GLENDALE, Ariz. — With a 23-14 victory Sunday, for only the third time in 41 years the Arizona Cardinals are 3-0. Arizona got there on Sunday by exorcizing a demon of theirs named the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers dropped the Cardinals in nine of the past 10 meetings, prompting Arizona coach Bruce Arians to use adult language in dispelling the notion that this was a legitimate rivalry for the 49ers.

On this particular day at University of Phoenix Stadium, the Cardinals were able to turn the tables on San Francisco by using two third-quarter touchdown passes from Drew Stanton to rookie wide receiver John Brown, getting a fourth-quarter blocked field goal from veteran Tommy Kelly and a big defensive stop at the end.

With the victory, the Cardinals sit atop the NFC West alone in first place.

They are there despite playing two consecutive games without starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who is dealing with a nerve issue in his passing shoulder that won’t allow him to throw a football with any degree of strength or accuracy.

Stanton, who had gone 1,365 days between starts until he led the Cardinals to a 25-14 victory last week at the Giants, was efficient once again if not spectacular.

He completed 18 of 33 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns — both of which went to Brown during a span of four minutes, 49 seconds when the Cardinals turned an eight-point deficit into a 20-14 lead.

Just as importantly, he did not commit a turnover. Between them, Stanton and Palmer have thrown 99 passes without an interception.

Stanton’s first touchdown to Brown was a 24-yard strike down the middle. Brown split the coverage and gained easy separation. After forcing the 49ers to punt, Stanton tried the same play again on a third-and-six at the San Francisco 21 and once again, Brown got by Jimmie Ward and Antoine Bethea and hauled in his second TD of the game.

Behind Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers looked as though they were going to roar right back. Kaepernick completed seven straight passes for 81 yards on the ensuing drive. The 49ers had to settle for a field-goal try, but Kelly got his right arm up to block Phil Dawson’s 46-yard attempt.

San Francisco also shot itself in the foot by taking too many penalties, especially in the second half when the game was decided. Of their nine flags for 107 yards, six of them came in the final two quarters for 85 yards.

Kaepernick finished the game 29 of 37 for 245 yards a touchdown. He also ran 13 times for 54 yards. He tried to lead the 49ers on a late-game finish, but the Cardinals’ defense was too stout at the end.

Each team scored on its first two possessions of the game — the 49ers scored touchdowns and the Cardinals had to settle for field goals.

Stanton drove Arizona 47 yards on seven plays before Chandler Catanzaro hit a 51-yard field goal for a 3-0 Cardinals lead.

Then it was the Kaepernick show. The 49ers quarterback sandwiched consecutive 80-yard touchdown drives around a 32-yard field goal by Catanzaro, capping the first with a 2-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree and then rushing five times for 23 yards before rookie running back Carlos Hyde ran for a 6-yard score to make it 14-6 at the half.

Kaepernick completed his first nine passes of the game and rushed for 45 yards in the first half on nine carries.

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught three passes for 34 yards and he also lost a fumble. He didn’t get his first reception until 8:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, sparking the crowd to thunderous chants of “Larry, Larry.”

NOTES: The Cardinals lost starting CB Antonio Cromartie with 8:33 remaining in the third quarter to a knee injury. He walked off under his own power and it didn’t appear to be serious but he did not return. … San Francisco deactivated its top two tight ends, Vernon Davis (ankle/knee), who caught eight passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona on Oct. 13, 2013, and Vance McDonald. … CB Tramaine Brock (toe) was also inactive for the 49ers. … Cardinals S Tyrann Mathieu, who suffered two torn knee ligaments last December, made his first start of the season for the Cardinals after playing in a limited role last week at the Giants. … The Cardinals improved to 10-0 under Arians when allowing 20 or fewer points.