Week 14: San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

(Image created by Samuel Lam)

Last week, I talked about how the 49ers were in the most ideal situation to make the playoffs. They had to win against the Seahawks and hope that the Cardinals would lose against the Vikings. That didn't work out as the 49ers fell to Seattle and Arizona continued to play strong football. With this Monday Night game, the 49ers are now hoping that they can pull out a win and hold on to their slim playoff hopes.

The Cardinals are looking very strong as quarterback Kurt Warner looks to be healthy again. Wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are playing on a high level again. The defense for the Cardinals is stepping up just at the right time. It looks like the Cardinals might be one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC right now.

The 49ers did pull out a win in the first meeting in the beginning of the year and they hope to duplicate that performance. That game, however, featured a struggling running attack and a mediocre pass game. Now, the 49ers have excelled at passing while their run game is now almost gone. With the Cardinals holding the 30th ranked pass defense, the 49ers know that they should be passing on most downs. But can they ignore the run attack? That's what we'll see tonight.

Given the situation, the 49ers will come out and try to show the world who they are as a team. Playing a familiar foe helps the 49ers in their quest to pull the upset. This is the team's biggest game of the year and a win would prevent the 49ers from finishing another season without a winning record.

There are a few keys for the 49ers in this game against the Cardinals:

Contain the passing attack
The passing game for the Cardinals is strong right now and containing it will be a difficult task for the 49ers. Shawntae Spencer will handle Fitzgerald while Dre Bly has the assignment to contain Fitzgerald. The team should also watch out for Steve Breaston, who didn't play in their first meeting. A struggling 49ers pass defense has a big task at hand.
Pressure Kurt Warner
With a strong run defense, the 49ers know they can add pressure on the line. Pressure to Warner will determine the flow of the game. If Warner is uncomfortable, it could lead to turnovers. And getting the turnovers early in the game will help the 49ers momentum.
Score early
I want to believe that the team will start off with a balanced attack of run and pass, but I know that isn't likely. The 49ers have to score early and if passing against the 30th rank defense to score first is the way to do it, then I am all for it. Last year on Monday Night, the 49ers scored first and the momentum was theirs for most of the game. If the 49ers can score early and often, it makes it easier for the team to handle the game. The team has played from behind way too much.

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Today's injury report:

49ERS
OUT
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)

DOUBTFUL
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)

QUESTIONABLE
CB Marcus Hudson (back), LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring), T Joe Staley (knee)

PROBABLE
WR Brandon Jones (thumb), S Michael Lewis (quadricep)

CARDINALS
OUT
LB Will Davis (knee)

QUESTIONABLE
LB Bert Berry (illness), DE Kenny Iwebema (thumb), TE Stephen Spach (knee)

PROBABLE
DT Alan Branch (ankle), T Mike Gandy (pelvis), P Ben Graham (left groin), RB Tim Hightower (thumb), RB Dan Kreider (thigh), K Neil Rackers (right groin), DT Bryan Robinson (illness), RB Jason Wright (illness)

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With playoff hopes almost gone, the best the 49ers can do is just to play their best football and hope that everything will fall into place. Right now, the biggest concern for the team is how they would use the remaining four games to establish a consistent identity. And doing it against the division leaders on a Monday night sounds will be an exciting way to handle it.

Follow me on my Twitter for updates throughout today's game and check back here as I plan to update this page live from the stadium.

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1st Quarter

- SF wins toss and will start on their own 25...In shotgun, incomplete to Davis followed by a 5 yard scramble by Smith...On 3rd & 5, an encroachment gives SF a first down...On 1st down, another offsides call makes it 1st & 5, Gore goes for no yards followed by another offsides for a first down...Smith misses Crabtree on a pass and on 2nd down, Gore runs for 4 yards...Gore gets a 3 yard pass followed by a 7 yard run...On 3rd & 1, Gore runs up for a first down...On the 41, Gore runs for 1 yard followed by an interception by Darnell Dockett...It looks like Dockett didn't have posesession and SF will challenge...

- Play stands and AZ starts on own 46...On 1st down, 1 yard run by Hightower followed by an incomplete...On 3rd & 9, Bly knocks away ball and Cardinals have to punt.

- SF starts at own 19...Pass to Gore for no gain followed by a pass to Crabtree for 8 yards...On 3rd & 2, Gore runs for 36 yards for a first down...On 1st down, Smith is sacked 6 yard loss followed by an incomplete to Crabtree...On 3rd & 16, pass is incomplete to Jones and SF will punt.

- AZ starts on own 6...Hightower runs for 3 yards (he fumbled, but they ruled down by contact)...SF challenges...

- SF wins challenge and get the ball on AZ 9...Gore runs for 3 yards followed by a touchdown pass to Vernon Davis...SF leads 7-0.

- AZ starts on own 25...Boldin with 7 yard catch followed by a catch by Stephens-Howling. Roman recovers all the way to AZ 28..

