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49ers bounce back with win over Arizona
By Morris Phillips December 14, 2009 |
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One week after Alex Smith produced the first 300-yard passing game of his career, Frank Gore ran for 167 yards, while Michael Crabtree had five catches and a touchdown. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yeah, if the 49ers get their talented stars going in the same game, they’re going to have a pretty formidable offense. Against Arizona, with the 49ers defense providing takeaways like repeated ATM withdrawals, San Francisco displayed its latest wrinkle—offensive balance--in a 24-9 win that keeps the locals slim playoff hopes alive. “Tonight I just felt we were clicking on all cylinders,” Coach Mike Singletary said of the 49ers overall. “On offense, I think our guys really understand the team concept when we need offense to close out a game. That’s when they have to go to work the most in not wanting to give the ball back to the other team. I really thought they went out and executed, did the things we needed to do, make the other team use all their time outs.” After the Cardinals narrowed San Francisco’s lead to 17-9 on the second play of the fourth quarter, the 49ers closed the door. Two fumble recoveries and a Patrick Willis sack of Kurt Warner short circuited the final Arizona drives, while the 49ers scored after Beanie Wells fumbled, then picked up three first downs to control the ball down the stretch. With the win the 49ers improve to 6-7, keeping their wild card and divisional playoff possibilities open, if they can close with three more wins. The toughest of the remaining three games is up next, at Philadelphia. With the loss, Arizona failed to clinch the NFC West at Candlestick in front of a national audience. “We obviously played bad tonight, but I don’t think we’re a bad team. I think we just had a bad night. Of course, you can’t turn the ball over seven times and expect to win in any game,” said Arizona Coach Ken Whisenhunt. Five of Arizona’s turnovers came in the first half as the 49ers built a 17-0 lead. While Wisenhunt spoke of his frustration with his ball carriers not protecting the ball, they had help losing balls from an opportunistic 49ers defense. Warner was picked off twice, and Tim Hightower and LaRod Stephens-Howling were stripped by San Francisco defenders. While Smith wasn’t spectacular, Gore was, picking up a pair of 30-yard gainers in the opening half, paving the way to his big evening. Once again, the 49ers operated primarily out of the spread, with Smith in the shotgun, but this time, Gore found some holes to run through. “It’s great to see him smile. We were talking on the sidelines there, and it’s very nice to see him smile,” Singletary said of Gore, who hadn’t had this big of a game since his breakout game against the Seahawks in Week 2. But as usual, his smiles were based on winning, not the quality of his individual performance. Crabtree struck for a 35-yard score in the first half, and came close to gathering in two more big catches, as he continues to produce in his abbreviated first year as a pro. Vernon Davis scored the 49ers first touchdown, his 11th on the season, a new franchise season record for tight ends. |
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