49ers 24 - Cardinals 9: Post game notes and quotes

Due to computer issues I'm stuck using a rent-a-computer at Fedex/Kinkos (more on that in the post for tomorrow I hastily put together).  But for now I have some post-game notes and quotes to throw together.  We'll start with stats on ALL the turnovers and after the jump we've got some more stats and quotes.  We'll use this post to continue the discussion as Andrew's post-game post fills up.

• The 49ers defense tied the franchise record as they forced five turnovers in the first half (3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions). The last time the 49ers forced five turnovers in a half was September 14, 1997, vs. New Orleans (3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries). It is the first time a team forced 5 turnovers in the first half since September 28, 2008, when the N.Y. Jets forced 5 turnovers vs. Arizona.
• The 49ers defense tied the franchise record for most forced fumbles in a game (4). The only other times the defense forced 4 fumbles in a game were November 22, 1998, vs. New Orleans, and September 8, 1996, vs. St. Louis.
• The 49ers defense registered three forced fumbles in the first half for only the 5^th time in franchise history. The last time was at Seattle (12/6/09). This also marks the first time in franchise history that the 49ers defense forced three fumbles in a half in back-to-back weeks.
• S Dashon Goldson knocked the ball out of the hands of RB Tim Hightower on the Cardinals 9-yard line for his first forced fumble on the day. CB Dre' Bly scooped up the loose ball on the 8-yard line. It marked his first fumble recovery of the season, 6^th of his career.
• LB Patrick Willis notched his 3^rd forced fumble of the season (6^th of his career) when he striped RB LaRod Stephens-Howling after a 12-yard reception. The fumble was recovered by S Mark Roman and returned 25 yards to the Arizona 28-yard line. It is Roman's first fumble recovery of the season and the 9^th of his career.
• Goldson got his hands on another ball as he picked off QB Kurt Warner on the San Francisco 9-yard line. This marked his team-leading 3rd interception of the season and the 3^rd of his career.
• CB Tarell Brown registered his second interception of the season (4^th of his career) as he intercepted Warner just before halftime.
• LB Ahmad Brooks sacked Warner and knocked the ball out for his 3^rd sack of the season and first forced fumble. The ball was picked up by DT Justin Smith, marking his second fumble recovery of the season.
• Goldson notched his second forced fumble of the game as he striped RB Beanie Wells deep in Arizona territory. The fumble was recovered by LB Parys Haralson, his first fumble recovery of the season and the second of his career.

• TE Vernon Davis recorded his 11^th touchdown of the season on a 5-yard pass from QB Alex Smith. Davis becomes only the 9^th tight end in NFL history to register 11 touchdowns in a single season. He also tied the 49ers tight end record with his fourth consecutive game with a touchdown. He joins TE Ted Kwalick (11/12/72 through 12/4/72) as the only 49ers tight ends to accomplish this feat.

• LB Ahmad Brooks set a single-game career-high with 3.0 sacks and 2 forced fumbles of QB Kurt Warner. He now has a career-high 5.0 sacks on the season

• DT Ray McDonald blocked K Neil Rackers extra point attempt early in the fourth quarter. It marked the first time the 49ers blocked an extra point in the regular season since DT Junior Bryant blocked a PAT attempt by Detroit's K Jason Hanson on December 14, 1998.

• RB Frank Gore rushed for 104 yards on 13 carries in the first half. This marks the second time this season that Gore eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in the first half (vs. Seattle, 9/20/09).

• WR Michael Crabtree recorded his first touchdown in front of the home crowd on a 35-yard touchdown reception from QB Alex Smith. Crabtree now has two touchdown receptions on the season.

QB Alex Smith

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

 On his impression of the game:

"A great win. You know, it was a must win for us. We came through. Defense played great. Tons of turnovers today, I don't know how many it was, but a lot. They shut them down otherwise. And then I think on offense...offensive line played great up front, we ran the ball. Frank played well. It was kind of a great team victory. We threw the ball well at times, just off a little bit at other times, but all the way around, I thought we executed in all facets of the game and that's why it came out the way it did."

On his two touchdowns passes:

"The first one, you know, defense got us the ball down there in tight, we ran on first down. Second down they were playing man to man, we had Vernon [Davis] isolated outside running a hook route, he did a great job winning, and I let it go, trusted it, and he won. It was tight coverage, he got physical and made the play. And then on the second one, there at the end of the half, we are driving down, rolling, and I hit [Michael] Crabtree on the dig with Vernon coming in underneath and Crabtree did a great job running in there and then made the great catch and finished it off with the run."

On his two interceptions:

"The first one, we were throwing three step drop and the defensive end didn't rush and he jumped to put his hands up and made a play on the ball. Just kind of a freak, unlucky thing. On the second one there in the second half, knowing we are up and trying to run the clock and done a good job there, I think we had a couple first downs and put a little post route in and had the coverage we wanted, it was man-to-man, and the guy jumped on Vernon [Davis] and I came up to throw behind him to Delanie [Walker] on the post and the guy read the coverage and jumped inside, made a good play. Obviously I would like that over again, but just trusted it and letting it go. We will look at on film and try and get better from there. Something we have to get better at. Almost for a second there let them back in and have a chance at the game, so we have to be able to finish there."

On the defense's performance:
"Six turnovers, they played unbelievable all night. Against a team with those receivers, the way they throw the ball, the quarterback there. To be making them in the pass game and the run game, to run up and be physical, causing all the fumbles they did, causing havoc in the coverage looks, they just played tough tonight.  I think they were rolling, a lot of confidence. That was great to see. Those guys were flying around and making plays."

On the timing with his receivers tonight:
"I think we were amped up in the first half, we were roaring to go and were off a little bit. Look at the film, it just seemed like a couple throws here and there we were just off in the first half on both ends, my end and the receiving end. We settled down a little bit at the end of the second quarter and there at the end of the game and made some plays when we had to, but I think we are doing well. We have come along, we are maturing. I thought today we just had a lot of energy there to start and missed a couple."

RB Frank Gore

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

On how he felt on rushing for over 150 yards and helping his team to victory:

"It was great. The last couple of weeks I was very frustrated. I called coach Singletary and he told me to keep sticking with it and we're going to try to get it going. He told me to stay patient and it's going to come. My offensive line did a great job today to help us get in that rhythm and we felt like no one could stop us when we got in that rhythm."

On how he was seeing things out there on the field:

"I just told myself that whenever I get the ball not to press, just go out there and be myself. I told myself to be patient, let things develop and that's what I did."

On getting the win on Monday night football:

"It was great, especially after coming off of a loss last week. We played against a great team who had the chance to clinch the division tonight, but it felt good to get the win."

S Dashon Goldson

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

On the physical play of the teams' defense against Arizona tonight:

"We knew how physical we had to be and coach Singletary told us the same thing. If we went ahead and put our hats on them then we would create our chances and we did that today, both physically and mentally."

On his aggressive style of play:

"When I'm out there I play with no hesitation in my game. When I see my shot, I take them. Sometimes I miss, sometimes I make them but I'll tell you what, I going to make more than I miss, and I did tonight."