AP

Garoppolo throws for 4 TDs, 49ers top Cards in Mexico City

Nov 21, 2022, 6:21 AM | Updated: Nov 22, 2022, 1:43 pm

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second ...

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)


              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after tight end George Kittle scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after tight end George Kittle scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after tight end George Kittle scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after tight end George Kittle scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Will Hernandez waves the flag of Mexico before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
            
              San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) makes a touchdown catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Trayvon Mullen, below, defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              A San Francisco 49ers fan looks on before an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Will Hernandez waves the flag of Mexico before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
            
              Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, right, runs with the ball as San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
            
              Flags for Mexico and the United States are seen on the field before an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
            
              San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, gets past Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson (20) and safety Budda Baker, on his way to scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — As the final minute ticked off the clock, San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo turned toward the crowd at Estadio Azteca, lifted his hands over his head and started clapping.

It was clear that the Mexico City crowd loved the 49ers.

Jimmy G and the 49ers gave that love — and some really good football — right back.

Garoppolo threw four touchdown passes, including two each to Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, and the 49ers won their third straight game by blowing past the Arizona Cardinals 38-10 on Monday night in Mexico City.

“The whole atmosphere tonight, I haven’t played in anything like it,” Garoppolo said. “It was electric, the fans were nuts, they were cheering throughout the whole game. It seemed like a soccer game at some points, just the passion they brought. It was really cool. I’d love to do it again.”

It was the fifth regular-season NFL game played in Mexico City and first since 2019. Technically a Cardinals home game, the festive, raucous announced crowd of 78,427 fans heavily favored the 49ers, roaring particularly loud when Kittle and Deebo Samuel each scored on 39-yard touchdowns.

“Man, I love San Francisco, but if we can’t be there, I love to be here,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “This place is awesome. That was one of the coolest experiences I’ve been a part of.”

San Francisco (6-4) has won five of its past seven and is tied with the Seahawks at the top of the NFC West. Garoppolo had another efficient performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards.

It was a tight game through much of the first half, but the 49ers pulled away in the second half, jumping ahead 24-10 early in the third quarter on a nifty end-around play. Samuel took the pitch and sprinted 39 yards, weaving through the Cardinals defense on his way to the end zone.

“It was really one of those pick your poison type of nights,” Garoppolo said. “They tried to take away the run, so we passed it, and then vice versa. It was a good night.”

It capped a powerful eight-play San Francisco drive that included seven run plays. Aiyuk’s second touchdown catch of the night — this one from 14 yards out — put the 49ers up 31-10 later in the third.

“I hope we made a good impression,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said.

The Cardinals (4-7) played their second straight game without Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray, who has been battling a sore hamstring. Backup Colt McCoy had a 3-1 record in spot starts over the past two seasons — including a win over the Rams last week — but couldn’t recreate the same magic in Mexico.

McCoy finished 24 of 34 passing for 218 yards and an interception. The 49ers hit him hard multiple times, connecting for three sacks.

“It’s just a bummer we didn’t find a way to win that game,” McCoy said. “But San Francisco played hard. They’re a good football team, and we just didn’t make enough plays. But for the crowd, for the atmosphere, being able to play internationally in Mexico City, I thought it was fantastic.”

The 49ers took a 17-10 into the halftime break after Robbie Gould connected on a 39-yard field goal with 43 seconds remaining the second quarter. It capped a back-and-forth first half that saw the teams gain almost identical amounts of yardage: The 49ers had a 186-185 advantage.

The Cardinals pushed ahead 3-0 midway through the first quarter on Matt Prater’s 40-yard field goal as both teams dealt with a steady rain that started around kickoff and continued through much of the first half.

The 49ers responded early in the second when Garoppolo hit Aiyuk over the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, capping a nine-play, 82-yard drive. San Francisco intercepted McCoy on the ensuing drive after a pass bounced off James Conner’s hand and was snatched out of the air by Jimmie Ward.

San Francisco capitalized three plays later when Garoppolo evaded pressure and lofted a pass to Kittle, who juked two Arizona defenders and then cruised into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

The cavernous Estadio Azteca — which is home to two of Mexico’s top soccer teams — sits at an altitude of about 7,200 feet, which is much higher than both San Francisco and Phoenix. The 49ers opted to train at altitude this week in Colorado, while the Cardinals decided to stay at their home practice facility in Tempe, Arizona.

Arizona’s defense looked gassed in the second half, missing several tackles as the game slowly got out of hand.

“That was a really good team,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “We knew we had to play as good as we’ve played all year. And I thought they played really physical in that second half and found a way to make plays.”

BACK IN MEXICO

The teams met in Mexico City a little more than 17 years after they played in the first regular-season NFL game played in a country outside the U.S. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 31-14 on Oct. 3, 2005, in front of 103,467 fans. The stadium’s capacity has been reduced since that time for NFL games.

There have been three other regular-season games played in Mexico before Monday — all at Estadio Azteca. The Raiders beat the Texans 27-20 in 2016, the Patriots beat the Raiders 33-8 in 2017 and the Chiefs beat the Chargers 24-17 in 2019.

INJURIES

49ers: DE Arik Armstead (foot/ankle) was listed as inactive.

Cardinals: In addition to Murray, the Cardinals had three other starters listed as inactive, including CB Byron Murphy Jr. (back), OT D.J. Humphries (back) and TE Zach Ertz (knee). Ertz is out for the season. … WR Rondale Moore (groin) left in the first quarter and didn’t return.

UP NEXT

49ers: Host the Saints on Sunday.

Cardinals: Host the Chargers on Sunday.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Garoppolo throws for 4 TDs, 49ers top Cards in Mexico City