THE STORY: The numbers ultimately felt hollow.

There were records and personal bests for the Cardinals Sunday at State Farm Stadium, stats that sometimes mean victory. But there were some that often mean defeat, and the game never felt close – or at least close enough – as the Cardinals lost to the 49ers, 41-22.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who had an NFL-record 47 completions and a career-high 452 yards passing, wore a look of disdain afterward.

“Man, I’ll throw for three yards in a win right now,” he said.

The Cardinals (3-7) fell behind, 35-10, in a game that felt off from jump when the 49ers (7-4) returned the opening kickoff 98 yards to the Arizona 1 and scored on the next play. It was the second straight game in which the Cardinals found themselves down big early, unable to eventually rally.

“I just told them we’re on the mat,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “When the alarm goes off (Monday), you better wake up go to work and get off the mat.”

Brissett was 47-for-57 for 452 yards and two touchdowns, although he did throw two interceptions. Wide receiver Michael Wilson had the biggest day of his career, 15 catches for 185 playing the top wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr.’s absence. Tight end Trey McBride (10-115-1) continued his all-pro-type season.

But the Cardinals had three turnovers (to the 49ers’ none), gave the Niners two short fields after onside kick attempts, and had 17 penalties – a franchise record – for 130 yards. The 49ers, by contrast, had just one penalty, and it was a post-play flag.

“Back-to-back 40 pieces,” defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, referencing the previous week’s 42-22 loss to Seattle. “You’re not going to win ball games doing that.”

It underscored why stats don’t matter, not when the Cardinals had more than 200 yards of offense more (488 to 281). 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy returned from injury to throw three touchdown passes, and Christian McCaffery scored three times, with George Kittle adding two.

But given the turnovers and penalties, the Cardinals were blaming themselves.

“I am a defensive head coach. It is not acceptable,” Gannon said. “You can’t win when you give up that many points. It really doesn’t matter how you get there, you’ve got to stand up, play better and keep points off the board.”

Finding themselves on the mat is an apropos analogy.

“I don’t think you should walk in the building (Monday) if you’re not trying to get off the mat,” Brissett said. “Simple as that. It’s adversity. This is life. This is sports. This isn’t the first time someone has gotten knocked on their ass. We just keep getting knocked on our ass. Sometimes we’re knocking ourselves in the ass. It won’t be the last time. But we have the opportunity to wake up, some people don’t do that, and you have to take advantage.”

The team leaders were still saying the right things. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. emphasized he still has “full belief” in the process and has trust in the coaching staff. Campbell said he will still compete at his highest level regardless of record and believes his teammates will do the same.

The next chance to get off the mat is in a week, at home, against the Jaguars.

“I’m not real happy right now but my feelings are irrelevant,” Gannon said. “When we come back to work (Monday), how can we impact winning?”