SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The offense took a little time, but Kyler Murray was, well, Kyler Murray. DeAndre Hopkins was DeAndre Hopkins.
And the defense returned to the scene of a place where they couldn't hold a lead late last season and were put in the same situation – only to make their plays when needed.
The result was an emotional 24-20 win for the Cardinals against the 49ers Sunday in a weird yet satisfying season opener in front of nobody at Levi's Stadium. The wildfire-impacted air quality wasn't good but good enough to play. The absent crowd was noticeable – "It'll take some getting used to," Kliff Kingsbury said – but it also made it easy to hear the bellows and yelps of celebration from the Cardinals after Byron Murphy's game-clinching pass breakup.
"I was just talking to Budda (Baker) about that," Murray said. "It was almost the same situation (as last year), and sitting on the sideline it just felt different. I felt we were going to come out on top."
It was the first time the Cardinals won in Week 1 since 2015, a year the Cards ended up in the NFC Championship. No one is making those kinds of bold predictions for this team, but to topple the reigning NFC champs on the road is exactly what they wanted to do.
Hopkins was spectacular, piling up a career-best 14 catches for 151 yards, and his 33-yard catch-and-run set up Kenyan Drake's 1-yard touchdown run that provided the game-winning points. And that was after a first quarter where he and Murray weren't always on the same wavelength.
"It feels real sensation right now," Hopkins said. "I'm just a small piece of this puzzle.
"Once the offense got going, I knew it'd be hard to stop us."
Murray didn't have his best game passing – 26-for-40 for 230 yards, a touchdown and an interception – but he made the plays in the fourth quarter when needed. His legs provided a huge boost in the rally, scrambling for time and yards, finishing with 91 on 13 carries, including a highlight-worthy 22-yard scamper for a touchdown.
Murray actually had 100 yards on his first 11 carries, before "losing" nine yards on kneeldowns – "We'll count (the 100)," Murray joked -- and added that almost all of his runs just came in context of the defense getting out of pass rush lanes.
"The guy was running today," Baker said. "Kyler did his thing. He did what God blessed him with."
There were plenty of hiccups. The offense's slow start. Rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons showing his inexperience getting beat on Raheem Mostert's 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown early in the game. Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals, albeit he did drill a career-best 56-yarder right before halftime. Even Kingsbury was hard on himself.
"It wasn't pretty early," Kingsbury said. "Players were rusty, I was rusty with my playcalling."
But the Cards stuck around. Down 10-0, linebacker Ezekiel Turner blocked the first punt of his career that set his offense up at the San Francisco 10-yard line, leading to a Murray-to-Chase Edmonds 10-yard touchdown pass one play in. The defense also made a huge goal line stand, with Jordan Phillips, Devon Kennard and De'Vondre Campbell teaming to stuff the 49ers on fourth down and preventing points in the second quarter.
"We can come together even more," Baker said, praising the communication and lack of cliques. "This defense, we all love each other. … We are all together."
Jimmy Garappolo still threw a couple TD passes, but he was inaccurate some of the time. Tight end George Kittle had only four catches, and none in the second half. The Cardinals held the Niners to 2-for-11 on third downs, and one came on a penalty.
Yet the Niners still had a third-and-5 at the Arizona 16 with less than a minute left, pushing to come from behind as they had done to the Cardinals last year at Levi's. In 2019, the Cards gave up a TD pass. This time, they targeted Murphy twice.
Once he broke up the pass – with Garappolo under pressure – in the end zone. The second he broke up just beyond the first-down marker.
"I played my leverage, the ball came, and I just made the play," Murphy said matter-of-factly.
Early last week, Kingsbury had put up a stat in front of his team, that the Cardinals were 3-12-1 in September since 2016. The last time they had won in September was 2017. His message was clear, that the Cardinals needed to prepare themselves to have a better start to the season.
Now, with the home opener against a 1-0 Washington team next week, they own the start they coveted.
"I knew we had something special from the day I walked in the building," Hopkins said.
But, he added, "we didn't win a Super Bowl yet. So it's back to the drawing board."
Images from the season opener in Santa Clara
Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds dives for a touchdown.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
QB Kyler Murray
Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds (29) dives past 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander (56) to score a touchdown.
LB De'Vondre Campbell (59) and LB Devon Kennard combine for a goal-line stand.
49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) runs toward the end zone to score a touchdown against the Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury watches from the sideline.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
San Francisco 49ers players and coaches stand in the far end zone during a presentation on social justice at Levi's Stadium before an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif.
Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (33) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor during the second half.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs against the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) catches a pass against Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa during the first half.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) catches a pass against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. (92) pulls down Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon (28) runs against Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) and outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) runs past San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) catches a pass against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (41) during the first half.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs against Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker during the first half.
Cutouts are seated at Levi's Stadium as Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) kicks a point after try during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman to score a touchdown during the second half.
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jordan Reed (81) runs against Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones (55) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (92) celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) runs toward the end zone to score a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon, left, runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury shake hands after an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Cardinals won 24-20.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) celebrates with cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. The Cardinals won 24-20.
