The 49ers (5-7) host the Arizona Cardinals (8-4) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the NFC West rematch.
Kurt Warner starts at quarterback for the Cardinals. Beanie Wells runs the ball as the rookie. Larry Fitzgerald leads the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Frank Gore the lead back. Vernon Davis the tight end. Michael Crabtree continues development.
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals come to Candlestick at 8-4 leading the NFC West. The 49ers (5-7), three back and eliminated, host the rematch of the season opener Mike Singletary's first full year actually won.
Alex Smith stays the starter. Frank Gore at running back. Vernon Davis with 11 receiving TDs leading all NFL tight ends. The kind of home game where the team plays for the kind of late-season pride that has been its actual identity since 2003.
Favored by Arizona by 4. A 49ers win, against a Cardinals team headed to the playoffs, would close the season-series tie and start the offseason with a real argument.
Week 14 across the NFC sees the playoff field settling. The Saints (12-0), Vikings (10-2), Cowboys (8-4), Eagles, Giants, Cardinals (8-4), and Packers lead the playoff conversation. The 49ers (5-7) are functionally eliminated from the playoff race. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the divisional rematch decides whether the 49ers finish above .500 in their year-on-year competitive arc or fade into a higher-pick offseason.
Through twelve games the 49ers are 5-7 with a +12 point differential. Alex Smith averages 6.9 yards per attempt with 10 TDs and six INTs. Frank Gore averages 70 rushing yards a game. Vernon Davis has 11 receiving TDs (leading NFL TEs by 5). The defense allows 17.6 points a game. The Cardinals are 8-4 with Warner posting a 96.1 rating. Beanie Wells averages 60 rushing yards a game. Larry Fitzgerald averages 81 receiving yards a game. Vegas opens Arizona as 4-point road favorites; total 41.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 7-5 | L2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6-6 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 6-6 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-8 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-3 | W2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 6-6 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-6 | L4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-11 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 12-0 | W12 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 7-5 | W1 |
| Houston Texans | 5-7 | L4 |
| Tennessee Titans | 5-7 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 9-3 | W7 |
| Denver Broncos | 8-4 | W2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-8 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-9 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 8-4 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-7 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-7 | L1 |
| St. Louis Rams | 1-11 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-4 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 8-4 | W3 |
| New York Giants | 7-5 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 3-9 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 10-2 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8-4 | W4 |
| Chicago Bears | 5-7 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 12-0 | W12 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6-6 | L1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 5-7 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-11 | L4 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Vernon Davis 5 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Joe Nedney kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 37 yard field goal | 0-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Michael Crabtree 35 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Joe Nedney kick) | 0-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | Neil Rackers 48 yard field goal | 3-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | Beanie Wells 1 yard rush ( Neil Rackers kick failed) | 9-17 |
| 49ers | Frank Gore 2 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 9-24 |
Frank Gore ran for 167 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown and the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 24-9 at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith threw for 144 yards with two touchdowns. Vernon Davis caught one of them. The defense intercepted Kurt Warner twice and held Arizona to three field goals. Beanie Wells ran for 79. The 49ers improved to 6-7 and swept the season series with the Cardinals.[1][2][3]
Frank Gore ran for 167 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers' lead back, in his sixth career 100-yard game of the year, beat the Arizona Cardinals 24-9 in the kind of late-season home win where the Singletary defensive identity, the team's argument for being a real NFC team, produced its second sweep of a division leader in the same calendar year.
Vernon Davis caught his 12th touchdown of the year. Alex Smith threw for 144 efficiently. The defense intercepted Kurt Warner twice and held Arizona to three field goals. Beanie Wells ran for 79. Larry Fitzgerald caught five for 58. The kind of home win where the team's playoff path is closed but the year's identity is intact.
6-7. The kind of late-season home win that, with the wild-card race over but the season's pride intact, gives Mike Singletary's first full year the kind of late-December finish the team hopes signals a real upturn. The Philadelphia Eagles on the road next Sunday Night Football. The kind of road test the 49ers will use to measure where the year ended.
49ers 24, Cardinals 9. Margin: +15. Thirteen-game record: 6-7, +27 differential.
* Frank Gore: 25 carries for 167, 1 TD.
* Alex Smith: 19-of-35 for 144, 2 TDs (Davis x1 + 1), 2 INTs, 59.7 rating.
* Vernon Davis: 5 catches for 67, 1 TD (12th receiving TD; new franchise + NFL TE TD lead).
* Michael Crabtree: 5 catches for 67, 1 TD.
* 49ers D: 2 INTs of Kurt Warner.
* Kurt Warner: 16-of-29 for 178, 0 TD, 2 INTs.
* Beanie Wells: 15 carries for 79, 1 TD.
* 49ers 6-7; Cardinals 8-5.
A 24-9 home win over the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 6-7 and sweep the season series.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Frank Gore short touchdown run to make it 7-0. Arizona kicked a field goal to make it 7-3. The second quarter was a Smith touchdown to Michael Crabtree to make it 14-3. Joe Nedney added a field goal to make it 17-3 at halftime. The third quarter was a Beanie Wells touchdown for the Cardinals to make it 17-9 (missed extra point). The fourth quarter was a Smith touchdown to Vernon Davis to make it 24-9. The defense closed it out with two interceptions of Warner.
The turning point
Vernon Davis's fourth-quarter touchdown that gave him the 12th receiving TD of his season. With the 49ers up 17-9 and Arizona pressing for the lead-changing score, Davis's TD pushed the lead to two scores and ended the competitive portion of the afternoon.
By the numbers
Smith 144 passing on 35 attempts with two TDs and two INTs. Gore 167 rushing on 25 carries with a TD. Davis 67 receiving on 5 catches with a TD. Crabtree 67 receiving on 5 catches with a TD. Warner 178 passing on 29 attempts with two INTs. Wells 79 rushing.
Personnel watch
Frank Gore in his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the year. Vernon Davis's 12th receiving touchdown, the new NFL season high for a tight end with games to play. The defense's two interceptions of Kurt Warner. Michael Crabtree's first touchdown reception. The kind of home win where the team's identity, even with the playoff race closed, was the kind of identity Singletary hopes carries into 2010.
What it means
6-7 with the Eagles on Sunday Night Football next week. The kind of late-season home win where the season-series sweep over the Cardinals gives the team something to point at. The Vernon Davis NFL season TE TD lead extends. The kind of game that, even in defeat next week, would make 6-9 result with progress.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 19/35 | 144 | 2 | 2 | |
| ARI | |||||
| Kurt Warner | 16/29 | 178 | 0 | 2 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 25 | 167 | 1 | 36 |
| Glen Coffee | 6 | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Moran Norris | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Alex Smith | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| ARI | ||||
| Beanie Wells | 15 | 79 | 1 | 23 |
| LaRod Stephens-Howling | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Tim Hightower | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Michael Crabtree | 5 | 67 | 1 | 35 |
| Vernon Davis | 3 | 34 | 1 | 16 |
| Josh Morgan | 3 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Frank Gore | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Jason Hill | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Glen Coffee | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Moran Norris | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Delanie Walker | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Alex Smith | 1 | -6 | 0 | -6 |
| ARI | ||||
| Early Doucet | 2 | 41 | 0 | 29 |
| Anquan Boldin | 5 | 40 | 0 | 13 |
| Beanie Wells | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| LaRod Stephens-Howling | 3 | 23 | 0 | 12 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 2 | 22 | 0 | 13 |
| Steve Breaston | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Tim Hightower | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
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