49ers vs Cardinals
Brian Westbrook came through for an NFl team; something we haven't been able to hear for 2 years. After being signed to back up the injury-prone Frank Gore, he was finally needed.
Westbrook rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown while leading San Francisco to a 27-6 Monday night Football win over Arizona, keeping San Francisco right in the thick of the playoff race. Troy Smith threw a touchdown for San Francisco, while Anthony Dixon rushed for 54 yards and a score.
Frank Gore dominated the game early, showing the same poise as Westbrook with 52 yards on just 5 carries. He led San Francisco to the 30 yard line, but rookie kicker Shane Andrus missed the field goal wide right, keeping the score 0-0.
However, on the first offensive play for the Redbirds Derek Anderson stuffed the ball on Chris Wells' elbow, causing a fumble. San Francisco recovered, and on the first play, Michael Crabtree got a step ahead of his defender, catching a play-action pass for a TD and a 7-0 lead.
But Anderson and Wells came back, with Wells catching a 3rd down pass that set up a field goal, making the score 7-3. However, San Francisco responded, scoring 7 points off of good running by Westbrook. Finding easy holes, he took 2 carries for 11 yards to set up the touchdown. Dixon leapt over the pile on 3rd down for a TD.
San Francisco put pressure on Anderson well the whole game, forcing Anderson to go just 16 of 35 with 196 yards and an INT. It showed throughout the game, and that made it easy for the Niner defense. They set up more from the offense, who came through.
On 3rd down Troy Smith threw a perfect pass to Vernon Davis on a slant route, and that set up another touchdown. This time, Westbrook scored, and he did it with a nice hole. Rookie Mike Iupati opened up a nice hole, and 1 juke later, SF had a 21-3 lead.
But Derek Anderson finally got Arizona going. In fact, his best pass of the night came on an incompletion. Anderson went for Larry Fitzgerald, and Fitzgerald secured the ball. However, it popped out before he hit the ground, and although the pass was originally ruled a touchdown, it was changed. Arizona settled for a field goal and a 21-6 score.
But on San Francisco's next drive, they couldn't score. A Troy Smith pass deflected off of the hands of Crabtree and into the hands of Redbird CB Michael Adams. With the ball in the second half, and a chance to make it 21-6, Arizona knew they had to convert. But this time the Niners showed what they could do, with great pressure.
After 2 incompletions, on 3rd down, the Niners took away any chances of a touchdown with 3 guys chasing Derek Anderson, forcing Anderson to throw the ball away. This led to hometown halftime boos as Arizona left the field.
However, all that was wiped away for 30 seconds in the 3rd quarter. La-Rod Stephens-Howling returned the opening 3rd quarter kick to the SF 20 yard line, but it was wiped away by a holding call. 2 horrible passes later, forced by pressure, San Francisco got the ball back.
Although San Francisco's first second half drive ended in a blocked field goal, Brian Westbrook and co. responded. On one play, the same play that got Westbrook a TD earlier, the former Eagle star found a hole to the right and picked up 19 yards, setting up a field goal.
On the next drive Westbrook piled up more yardage, picking up 15 on one play while executing a spin move and making Gerald Hayes miss. That set up another Andrus field goal, and SF led 27-6.
However, Arizona stayed in the game by quickly driving to the 49er 14. Just as it looked like Arizona would make it 27-13 and give theirselves a lead, good pressure, bad throws and a TD drop cost Arizona the shot at any points.
Late in the game the Niners went for Anthony Dixon, who helped the team run out the clock. San Francisco took the W 27-6, and they stayed put in the hunt for the NFC West. SF improved to 4-7, one game behind 5-6 Seattle and 5-6 St. Louis.
The Niners travel to Green Bay for a duel with the Pack Attack next year, while the Seahawks and the Niners clash at Monster Park on December 12.
Other news
East Carolina, Southern Miss accept bowl bids. East Carolina will go to the Military Bowl, while Southern Miss will go to the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.
Westbrook rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown while leading San Francisco to a 27-6 Monday night Football win over Arizona, keeping San Francisco right in the thick of the playoff race. Troy Smith threw a touchdown for San Francisco, while Anthony Dixon rushed for 54 yards and a score.
Frank Gore dominated the game early, showing the same poise as Westbrook with 52 yards on just 5 carries. He led San Francisco to the 30 yard line, but rookie kicker Shane Andrus missed the field goal wide right, keeping the score 0-0.
However, on the first offensive play for the Redbirds Derek Anderson stuffed the ball on Chris Wells' elbow, causing a fumble. San Francisco recovered, and on the first play, Michael Crabtree got a step ahead of his defender, catching a play-action pass for a TD and a 7-0 lead.
But Anderson and Wells came back, with Wells catching a 3rd down pass that set up a field goal, making the score 7-3. However, San Francisco responded, scoring 7 points off of good running by Westbrook. Finding easy holes, he took 2 carries for 11 yards to set up the touchdown. Dixon leapt over the pile on 3rd down for a TD.
San Francisco put pressure on Anderson well the whole game, forcing Anderson to go just 16 of 35 with 196 yards and an INT. It showed throughout the game, and that made it easy for the Niner defense. They set up more from the offense, who came through.
On 3rd down Troy Smith threw a perfect pass to Vernon Davis on a slant route, and that set up another touchdown. This time, Westbrook scored, and he did it with a nice hole. Rookie Mike Iupati opened up a nice hole, and 1 juke later, SF had a 21-3 lead.
But Derek Anderson finally got Arizona going. In fact, his best pass of the night came on an incompletion. Anderson went for Larry Fitzgerald, and Fitzgerald secured the ball. However, it popped out before he hit the ground, and although the pass was originally ruled a touchdown, it was changed. Arizona settled for a field goal and a 21-6 score.
But on San Francisco's next drive, they couldn't score. A Troy Smith pass deflected off of the hands of Crabtree and into the hands of Redbird CB Michael Adams. With the ball in the second half, and a chance to make it 21-6, Arizona knew they had to convert. But this time the Niners showed what they could do, with great pressure.
After 2 incompletions, on 3rd down, the Niners took away any chances of a touchdown with 3 guys chasing Derek Anderson, forcing Anderson to throw the ball away. This led to hometown halftime boos as Arizona left the field.
However, all that was wiped away for 30 seconds in the 3rd quarter. La-Rod Stephens-Howling returned the opening 3rd quarter kick to the SF 20 yard line, but it was wiped away by a holding call. 2 horrible passes later, forced by pressure, San Francisco got the ball back.
Although San Francisco's first second half drive ended in a blocked field goal, Brian Westbrook and co. responded. On one play, the same play that got Westbrook a TD earlier, the former Eagle star found a hole to the right and picked up 19 yards, setting up a field goal.
On the next drive Westbrook piled up more yardage, picking up 15 on one play while executing a spin move and making Gerald Hayes miss. That set up another Andrus field goal, and SF led 27-6.
However, Arizona stayed in the game by quickly driving to the 49er 14. Just as it looked like Arizona would make it 27-13 and give theirselves a lead, good pressure, bad throws and a TD drop cost Arizona the shot at any points.
Late in the game the Niners went for Anthony Dixon, who helped the team run out the clock. San Francisco took the W 27-6, and they stayed put in the hunt for the NFC West. SF improved to 4-7, one game behind 5-6 Seattle and 5-6 St. Louis.
The Niners travel to Green Bay for a duel with the Pack Attack next year, while the Seahawks and the Niners clash at Monster Park on December 12.
Other news
East Carolina, Southern Miss accept bowl bids. East Carolina will go to the Military Bowl, while Southern Miss will go to the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.
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