The Terminator: Connor helps Cardinals end losing streak to 49ers

Budda Baker, right, and Jalen Thompson celebrate Sunday during the Arizona Cardinals’ 24-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, snapping a long skid against the division rivals. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

TEMPE – It’s not October football if you’re not breaking curses.

A nearly three-year hex followed the Cardinals into their game Sunday against San Francisco but was broken when linebacker Kyzir White picked off quarterback Brock Purdy to seal a 24-23 victory.

The Cardinals entered Sunday with a four-game losing streak against to 49ers, which dates back to November 21, 2022, when they lost by 28 points.

The Cardinals’ last win over the 49ers was on November 7, 2021, when Colt McCoy threw for 249 yards and a touchdown to improve the team’s record to 8-1

This losing streak was personal for running back James Conner, who was on the Cardinals when the streak started.

Conner started in three of the four games in that losing streak and rushed for a combined 180 yards and two touchdowns.

That success carried into Sunday when Conner was a driving force for the Cardinals offense, rushing for 86 yards and helping set up the team’s game-winning field goal made by newly signed kicker Chad Ryland.

Conner’s workload is a product of how much faith this team has in him and how confident they are that he will produce and lead.

“He’s an asset we have that not many people have,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He does a lot for us from not only the playing side (but) the psychological, the leadership side, the lead by example side.”

Additionally, the Cardinals defense stood out Sunday afternoon with strong performances from multiple players on that side of the ball.

The defense was able to hold the 49ers scoreless in the second half and while San Francisco had the yards to win a football game, the Cardinals were able to create three turnovers: one fumble recovered and two interceptions.

Linebacker Mack Wilson was disruptive on the field Sunday, recording six tackles and an interception.

“It was dope man … it’s something we’ve been talking about all offseason, just manifesting getting more turnovers for our defense,” he said.

Wilson made a strong impression on Gannon and the Cardinals in his first season with the team, receiving high praise from his coach.

“This guy is totally bought in in what we do, and he has exceded my expectations in what I expect from him as far as being a Cardinal,” Gannon said.

It wasn’t just the Cardinals’ ability to create turnovers, but the ability to not let the game get out of hand.

“We put emphasis on it being a boxing match,” Wilson said. “It’s a heavy hitter team, we’re a heavy hitter team, there’s going to be some punches thrown, we’re going to have to fight back.”

The Cardinals were able to win this game as a collective unit, with strong performances on both sides of the ball.

“When you play like that, you set yourself up to win a lot of games in this league,” Wilson said.