NFL

Arizona Cardinals Inside Slant

SportsXchange Feed
Share This Story

Updated Dec 11, 2009 2:20 AM ET
     
 
The Cardinals probably will say all the right things this week, about respecting the 49ers, about how the 49ers play them as well as anyone. That all might be true, but it's also true the Cardinals have pointed to this game since losing to the 49ers in the season opener.

Players have mentioned that game often throughout the season, and for a time, it appeared that loss could cost the Cardinals their second consecutive division title.

But the Cardinals righted themselves and are 8-4. The 49ers, meanwhile, have floundered to a 5-7 mark.

A victory Monday night at Candlestick Park will give the Cardinals the NFC West title, and they would like nothing better than to celebrate on the 49ers' turf.

Again, the Cardinals likely will say all the right things. But they think they are much better than the team that lost to the 49ers, 20-16, in the opener.

Receiver Anquan Boldin was hobbled in that game with a sore hamstring. Receiver Steve Breaston didn't play because of a knee injury. The defense gave up a long touchdown drive late.

"We go back and look at the tape of the first game," said coach Ken Whisenhunt, "and we didn't have Steven. Anquan wasn't 100 percent healthy. It's different. We're playing different now, which is good at this point of the season."

The run game has improved, too. The Cardinals remain ranked in the bottom third of the league in rushing statistics, but the run game is at least a threat now. If the 49ers choose to keep their safeties back to defend against long plays, the Cardinals think they are better able to gash them with running backs Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells.

SERIES HISTORY: 37th regular-season meeting. The 49ers lead, 20-16, including a 20-16 victory in the season opener in Arizona. The Cardinals swept the 49ers in 2008, but San Francisco has played Arizona tougher than any other team in the NFC West over the past two seasons. In the meeting this year, the 49ers controlled the Cardinals' offense by putting pressure on quarterback Kurt Warner with a four-man rush.
Tagged: Cardinals

Related Stories

Giants Super Bowl Champs Gear

Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NFL Videos

Coach Speak: Best of Season 3 Posted: Feb 07, 2012
Season 3 of Coach Speak is a wrap. Check out the best of this past year.

Online OT: Super Bowl XLVI recap Posted: Feb 06, 2012
Charles Davis and Laura Okmin recap the Giants' 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI victory ov...

Victor Cruz's magical season Posted: Feb 10, 2012
Victor Cruz talks about going from the practice squad to Super Bowl champ, turni...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
St. Jude

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Navy Blue Player T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/346245/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_346000/FF_346245_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Navy Blue Player T-shirt
    New York Giants Royal Blue Critical Victory V Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/676913/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_676000/ff_676913_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 New York Giants Royal Blue Critical Victory V Hoodie Sweatshirt
    San Francisco 49ers Charcoal 1st & Goal IV Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/678811/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_678000/ff_678811_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 San Francisco 49ers Charcoal 1st & Goal IV Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
    Carolina Panthers Championship Series Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Carolina_Panthers/browse/featuredproduct/722612/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722612_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Carolina Panthers Championship Series Watch
    Reebok Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Replica Jersey - White - http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/744236/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_744000/ff_744236_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 Reebok Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Replica Jersey - White -
    Reebok Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions #81 Black Megatron Player Flex Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/756044/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_756000/ff_756044_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Reebok Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions #81 Black Megatron Player Flex Fit Hat
    New England Patriots 2011 AFC East Division Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/775172/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775172_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 New England Patriots 2011 AFC East Division Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Whit..
    Reebok Tim Tebow Denver Broncos #15 Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/775597/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775597_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 Reebok Tim Tebow Denver Broncos #15 Replica Jersey - White
    Houston Texans Black 2011 AFC South Division Champions Locker Room Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Houston_Texans/browse/featuredproduct/776231/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_776000/ff_776231_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Houston Texans Black 2011 AFC South Division Champions Locker Room Adjustable Ha..
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft