Kyler Murray throws 4 TD passes and the Cardinals beat the 49ers 47-24 in finale

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Cardinals' final passing touchdown of the season was a perfectly placed ball from Kyler Murray to rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. — a 12-yard strike in the fourth quarter that sealed their 47-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Arizona hopes that's just a preview of what's coming next season.

“He's only going to get better,” Murray said of Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick. “We're only going to get better.”

Murray threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns, two to Greg Dortch, and the Cardinals wrapped up an 8-9 season. Arizona won four more games than last year, but still missed the playoffs for a third straight season.

San Francisco (6-11) lost seven of its final eight, missing the postseason one year after losing the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Cardinals led throughout the second half and took a 33-24 lead with 14:16 left in the fourth quarter when Michael Carter sneaked into the end zone just inside the left pylon for a 2-yard touchdown. Arizona put the game away with 5:47 left on Murray's pass to Harrison that made it 40-24.

Tony Jones Jr. ran for a 46-yard touchdown to conclude the scoring and give Arizona its highest point total since 2015.

“We didn't accomplish what we wanted to accomplish this year and that stings,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “But I'm proud of them. I really am. They fought, they battled. ... To put that kind of effort against the 49ers, a well-coached, tough, physical team, I thought that was cool to see.”

Harrison finished with eight TD catches, tying the franchise's rookie record held by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Joshua Dobbs — starting for the 49ers in the place of injured Brock Purdy — threw for 326 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He hit wide-open fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 36-yard TD with 4:49 left in the third quarter to cut the Cardinals' advantage to 26-24.

But Dobbs had a pair of costly mistakes in the fourth quarter, losing a fumble on one drive and throwing an interception on the next. The quarterback played for the Cardinals during the first half of last season, starting eight games while Murray was rehabbing a knee injury.

“Through three quarters we battled,” Dobbs said. “But the turnovers kind of killed us. That was the difference in the game.”

Chad Ryland made a 49-yard field goal as the first half ended to give the Cardinals a 20-17 lead. The drive took only 16 seconds. San Francisco had just tied the game at 17-all when Ricky Pearsall made a tough catch in traffic for a 6-yard touchdown.

Tight end Trey McBride — who earned his first Pro Bowl nod earlier this week — caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Murray with 1:51 left in the second quarter. McBride caught 111 passes this season, shattering his own franchise record for a tight end.

Arizona took a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter when Murray hit Dortch for a 23-yard touchdown. Dortch caught a short pass and then weaved his way through the 49ers' defense, scoring his second touchdown of the year. His second touchdown of the game came in the third quarter on a 2-yard catch that made it 26-17.

“They wore us down and got it going,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We couldn't get them off the field.”

Jake Moody made a 51-yard field goal on the game's opening drive to give the 49ers a 3-0 advantage. That would be their only lead.

Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings were ejected in the second quarter after getting into a scuffle. The ejections came one play after Jennings and Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V were called for a personal fouls after their tussle on the other side of the field.

Jennings finished with 975 yards receiving in the most productive season of his four-year career. Murphy-Bunting had an interception earlier in the first half.

49ers: Purdy (elbow) and WR Deebo Samuel (ribs/wrist) were inactive. ... RB Issac Guerendo (knee/ankle) was carted off the field early in the first quarter. ... S Malik Mustapha (knee) was hurt in the second quarter. ... S Talanoa Hufanga (concussion) was ruled out early in the third quarter.

Cardinals: WR Michael Wilson (hamstring) and LB Victor Dimukeje (eye) were inactive. ... CB Max Melton (wrist) left in the first half.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (14) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (42) during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, left, talks with former Cardinals great Larry Fitzgerald, right, during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after a play against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan argues a call with an official during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) scuffles with San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (24) grabs the face mask of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) dives into the end zone past Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (33) knocks the ball away from Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nick McCloud (35) during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Parts of Guinea's capital have been on lockdown as civil society and opposition groups in the West African nation protested the ruling junta’s missed deadline to launch a return to democracy, with the U.S. calling for clear timelines to hold long-delayed elections.

Meanwhile, a court jailed opposition leader Aliou Bah for two years after he was charged with “insulting” the junta leader following his arrest in December.

Bah, who leads the Liberal Democratic Movement, is one of the few critics of the junta who has not gone into exile as pressure grows on perceived dissent and independent media. “It’s a sad day for freedom of expression (and) a blow to Guinean democracy,” said Bah's lawyer, Antoine Pépé Lama.

Guinea is one of several West African countries where the military has taken power and delayed a return to civilian rule. Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, in power since 2021, agreed in 2022 to launch a democratic transition after a Dec. 31, 2024, deadline.

However, the passing of that deadline came with more promises. In his New Year's message, Doumbouya said a decree for a constitutional referendum will be signed to launch the democratic process, without committing to a date. Activists and opposition groups condemned the announcement as a ploy to prolong military rule.

In a statement late Monday, the Forces Vives de Guinée coalition group asked Guineans to stay indoors as a form of protest and accused the junta of holding Guinea “hostage.” It said one man was fatally shot and hundreds of mostly young people were arrested in the latest protest.

Authorities did not comment Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department urged the military leaders to commit to concrete steps for the constitutional referendum and democratic elections, and to involve civil society groups and political parties in the process.

“The United States is concerned that Guinea has not met its January 1, 2025, target date to launch its democratic transition and calls on the Guinean government to undertake a transparent and inclusive process that engages all Guineans,” it said in a statement Monday.

Beyond scheduling elections, there are concerns about the credibility of elections. The junta dissolved more than 50 political parties last year in a move it claimed was to “clean up the political chessboard.”

The junta has also tightened the grip on independent media, rights groups say, with social networks and private radio stations often cut off, information sites interrupted or suspended for several months without explanation, while journalists face attacks and arrests.

FILE - Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)