SANTA CLARA — The 49ers have never been hotter heading into the postseason. But their 10-game win streak, which set a franchise record for consecutive victories to end of the regular season, means little now with the NFL playoffs set to begin.
The 49ers wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a 38-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
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Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy continued to do what he does — throw touchdown passes and win games.
The 49ers (13-4) are 6-0 after Purdy replaced Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. San Francisco was losing 7-3 when Purdy entered the game.
The 49ers will play host to the No. 7 seed (the Seattle Seahawks or Green Bay Packers) on either Saturday, Sunday or Monday at Levi’s Stadium. The NFL will announce the dates and times of the playoff games late Sunday.
Here are three takeaways from the 49ers’ easy victory over the Cardinals (4-13):
San Francisco 49ers
Purdy consistent as 49ers’ starter
With his late-second quarter touchdown pass to George Kittle, Purdy had his second touchdown pass of the game, matching his previous NFL high, which he hit in each of his first five games since moving into the starting role after Garoppolo’s fractured foot.
Purdy threw two touchdown passes in games against Miami, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Washington and Las Vegas. He later added a third touchdown pass against the Cardinals — also to Kittle.
Purdy’s ability to find Kittle in the back of the end zone in the second quarter when he did also highlighted one of other Purdy’s trademarks since taking over. He has shown a knack for engineering coach Kyle Shanahan’s late-half procedure of milking the clock and coming out of the possession with a touchdown.
The 49ers took over with 4:41 remaining in the first half after the Cardinals’ touchdown cut the 49ers’ lead to 14-13. San Francisco went on a deliberate nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that was culminated by Purdy’s touchdown pass to Kittle.
That was essentially the end of the first half, and the 49ers scored 14 points without the Cardinals gaining possession.
The second half opened with the 49ers receiving the kickoff, and taking it down the field for a touchdown for a 28-13 lead.
Purdy completed 15 of 20 pass attempts for 178 yards with three touchdown passes, no interceptions and a passer rating of 141.2.
Purdy took his final snap with 1:01 remaining in the third quarter, as his third touchdown pass of the day — and his second to Kittle — gave the 49ers a 38-13 lead.
Mitchell gets back in the swing of things
Running back Elijah Mitchell made his second return this season after a long absence due to MCL injuries.
In both of those games, Mitchell showed absolutely no rust. He had 18 carries for 89 yards in his first game back earlier this season, and on Sunday, he gained 55 yards and two touchdowns on just five rushing attempts.
Mitchell proved he was still in the swing of things when he took a backward swing pass from Purdy, picked up blocks from Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk and scampered down the right sideline for 37 yards in the third quarter.
On the next play, Mitchell took it over left tackle for a 6-yard touchdown.
Earlier, Mitchell scored on a 5-yard touchdown run that gave the 49ers a 14-6 lead.
Those were Mitchell’s first two touchdowns of the season after scoring seven times as a rookie. He has appeared in just five games this season.
Mitchell’s availability for the postseason gives the 49ers more options to pair with running back Christian McCaffrey, who was the team’s sixth different leading rusher in the six season with Shanahan as head coach.
Gipson, Bosa lead way for 49ers’ defense
Defensive end Nick Bosa fell one sack shy of the 49ers’ team record, but the day was still a success.
Safety Tashaun Gipson came up with two interceptions to help the 49ers build a big lead at the end of three quarters. That cushion provided the 49ers with the luxury of moving some of their front-line players to the safety of the sideline.
The Cardinals started David Blough at quarterback, and he provided Gipson with two of the more easy interceptions he’s had in his NFL career.
Gipson finished the regular season with a team-high five interceptions, three of which came in the final two weeks of the season.
His interception and 56-yard interception return was the key play in the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime victory against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.
The 49ers got contributions from unheralded defensive linemen Jordan Willis, who had a sack-strip, and Michael Dwumfour.
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Dwumfour, up from the practice squad, made a stop on Blough’s quarterback sneak on a fourth-down play in the first half. Then, he recovered Blough’s fumble on Willis' sack. That takeaway led to a 49ers touchdown late in the third quarter. Backup safety George Odum picked up an interception late in the game against reserve Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley.