In a nail-biting finish, the San Francisco 49ers summoned kicker Eddy Piñeiro to seal a dramatic 16-15 victory against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. This pivotal win pushed the 49ers to a perfect 3-0 record as they continue their strong start to the season.

Following the underwhelming performance of Jake Moody, who had become unreliable, San Francisco turned to Piñeiro. And he delivered when it mattered most, landing a 35-yard walk-off field goal that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

As the clock wound down, things seemed bleak for the 49ers when the Cardinals took a 15-13 lead with only a few minutes left. A costly offensive holding call against San Francisco in the end zone complicated matters. Quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals couldn’t maintain control, failing to convert a pivotal third down that kept them from extending their lead.

With time running out and the 49ers starting from their own 20-yard line, backup quarterback Mac Jones, filling in for the injured Brock Purdy, stepped up brilliantly. He connected on crucial passes, including a significant screen to Christian McCaffrey, advancing the team to the Cardinal's 16-yard line.

Despite their struggles on third down, hitting only 2 out of 10 attempts, San Francisco maneuvered adeptly to position Piñeiro for the winning kick. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon opted against icing the kicker with a timeout, allowing Piñeiro to confidently execute the game-winning field goal.

In his performance, Jones completed 27 of 41 passes for 284 yards, adding a touchdown but also an interception. McCaffrey was instrumental, not only rushing for 52 yards but also snagging 10 catches for 88 yards. Ricky Pearsall stepped up as well, racking up 117 yards on eight receptions.

On the other side, Kyler Murray went 22 of 35 for 159 yards and a touchdown, but with running back James Conner sidelined due to an ankle injury, Trey Benson became the leading rusher with 42 yards. Kicker Chad Ryland had his moments as well, converting two shorter field goals but missing a long 57-yarder.

With their victory, the 49ers remain atop the NFC West and look to keep their winning streak alive against the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars next week. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, now 2-1, are gearing up for a challenging short week as they prepare to host the 2-1 Seattle Seahawks this Thursday night.