49ers Today

<p>CARDINALS AT 49ERS </p><p>WHERE: Candlestick Park </p><p>WHEN: 5:30 p.m.</p><p>TV: Ch. 5; ESPN RADIO: KNBR 680-AM, KSAN 107.7-FM </p><p>THE LINE: Cardinals by 3½ (44½ total)</p><p>THE SERIES: 49ers lead 20-16</p><p>LAST MEETING: Quarterback Shaun Hill led the 49ers on a go-ahead 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that took 7:26 of the fourth quarter in the 49ers’ 20-16 victory in the season opener Sept. 13 in Glendale, Ariz. Isaac Bruce had 74 yards receiving for the 49ers, who limited the Cardinals to just one touchdown despite Kurt Warner’s 288 yards passing.</p><p>INJURY REPORT</p><p>CARDINALS: LB Will Davis (knee) is out; LB Bert Berry (illness), DE Kenny Iwebema (thumb) and Stephen Spach (knee) are questionable; 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) and RB Jason Wright (illness) are probable.</p><p>49ERS: CB Nate Clements (shoulder) is out; WR Isaac Bruce (ankle) is doubtful; T Joe Staley (knee), LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring) and CB Marcus Hudson (back) are questionable; WR Brandon Jones (thumb) and S Michael Lewis (quadriceps) are probable.</p><p>SPOTTING TRENDS</p><p>CARDINALS (8-4): So much for the Super Bowl loser experiencing a hangover the next season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt replaced both coordinators and is calling the plays this season, and the Cardinals might be even better than they were a year ago during the regular season. Quarterback Kurt Warner is having another outstanding season, with 23 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions while completing 67.6 percent of his passes. Receiver Larry Firtzgerald is among the best in the NFL with 83 catches for 969 yards and 10 touchdowns. Arizona has also done a good job on the ground, as Tim Hightower and rookie Chris “Beanie” Wells have combined for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns through the first 12 games of the season.</p><p>49ERS (5-7): The 49ers are three games behind the Cardinals in the NFC West with four games to play, so they will try to prevent Arizona from celebrating a division title on their field. The 49ers’ offense is in flux, as offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s play-calling has leaned more toward passing in recent weeks. Quarterback Alex Smith is coming off his first career 300-yard passing game. But the 49ers have to find a way to get running back Frank Gore more involved in the game plan. Gore carried just nine times in the 49ers’ 20-17 loss last week at Seattle. Defensively, the 49ers will get a big test in the passing game. Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson have combined for two sacks a game over the past three weeks. There will be a lot of pressure on cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer, Dré Bly and Tarell Brown to keep pace with Cardinals wideouts Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.</p><p>CARDINALS WILL WIN IF . . . Warner regularly has time to throw the football.</p><p>49ERS WILL WIN IF . . . They force multiple turnovers and don’t allow the Cardinals any big plays.</p><p>QUOTE TO NOTE</p><p>“The only thing I’m talking to our team about is winning. It’s not about all the other stuff. They can clinch (but) but we’re just going to go out and do the very best job we can of winning the football game.”</p><p>— 49ers coach Mike Singletary on preventing the Cardinals from clinching the NFC West</p>