Dominick Puni lauded Mac Jones after costly gaffe in 49ers win vs. Cardinals

Right guard Dominick Puni came oh so close to costing the San Francisco 49ers their Week 3 home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Late in the fourth quarter with the score knotted at 13 apiece, Puni and the Niners offense were backed up close to their own end zone, and a pressure on quarterback Mac Jones by Arizona defensive tackle Calais Campbell coerced the second-year guard into a hold within the end zone.

By rule, a holding call here is an automatic safety, giving the Cardinals two points and a free kick back to their offense.

It's the kind of mistake that happens in the blink of an eye, but the gaffe so late in the affair almost ensured Arizona would walk away with a victory.

Fortunately for Puni and Co., rookie cornerback Upton Stout and the Niners defense engineered a clutch stand with under two minutes remaining, forcing the Cardinals to punt, giving Jones and the offense one last chance to reclaim the lead.

They did, thanks to kicker Eddy Pineiro's game-winning field goal with time expiring.

Puni was off the hook, and he shared as much postgame.

Dominick Puni reflects on what Mac Jones said after costly penalty

Speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area after the game, a relieved Puni couldn't have been happier his penalty ultimately didn't cost San Francisco an NFC West loss in light of the game's back-and-forth nature.

Saying how Jones' return to the huddle on the final drive was without "shakiness" or concern, Puni admitted how the quarterback effectively took blame for the safety rather than pointing the finger at the lineman.

"He said the safety was on him," Puni described. "I said, 'Mac, don't even. That's completely on me.'

"But the fact that he's coming up to me and saying that just shows about his leadership. He's just a great guy, and I'm glad he got his redemption drive."

Indeed, Jones was vital in leading the 49ers offense down the field and into field-goal range with less than two minutes remaining. Had that drive resulted in anything but points, Puni certainly would have worn his mistake on his sleeve for the rest of the week, if not longer.

"Can't hold. It's a tricky situation because if you hold, it's automatically a safety," Puni further described of the incident. "But if you just let him go -- obviously don't lose -- but if you let him go and let the quarterback try and make a play, if he gets sacked, it's the same result."

It was a lose-lose situation for Puni in that particular spot, yet Jones' subsequent scoring drive erased it from being one of those game-killing gaffes that likely would have fully sunk the Niners a year ago.

Needless to say, Puni is grateful things went down how they did.