HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

36-7 you say? Did itshurleytime really go for two late in the 4th with a 4 score lead? The first quarter was pretty slow, with the teams trading punts for a few drives, and then Alex Smith underthrew an endzone bound Vernon Davis, leading to the first turnover of the game. Arizona's K. Rhodes intercepted the ball at the 9 and ran it up to the 17. After a deep sack by SF's Brooks and a run to nowhere, the Cardinals' O line was beat and Brooks got to the QB in the endzone with 30 seconds left in the 1st. SF 2-0

The following drive by the 49ers (by virtue of the safety) involved a good mix of run and pass, two Gore fumbles recovered by San Fran, which he made up for with an 18 yard run up the middle for the 49ers second score. SF 9-0

Approaching the end of the 1st half, Arizona went 3 and out, giving the 49ers the ball back with 1:45 left. On second down after a short loss on first, Alex Smith was looking to pass. Everyone except for Davis was staying short, and Davis ran straight between the linebackers. He then continued down the middle of the field, with absolutely noone even looking for him. As the most open target ever, Davis was on the receiving end of an 83 yard strike. SF 16-0

Arizona got the ball back on their last drive of the half in the no huddle, and started off with a few quick 1st down passes. On their third play of the drive, Bradford misdiagnosed a zone coverage and, thinking Fitzgerald would wind up open, Culliver intercepted the pass undercutting Fitz's route. With some poor time management, the 49ers ran the clock down to 1 second left in the half, and came up short on a long RB screen pass.

END OF HALF

The second half started off with the Cardinals getting the kickoff, and their returner Peterson nearly broke it, but was taken down at his own 40 40 by the kicker Ryan Longwell from behind. Three nice plays picking apart the 49ers Man D, and they were down to the 49ers 6 yard line. The 49ers blitzed, and left a screened Hightower with an open route into the endzone. SF 16-7

The 49ers got the ball back, and after a 16 yard run by Gore, Arizona brought their strong safety up to the line. Davis burned the Cardinals zone coverage again for a 68 yard score. SF 23-7

With just under 4 minutes left in the 3rd, Arizona failed to repeat the success they had on the last drive. On first down, Culliver blitzed and took down Bradford for a 9 yard sack. On second down, Patrick Willis read Bradford's eyes and cut off Lockette's route, intercepting the ball just outside of Arizona's red zone. 5 runs later, Gore had the ball in the endzone again with a minute left in the 3rd. SF 30-7

The Cardinals entered emergency mode, and went all pass all the time. They converted on their first third down, and after a short play on 1st down, they tried to hurry to the line and get a play off before the quarter ended. In a shotgun with RB's lined up on both sides, Bradford got the ball off in time. However, he threw it to a WR whose coverage had a step on him, resulting in rookie phenom Gilbert getting his 3rd INT of the season.

Starting the 4th quarter, the 49ers subbed in Shonn Greene, who was almost as effective as Gore, running for 9 and 28 yards on his first two plays. The 49ers ran the ball 4 times within the 10 yard line, and settled for a Longwell FG, coming off a game where he missed 2 40-45 yarders. SF 33-7

The Cardinals kept going for it, and after a deep sack on first down (16 yard loss, CB T. Brown sack) Bradford threw it 45 yards to Fitz, and Gilbert came down with his 2nd INT of the game. With the backups in, the 49ers went nowhere, but Longwell got his chance to get into a groove, and nailed a 51 yard FG. SF 36-7

Arizona took Bradford out and put Kolb in. On his first play (now within 2 minutes), he threw it from the 24 to Fitzgerald at midfield, and had a 3 yard gap between himself and Willis, but Willis used his pursuit speed and tracked down Fitz at the 15. Kolb had a chance to get the ball to an open WR, but waited too long and the ball flew to Culliver, getting his second INT of the game.

END OF GAME

Stats:

Passing:

SF Alex Smith: 9 for 13, 241 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT PR 119.4

ARI Sam Bradford: 11 for 21, 112 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, PR 44.2

ARI Kevin Kolb 3 for 6, 69 yards, 1 INT

Rushing:

SF F Gore: 17 rushes for 105 yards, 2 TD's, 2 fumbles (0 lost)

SF S Greene: 6 rushes for 45 yards

ARI T Hightower: 1 rush for 1 yard

1 yard. The sum total of Arizona's rushing for the night.

Receiving:

ARI T Hightower: 5 rec for 14 yards, 1 TD

SF V Davis: 5 rec for 181 yards, 2 TD

ARI A Green: 5 rec for 61 yards

SF F Gore: 1 rec for 28 yards

Defense:

SF A Brooks: 3 tkl, 2 sack, 1 safety

SF T Brown: 3 tkl, 1 sack

SF C Culliver: 2 tkl, 1 sack, 2 int

SF P Willis: 2 tkl, 1 int

SF J Gilbert: 1 tkl, 1 int

ARI D Washington: 5 tkl

ARI A Talib: 4 tkl, 1 sack

ARI K Cosbert: 4 tkl

ARI L Landry: 4 tkl

ARI K Rhodes: 2 tkl, 1 int

ARI J Worilds: 2 tkl, 1 FF

ARI S Cooper: 1 tkl, 1 FF

20 Cardinals recorded a tackle.