Arizona’s NFC championship banner hung freshly from the rafters of the stadium. However the offense that had powered the Cardinals to win it wasn’t on display too often.
On the other hand, the offense of the 49ers showed up enough to get the win.
During the second half on Sunday San Francisco went three downs and out in five out of their six possessions. However Shaun Hill was able to direct an 80 yard, 15 play masterful drive on their other possession. With 7:26 remaining Hill threw a touchdown pass of 3 yards over to Frank Gore to give San Francisco a 20-16 win over Arizona.
Hill said, it wasn’t really anything I said. Our whole unit was all saying, it’s time for us to go.
Arizona looked more like the team who had a preseason 0-4 record and not much like the team that won three games in the playoffs last year and then narrowly losing in the Super Bowl to Pittsburgh only a couple months ago. At least that didn’t on offense.
Kurt Warner said, we are just not meshing right now. Warner had two interceptions while facing a very fierce pass rush for most of the day. We couldn’t ever get in rhythm. We always seem to have something stopping us.
San Francisco, who under head coach Mike Singletary experienced a very brutal training camp, provided their coach with his first win in an opener since he took over for Mike Nolan who was fired after six games last season. The loss was the first for the Cardinals in two years against an NFC opponent.
Singletary said, to be able to come into their yard, with all they have accomplished, we knew it would be a huge challenge.
Out of the last eight meetings it was the seventh time that the final margin in a game between the teams had been settled by seven or less points.
The Cardinals rallied after trailing by 10 points to take the lead at 16-13 on a field goal of 44 yards by Neil Rackers with 14:52 remaining. However, San Francisco was able to regain control on their drive that ate up almost half of the fourth quarter.
Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals said, we are too goo of a team to have these types of performances.
Arizona was able to hold Gore to only 30 yards rushing on 22 carries. They also sacked Hill a total of four times. However the Cardinals had 12 penalties for a total of 82 yards. Their pass protection also broke down during crucial times in the game.
Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals coach said, one thing I really want to say is you can’t have all those penalties and mistakes and still expect to win.
After San Francisco late fourth quarter was forced to punt while at their one yard line, Arizona had a first down on the 39 yard line of the 49ers.
However Arizona got a false start and then a holding penalty, pushing them back 15 yards. The Cardinals threat then ended when Justin Smith leveled Warner as he was attempting to pass on fourth down and 5 from the 33 yard line of the 49ers with 1:51 remaining.
Whisenhunt said, what I am upset about the most was getting the back during the fourth quarter into the plus territory, then going backwards 15 yards. That is horrible. It is unacceptable. It is something that will cause us to lose games. I told the team after the game that guys who make penalties will not play.
The Cardinals got the ball one more time, at the 46 yard line. However another fierce pass rush from Smith forced a fumble from Warner as the game was ending.
Hill went 18 for 31 passing for a total of 209 yards. He had no interceptions and one touchdown pass. Warner went 26 for 44 for a total of 288 yards passing. He threw two interceptions and one touchdown pass.
Tim Hightower of Arizona had 12 catches for 121 yards receiving. It was second most receptions in Cardinals history from a running back. Fitzgerald had six catches for 71 yards, while Anquan Boldin, playing with a sore hamstring, had one catch for five yards.
The Cardinals were playing without Steve Breaston, No. 3 receiver, due to a sprained knee cap.
During the second half, San Francisco went three downs and out in five of six possessions.
Their one drive however was huge.
Hill said, we moved those chains. We didn’t get any real big plays. We just kept executing and kept moving.
After Arizona scored 13 consecutive points and took the lead, Hill led his team down field. The 49ers converted four opportunities on third down. Two came on passes over to Issac Bruce. During the first half Bruce caught a pass of 50 yards.
The 49ers on third down and goal on the 3 yard line sent Gore out into the flats. Nobody followed him. Gore caught a short pass and was able to score without anyone near him.
Gore said, we made plays here and there. We won.
