressive two sacks to end an incredible career.  He intimated that he was thankful for his time in the league and appreciative of his many accolades.

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