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Dec. 24th, 2006
Arizona Cardinals: 26
San Francisco 49ers: 20
Despite the lethargic play by the battered 49ers and our nose-bleed seats in the north end zone (Section UR 60, Row 22 for you fellow Faithful)![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
baka49er had a great time. I had forgotten how loud Candlestick can get when the Faithful get going. We chatted, cheering, and booed like maniacs. I'll be hoarse for days. Much of the booing came in the third quarter when the Cardinals were up 23-14. They kicked a field goal that was clearly wide to the left, but after signaling it was good, the officials huddled, dealt with a furious Coach Nolan, and held up the game while we saw repeated replays of the ball missing to the left. They let the damn play stand. I understand lynch mobs a little better now.
When it became obvious that this was not the Niners day about half-way through the 4th quarter, we bailed. Which meant we missed Frank Gore's second touchdown. Oh, well. We did see something new to us - The Niners Noise; a drumline of 49er boosters. Organized and led by the world-famous Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, they were a great addition to the game environment.
San Francisco 49ers: 20
Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals extinguished the San Francisco 49ers' flickering playoff hopes with one last commanding drive.
Matt Leinart passed for 162 yards before spraining his left shoulder before halftime, and Warner finished up with 105 yards passing in the Cardinals' fourth victory in six games, 26-20 Sunday to eliminate San Francisco from postseason contention.
Edgerrin James had 105 yards to become Arizona's first 1,000-yard rusher in eight years, and Marcel Shipp ran for a score as the Cardinals (5-10) jumped to an early 20-3 lead, then held on for their fourth straight win over the 49ers (6-9). Improbably, Arizona is a division-best 4-2 against NFC West opponents during its eighth consecutive losing season.
Leinart was injured when Roderick Green sacked him shortly before halftime, and the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner watched the second half in street clothes. The rookie quarterback was replaced by Warner — and the two-time MVP struggled before coolly directing Arizona's final clock-killing drive, finishing a five-minute march with three straight kneeldowns.
Alex Smith passed for 190 yards, and Frank Gore's second touchdown run with 5:00 to play cut Arizona's lead to six points. But the 49ers couldn't get the ball back after two earlier fourth-quarter drives ended in turnovers.
Gore rushed for just 51 yards, failing to surpass Garrison Hearst's single-season rushing record in a roundly disappointing afternoon for the 49ers, who still entertained hopes of winning the division.
Neil Rackers, who kicked six field goals in the Cardinals' win over San Francisco in Mexico City last season, connected from 25, 39, 37 and 32 yards.
Leinart's injury was just one of several personnel problems for both teams. Linebacker Gerald Hayes, Arizona's leading tackler, was scratched for the first time all season with injured ribs, while cornerback David Macklin strained his hamstring early in the second half.
The 49ers lost left tackle Jonas Jennings to a dislocated right shoulder in the first quarter, and Arnaz Battle had seven catches while picking up the slack from Antonio Bryant, who began his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Leinart led Arizona to a strong first half with 220 total yards, but after Troy Walters fumbled a punt return, Gore's 2-yard TD run midway through the third quarter cut Arizona's lead to 20-13. Rackers kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth, though replays appeared to show the kick missed.
Smith then threw a tipped interception and Battle fumbled on consecutive offensive plays, leading to Rackers' fourth field goal. The Niners converted a fourth down on the way to Gore's 1-yard TD plunge, but never saw the ball again.
The Cardinals beat San Francisco 34-27 in the opening game in their gorgeous new stadium in September, but lost their next eight games to spark rumors of coach Dennis Green's imminent firing. Yet with Leinart building cohesion with his teammates each week, Arizona has become an improved offensive team, scoring at least 17 points in seven straight games.
Despite the lethargic play by the battered 49ers and our nose-bleed seats in the north end zone (Section UR 60, Row 22 for you fellow Faithful)
baka49er had a great time. I had forgotten how loud Candlestick can get when the Faithful get going. We chatted, cheering, and booed like maniacs. I'll be hoarse for days. Much of the booing came in the third quarter when the Cardinals were up 23-14. They kicked a field goal that was clearly wide to the left, but after signaling it was good, the officials huddled, dealt with a furious Coach Nolan, and held up the game while we saw repeated replays of the ball missing to the left. They let the damn play stand. I understand lynch mobs a little better now.When it became obvious that this was not the Niners day about half-way through the 4th quarter, we bailed. Which meant we missed Frank Gore's second touchdown. Oh, well. We did see something new to us - The Niners Noise; a drumline of 49er boosters. Organized and led by the world-famous Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, they were a great addition to the game environment.
As always, when it comes to tracking over-the-pole (or from the pole) ballistic targets nobody beats NORAD!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
