San Francisco at Arizona, Week 10
Monday, 8:30 p.m.
The numbers weren't good for Arizona's presidential candidate, but they're looking pretty good for its football team. As the only member of the NFC West not sitting at 2-6, the Cardinals are in shape to win their first division crown in 33 years. They're 5-3 for the first time in 24 years. The offense ranks first in the NFL with 29.2 points per game and third with 386.9 yards. And they enter the Monday night showcase at home, where they average 34 points and have won five straight games and nine of 11 under Coach Ken Whisenhunt.
QB Kurt Warner has produced big numbers on his own. At 37, he is emerging as a candidate for his third MVP award, ranking third in passing yards (303.9 yards per game), third in touchdown passes (16) and second in passer rating (104.2). Arizona's 23-13 win over San Francisco in the season opener was one of only two times this season he has passed for less than 200 yards, and the only time he had fewer than two touchdown passes. But this time around, he should have help from the running game. RB Tim Hightower was given his first career start in last week's 34-13 rout of St. Louis and rushed for 109 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown dash that was longer than any carry supplanted starter Edgerrin James has in 40 games with the Cardinals. Arizona rolled up 177 rushing yards as a team, their most of the season by 54 yards.
As for the 49ers, it's pretty much a countdown to see how long it takes for one of Coach Mike Singletary's postgame news conferences to be repurposed into a beer commercial. "What happened in the first week, that's who I am," Singletary told reporters. "It's going to be one of those things where I have to continue to hone it and clean it up a little bit here and there, but for the most part that's who I am."
To review what happened in the first week: He pulled one of his players out of the game, sent him to the showers, practically breathed fire after the game, then later divulged that his dropped his pants as part of his halftime pep talk. If you like your coaches like Jim Mora, this guy's gonna be awesome.
By
David Larimer
|
November 7, 2008; 12:00 PM ET
| Category:
Game Previews Week 10
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