SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The defense wilted in the heat, the offense couldn’t finish drives or protect the ball and the San Francisco 49ers blew another late lead to a division opponent in frustrating fashion.
Brock Purdy threw two interceptions in the second half, Jordan Mason lost a fumble in the red zone and San Francisco allowed Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals to drive for two fourth-quarter scores in a 24-23 loss Sunday that looked eerily familiar to an earlier defeat against an NFC West foe.
Two weeks after blowing a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter to the Los Angeles Rams, the Niners (2-3) did it again as they couldn’t protect a 23-13 advantage against Arizona. This marked the sixth time they have blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter in the regular season and playoffs under coach Kyle Shanahan, tied for the most by any coach in the NFL since he was hired in 2017…