- On AZ 28, pass to Norris for 3 yards followed by a pass to Walker for 3 yards...On 3rd & 4, completion to Crabtree for 2 yards...to attempt 37 yard field goal. 10-0 SF leads.

-After penalty, AZ starts on own 16...3 yard run by Wells and that's the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

-On 2nd & 7, incomplete by Warner...On 3rd & 7, 12 yartd completion to Doucett...On first down, 23 yard run by Wells for another first down...Fitzgerald with a great catch at the goal line. They rule incomplete but he might have had possession (AZ challenges and loses)...2nd & 10, pass to Fitzgerald plus a facemask puts AZ to the 18 yard line...1st down incomplete followed by an illegal block, making it 2nd & 20...Goldson intercepts the ball and SF takes over.

- SF on own 7 for 1st & 15 after false start,Gore runs for 31 yards for a first down...Gore runs again for 1 yard followed by a catch by A. Smith on batted ball for 6 yard loss...On 3rd down, Smith incomplete...SF to punt.

- AZ starts on 13 after penalty... 3 yard completion to Boldin followed by a 3 yard run by Stephens-Howling...On 3rd & 4, incomplete to Breaston...AZ will punt

- SF starts on own 32...Morgan with 8 yard catch followed by a 8 yard gain...Incomplete on first down followed by incomplete to Morgan...On 3rd & 10, Crabtree with a 15 yard catch...On 1st down, Gore runs for 3 yards followed by a -1 yard catch by Morgan...On 3rd & 8, incomplete to Davis. 53-yard FG attempt is missed.

-On own 43, Breaston with 15 yard catch...Wells runs for 4 yards followed by an incomplete...On 3rd & 6, intercepted by Brown.

- SF on own 32...Pass to Gore for 8 yards followed by a delay of game making it 2nd & 7 (2 minute warning)...Hill with a 10 yard catch for a first down...Incomplete to Crabtree followed by another incomplete...On 3rd & 10, 11 yard pass to Davis followed by a 7 yard catch by Morgan...2nd & 3, a pass to Crabtree for a touchdown! 17-0 SF leads.

- AZ starts on own 42...7 yard pass to Boldin (timeout AZ)...Fitzgerald to the 41 for a first down...Warner fumble and SF recovers.

- SF with ball on own 43 with :07 left...Incomplete pass followed by a 9 yard run by Gore. It's halftime.

3rd Quarter

- AZ starts on own 23...After a 5 yard play, AZ has a false start...2nd & 10, Wells carries for 12 yards for a first down...Wells runs for 8 yards followed by an incomplete...On 3rd & 2, Wells runs for 11 yards for a first down...7 yard run by Wells followed by a 2 yard run by Wells...On 3rd & 1, Wells goes -1 and AZ will go for it on 4th down. After false start, AZ will punt...

- SF on own 10...Gore runs for 1 yard followed by a run for -1...On 3rd & 10, pass is overthrown...SF to punt.

- AZ on own 45...Incomplete pass followed encroachment...On 2nd & 5, incomplete to Doucett...On 3rd & 5, 29 yard pass to Doucett...After holding penalty, 1st & 19, 6 yard pass to Hightower followed by an incomplete...On 3rd & 13, Warner is sacked. Rackers makes 48-yard FG. 17-3 SF leads.

- SF on own 22...Gore runs for 5 yards followed by a 10 yard run by Gore...On 1st down, Norris with a 3 yard catch followed by an interception by Wilson.

- AZ starts on SF 43 after penalty...1st & 10, Boldin with 9 yard catch followed by no gain...On 3rd & 1, pass to Wells to SF 10...1st & G on 10, Wells losees 2 yards on run followed by a 5 yard catch by Stepens-Howling...On 3rd & G on the 7 the 3rd quarter ends.

4th Quarter

-On 3rd & 7, Stephens-Howling with a pass to the 1 yard line…On 4th & G on the 1, Wells dives in for the touchdown. Extra point blocked. 17-9 SF leads.

-SF starts on own 33...Gore runs for 4 yards followed by a 23 yard run by Gore (but holding puts them back)...On 1st down at midfield, incomplete followed by 5 yard run by Coffee...On 3rd & 5, pass incomplete.

- AZ on own 11...Wells fumbles and SF recovers.

- SF on AZ 16...11 yard run by Gore for a first down...1st & G on 5, Gore for no gain followed by a 3 yard run by Gore...On 3rd & G on the 2 (after timeout), Gore runs in for the TD. 24-9 SF leads.

-AZ starts on own 24...Hightower with a 7 yard catch followed by Brooks forcing a fumble on Warner for -4 yards...Willis sacks Warner on next play...AZ to punt.

- SF on own 22...Gore with a 3 yard run followed by a -3 yard run by Coffee...On 3rd & 10, 16 yard catch by Davis for a first down...Norris with a 4 yard run followed by 2 yard run by Gore.

I have to head down to the field. Stay tuned for the recap.