Sep 30, 2026 1:09 AM
Brock Purdy keeps San Francisco perfect while divisional rivals crumble. From Seattle’s late-game heartbreak to the Rams' Mile High collapse, the Niners now command a clear path ahead.
Week 3 was a dream scenario for San Francisco 49ers fans. While the Niners pushed their record to a perfect 3-0 with a wild 36-30 divisional win over Arizona, every single one of their NFC West rivals suffered a defeat.
Seattle dropped a late thriller in Washington, the Rams choked away a double-digit halftime lead in Denver, and Arizona fell to the bottom of the division standings. With two divisional victories already under their belt, San Francisco holds sole possession of first place heading into October.
Here is how the NFC West shook out in Week 3 and where the division stands:
NFC West Standings After Week 3
| Team | Record | Division | Point Diff | Streak |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-0 | 2-0 | +48 | W3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | 1-0 | +25 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-2 | 0-1 | -2 | L1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-2 | 0-2 | -18 | L2 |
1. San Francisco 49ers (3-0): Brock Purdy Keeps the Ship Afloat
- Week 3 Result: 36-30 Win vs. Arizona Cardinals
- The Story: How does a team surrender 30 points and nearly 40 minutes of possession while watching Trent Williams and Mike Evans exit with injuries? Simple: Brock Purdy. Operating behind a makeshift lineup, Purdy put the offense on his back, throwing four touchdown passes. San Francisco is battling an unprecedented injury crisis, but as long as #13 is under center, they continue to find ways to win.
2. Seattle Seahawks (2-1): Streak Snapped in Washington
- Week 3 Result: 33-31 Loss at Washington Commanders
- The Story: Seattle’s 12-game winning streak came to a crashing halt at the hands of backup quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Commanders. After Sam Darnold returned to the starting lineup, Seattle fell behind by 14 in the second half. A furious fourth-quarter rally brought the Seahawks within striking distance, but a costly Darnold pick-six derailed the comeback. Washington ran out the clock, leaving Seattle in second place behind Santa Clara.
3. Los Angeles Rams (1-2): Collapse in Mile High
- Week 3 Result: 30-26 Loss at Denver Broncos
- The Story: The Rams appeared to be in complete control on Sunday Night Football, carrying a 16-0 shutout into halftime. However, Sean McVay's squad completely stalled in the second half. Former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga picked off Matthew Stafford for a game-altering pick-six, sparking a 30-point Denver surge. Los Angeles sank themselves with 13 penalties for 91 yards and now sit two games behind San Francisco in the standings.
4. Arizona Cardinals (1-2): Playmakers Emerge, But Defense Falls Short
- Week 3 Result: 36-30 Loss at San Francisco 49ers
- The Story: Arizona proved they are far tougher than their record indicates. Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes without an interception, dominating time of possession and taking advantage of San Francisco's special teams mistake to draw within two points late in the fourth quarter. However, the Cardinals' defense had no answers for Purdy when it mattered most, leaving Arizona winless in division play (0-2) and anchored at the bottom of the NFC West.
Looking Ahead to Week 4
- Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers: A major test awaits Brock Purdy against a stingy Broncos defense that just forced three turnovers in a comeback win over the Rams.
- Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle Seahawks: The winless 0-3 Chargers travel to Seattle, where the Seahawks will be desperate to rebound after their first loss.
- Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles: The Rams continue a tough road stretch in Philly, desperately trying to avoid a 1-3 hole.
- Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants: Arizona visits MetLife Stadium for a matchup against a re-tooled Giants squad.
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