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49ers pound Cards to ground
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2010, Wednesday
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THE San Francisco 49ers kept pace in the NFC West title race and dealt a blow to division rival Arizona's playoff hopes with a 27-6 victory over the Cardinals on Monday.
Brian Westbrook, coming in for injured running back Frank Gore, had 136 rushing yards to help the 49ers climb within a game of first place in the West despite owning a 4-7 record.
After starting the season 0-5, San Francisco now has a real chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 as the two teams above it in the division - St Louis and Seattle - have 5-6 records.
Westbrook had carried the ball just five times prior to Monday's game but he took his chance when Gore went down with a hip ailment in the first quarter.
"I was fresh, only having five carries," Westbrook told reporters after he recorded his first 100-yard rushing game since 2008. "I try to go out there and get ready every single week and this week I got the opportunity."
Gore returned to the game briefly but Westbrook handled the load, taking 23 carries and recording an eight-yard score in the first half where San Francisco claimed a 21-6 lead.
Michael Crabtree caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Troy Smith for the opening score just over five minutes into the game, and Anthony Dixon added a one-yard touchdown as the 49ers led 14-3 after the first quarter.
Quarterback Troy Smith improved to 3-1 since becoming the starter in place of Alex Smith, and San Francisco finished with 261 yards on the ground to control the clock.
Arizona's (3-8) offense could manage only two field goals as the Cards slid to their sixth successive defeat, their longest losing streak since dropping eight in a row in 2006.
Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson completed just 16 of 35 passes with an interception. Following the game he responded angrily to a reporter who asked why he was seen smiling on the sidelines during the loss.
"Every single week I put my heart and soul into this," Anderson said. "I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of everybody."
Brian Westbrook, coming in for injured running back Frank Gore, had 136 rushing yards to help the 49ers climb within a game of first place in the West despite owning a 4-7 record.
After starting the season 0-5, San Francisco now has a real chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 as the two teams above it in the division - St Louis and Seattle - have 5-6 records.
Westbrook had carried the ball just five times prior to Monday's game but he took his chance when Gore went down with a hip ailment in the first quarter.
"I was fresh, only having five carries," Westbrook told reporters after he recorded his first 100-yard rushing game since 2008. "I try to go out there and get ready every single week and this week I got the opportunity."
Gore returned to the game briefly but Westbrook handled the load, taking 23 carries and recording an eight-yard score in the first half where San Francisco claimed a 21-6 lead.
Michael Crabtree caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Troy Smith for the opening score just over five minutes into the game, and Anthony Dixon added a one-yard touchdown as the 49ers led 14-3 after the first quarter.
Quarterback Troy Smith improved to 3-1 since becoming the starter in place of Alex Smith, and San Francisco finished with 261 yards on the ground to control the clock.
Arizona's (3-8) offense could manage only two field goals as the Cards slid to their sixth successive defeat, their longest losing streak since dropping eight in a row in 2006.
Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson completed just 16 of 35 passes with an interception. Following the game he responded angrily to a reporter who asked why he was seen smiling on the sidelines during the loss.
"Every single week I put my heart and soul into this," Anderson said. "I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of everybody."
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