When two NFL teams meet in Week 11 with identical records of 3-7, they're usually out of the Playoff hunt and looking forward to the following season. That's unless you play in the laughing stock that is the NFC West, where a record of 4-7 moves you within one game back of first place. Facing off in the desert for a Monday Night match-up, both the 49ers and Cardinals had one thing on their mind -- winning.
With an injured kicker in Joe Nedney, San Francisco would be forced to use the inexperienced Shane Andrus, who missed a 47 yarder on the 49ers opening drive. Luckily for San Francisco, Arizona would be kind enough to give the ball back, when Cardinals running back Beanie Wells fumbled the hand-off minutes later. The turnover would work perfectly for the 49ers, who were sure to execute right away, as QB Troy Smith connected with Michael Crabtree in the end-zone just one play later. The Arizona offense responded with a big passing play of their own with a 48 yard pass from Anderson to Wells which set up a Cardinal field-goal.
With 49er RB Frank Gore seeing limited action due to a bother hamstring he suffered in the first quarter after compiling 52 yards, Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon saw a majority of the snaps, carrying the ball. A Dixon touchdown run would make it 14-3. The rest of the half would be all about the 49er defense that forced three straight three-and-outs, before Westbrook added a TD run of his own, his first as a Niner. The only threat came before half time, but the San Francisco defense put an end to the surge, forcing Jay Feely to kick a field-goal. Arizona would then intercept a Troy Smith pass that was deflected off the hands of Michael Crabtree, but was unable to capitalize due to the clutch 49er D, as both teams entered the locker room at the half with San Francisco owning a commanding 21-6 lead.
Andrus who missed a field-goal in the first quarter, would get a chance to redeem himself two quarters later. However, Arizona would have other plans as cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got a hand on the ball, preventing San Francisco to add to their lead. Andrus would eventually make on a drive later from 38 yards out, making it 24-6. Adding to the dominant 49er defense that did a lot of what it was expected to do coming into the season, making stop after stop, linebacker Takeo Spikes intercepted a Derek Anderson pass, setting up another 49er FG. With the displeasure getting the best of the remaining Cardinal fans come the 4th quarter, Anderson was given what I like to call the Alex Smith treatment, receiving more boo's than cheers, as the Cardinals dropped their 6th straight game.
Coming into Monday's game, Westbrook had only 5 carries for 9 yards as a member of the 49ers. But when given the chance, the 2-time Pro Bowler registered a total of 136 rushing yards, reaching the 100-yard plateau for the 21st time in his career, and his first since December 7th, 2008 as a member of the Eagles. Along with Gore and Dixon, San Francisco totaled 242 yards rushing. Meanwhile for the Cardinals, Arizona's tandem of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower combined for a whooping total of 13 yards rushing, their lowest in 845 games. After the game, it was learned that the 49ers would be without their 2-time Pro Bowl running back for the remainder of the season, creating some doubt in San Francisco's chances of winning the division.
Noteworthy - SF outran Arizona, 261 yards to 13 yards, as the 49ers leave the desert unscathed. The 248 run difference was enough to make it the third largest run differential in Monday Night Football history.
The biggest story other than the 49ers inching only a game behind the division leading Rams/Seahawks who are tied atop the NFC West for first place, was the 188 rushing yards San Francisco was able to pile on, despite Gore leaving in the 1st quarter with a fractured hip. After the game that many were uninterested in due to the one-sided affair, Arizona QB Derek Anderson went on a Dennis Green like tirade when being asked why he was laughing and smiling on the sideline with teammate Deuce Latui, while his team was being blown out. Anderson denied ever laughing and stormed off the podium in front of a live newsroom, as seen here:
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