In The Role Of Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy Leads…

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Colt McCoy was the quarterback, throwing to Rondale Moore and Antoine Wesley, among others.

A team without Kyler Murray, without DeAndre Hopkins, without A.J. Green, without J.J. Watt on defense, can’t possibly survive a road trip in the difficult NFC West – right?

Or maybe the Cardinals, in the words of the now-on-IR Watt, are just that blanking better than everyone. They are at least better than the 49ers.

The Cardinals (8-1) don’t want to have to play games without Murray and company. They aren’t winning anything long-term that way. But Sunday, at Levi’s Stadium, the way they dismantled the 49ers, 31-17, and piled up 428 under the calm leadership of the veteran McCoy showed how talented they are.

It also showed the evolution of how good of a coach Kliff Kingsbury has become.

McCoy completed 22 of 26 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown. James Conner, who now leads the NFL in touchdowns with 11, had three more with a combined 173 yards rushing and receiving after Chase Edmonds left the game early with an ankle injury. Eno Benjamin scored his first NFL touchdown. Christian Kirk caught a 50-yard bomb and threw a 33-yard pass, each setting up touchdowns.

Chandler Jones got his first sack since Week 1, giving him the most sacks in franchise history with 67. Markus Golden also had two sacks. The 49ers fell to 3-5 on the season.

More to come on azcardinals.com.