The 49ers (10-4-1) host the Arizona Cardinals (5-10) at Candlestick Park for a 1:25 PT kickoff in the regular-season finale.
Brian Hoyer starts for the Cardinals in place of an injured John Skelton (third QB1 of the year). Ken Whisenhunt coaches Arizona. Beanie Wells at lead back. Colin Kaepernick continues for the 49ers. Frank Gore at lead back.
Brian Hoyer, the Cardinals' third QB1 of the year, makes his second NFL start in place of an injured John Skelton (concussion). Kevin Kolb on IR. The Cardinals are 5-10 in what could be Ken Whisenhunt's final year. Beanie Wells at running back. Larry Fitzgerald continues at WR1.
The 49ers, at 10-4-1 with the Seahawks divisional road blowout fresh, host the Cardinals in the kind of Sunday-afternoon home finale where the year-two team can clinch the NFC West with a win. Kaepernick's seventh NFL start. Gore at lead back.
Favored by 9.5 at home. The Sunday-afternoon regular-season finale is the kind of game where the year-two team's competitive identity gets one more test before the playoffs.
Week 17 is the regular-season finale. The Falcons, Texans, Broncos, and Patriots have clinched. The Seahawks (11-5) clinched a wild-card spot. The 49ers (10-4-1) can clinch the NFC West with a win. The Giants, Packers, Bears, and Vikings compete for wild-card spots. The Sunday-afternoon finale is the kind of regular-season closer where the year-two team can clinch the division.
Through fifteen games the 49ers are 10-4-1 with a +110 point differential. The Cardinals are 5-10 with a -85. Brian Hoyer starts (Skelton concussion, Kolb IR). Beanie Wells averages 50 rushing per game. Larry Fitzgerald 78 catches for 765. 49ers need win to clinch NFC West. Vegas opens the 49ers as 9.5-point home favorites; total 38.5.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 11-4 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-8 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 6-9 | L2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 5-10 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 10-5 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-6 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-8 | L3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 12-3 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 10-5 | W1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 5-10 | L1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2-13 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 12-3 | W10 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-9 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-11 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-13 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 10-4-1 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 10-5 | W4 |
| St. Louis Rams | 7-7-1 | W1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 5-10 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 9-6 | W6 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-7 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 8-7 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-11 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 11-4 | W4 |
| Chicago Bears | 9-6 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9-6 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-11 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 13-2 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7-8 | W2 |
| Carolina Panthers | 6-9 | W3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-9 | L5 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | Jay Feely 35 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | Jay Feely 31 yard field goal | 6-0 |
| 49ers | Michael Crabtree 49 yard pass from Colin Kaepernick ( David Akers kick) | 6-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | David Akers 43 yard field goal | 6-10 |
| 49ers | Michael Crabtree 7 yard pass from Colin Kaepernick ( David Akers kick) | 6-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Frank Gore 2 yard rush ( David Akers kick) | 6-24 |
| 49ers | David Akers 26 yard field goal | 6-27 |
| Cardinals | Michael Floyd 37 yard pass from Brian Hoyer ( Jay Feely kick) | 13-27 |
Colin Kaepernick threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and Frank Gore ran for 31 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-13 at Candlestick Park in the regular-season finale. The 49ers clinched the NFC West. Vernon Davis caught the touchdown. Brian Hoyer threw for 225 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers finished 11-4-1 in their second-straight NFC West title.[1][2][3]
Frank Gore ran for a touchdown and Colin Kaepernick threw a touchdown to Vernon Davis Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. The 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-13 in the regular-season finale. The 49ers clinched the NFC West and finished 11-4-1.
Kaepernick threw for 218 yards. Gore ran for 31 and a touchdown. Anthony Dixon ran in a goal-line touchdown. Michael Crabtree caught five for 56. Vernon Davis caught one for 25. The kind of Sunday-afternoon regular-season finale where the year-two team's competitive identity, in Kaepernick's seventh NFL start, closed the regular season with the NFC West title.
Brian Hoyer threw for 225 yards and a touchdown. Larry Fitzgerald caught seven for 96. The 49ers' defense generated three sacks. The kind of Sunday-afternoon regular-season finale where the year-two team clinched the NFC West and prepares for the divisional-round playoff game. 11-4-1. The NFC #2 seed.
49ers 27, Cardinals 13. Margin: +14. Final 2012 record: 11-4-1, +124 differential.
A 27-13 regular-season-finale home win over the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park. The 49ers finish 11-4-1 and clinch the NFC West and NFC #2 seed.
How it unfolded
Gore ran in a touchdown to give the 49ers an early lead. The Cardinals kicked a field goal. Kaepernick threw a touchdown to Vernon Davis. Dixon ran in a goal-line touchdown. The 49ers led 21-3 at halftime. The third quarter was a David Akers field goal. The fourth quarter was a Brian Hoyer touchdown drive ending in a Larry Fitzgerald catch. The 49ers added another field goal. Final 27-13.
The turning point
Kaepernick's second-quarter touchdown to Vernon Davis. With the year-two team's competitive identity needing the kind of clinching-the-NFC-West win and the Sunday-afternoon home crowd seeing the regular-season finale, Davis's catch pushed the 49ers ahead 14-3 and the game effectively ended.
By the numbers
Kaepernick 16-of-29 for 218 with a TD. Gore 16 carries for 31 with a TD. Dixon 9 carries for 15 with a TD. Davis 4 catches for 39 with a TD. Crabtree 5 catches for 56. Brian Hoyer 19-of-34 for 225 with a TD. Larry Fitzgerald 7 catches for 96. The 49ers' three sacks.
Personnel watch
Kaepernick's seventh NFL start producing the NFC West title. Gore's rushing TD. Davis's touchdown reception. The kind of Sunday-afternoon regular-season finale where the year-two team's competitive identity, in Kaepernick's seventh NFL start, closed the regular season with the NFC West title.
What it means
11-4-1. NFC West champions. NFC #2 seed. The divisional-round playoff game is in two weeks at Candlestick Park. The Sunday-afternoon regular-season finale closes the regular season at 11-4-1 and confirms the year-two team's playoff identity. The divisional-round opponent will be the wild-card-round survivor.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Colin Kaepernick | 16/28 | 276 | 2 | 0 | |
| Alex Smith | 1/1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| ARI | |||||
| Brian Hoyer | 19/34 | 225 | 1 | 1 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 20 | 68 | 1 | 9 |
| LaMichael James | 7 | 49 | 0 | 26 |
| Anthony Dixon | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Colin Kaepernick | 3 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Bruce Miller | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Alex Smith | 2 | -2 | 0 | -1 |
| ARI | ||||
| William Powell | 14 | 52 | 0 | 10 |
| Brian Hoyer | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| LaRod Stephens-Howling | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Andre Roberts | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Michael Crabtree | 8 | 172 | 2 | 49 |
| Delanie Walker | 2 | 50 | 0 | 27 |
| Randy Moss | 2 | 28 | 0 | 20 |
| Frank Gore | 3 | 21 | 0 | 14 |
| Bruce Miller | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Vernon Davis | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| ARI | ||||
| Michael Floyd | 8 | 166 | 1 | 53 |
| Andre Roberts | 3 | 18 | 0 | 12 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| Jim Dray | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Senio Kelemete | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Jeff King | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| William Powell | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2012 W17 - 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals - Game Thread
