I just received the injury report following today's practice:

San Francisco 49ers

Out: S Dashon Goldson (knee)

Did Not Participate in Practice: WR Arnaz Battle (foot), OT Barry Sims (ankle)

Limited Participation in Practice: OT Jonas Jennings (shoulder), DE Ray McDonald (knee)

Full Participation in Practice: TE Delanie Walker (elbow)

Arizona Cardinals

Did Not Participate in Practice: TE Leonard Pope (ankle)

Limited Participation in Practice: TE Ben Patrick (knee), DE Travis LaBoy (groin), OT Mike Gandy (ankle), CB Eric Green (knee), WR Sean Morey (hamstring), TE Jerame Tuman (ankle), WR Larry Fitzgerald (thumb)

I remain disappointed by the absence of Dashon Goldson.  I really think he could be making a big impact with Shawntae Spencer gone.  Such is life.

Since the beginning of the Mike Nolan era in 2005, the 49ers and Cardinals have had an interesting history.  The 49ers lost four straight to the Cardinals before winning both games in the series last season.  The 49ers currently stand at 19-14 against the Cardinals all-time.

If you wanted one word to describe the last six contests, close would be the safest choice.  The average difference in score was 7.67 points, and that's factoring in a 17 point Cardinals victory in the first of the six in 2005.  Since then, neither team has won by more than a touchdown.  Last season took the "closeness" to a whole new level with two wild finishes.  As I will consider the first game in 2005 a "statistical outlier," I'm just going to look at the last five.  I feel it creates just a bit more drama!

SAN FRANCISCO 37, @ ARIZONA 31 (Nov. 25, 2007)
The 49ers found themselves in the midst of an 8 game losing streak and the team looking absolutely abysmal.  The 49ers had put up no more than 16 points in any of their previous eight games and while Frank Gore was being productive, he couldn't carry the team by himself.  However, on this day, Gore put together 214 total yards and 2 touchdowns as Trent Dilfer had a bit of a throwback performance.  Of course, the game will be remembered for the wild ending and Patrick Willis putting himself on the national map.  After the 49ers took the lead late, the Cardinals drove down and a goal line stop (including a game-saving defensive effort by Donald Strickland) kept the Cardinals to a field goal. 

In overtime, Kurt Warner connected with Sean Morey for what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown.  However, Willis (in a play replayed over and over again) ran down Morey from behind to prevent the touchdown.  Arizona positioned the ball for a game-winning field goal, which Rackers drilled through the uprights.  Fortunately, a delay of game moved the ball back 5 yards and Rackers missed a 32 yarder.  After a later booming Andy Lee punt and an illegal block in the back, Arizona started with the ball on their own 3.  A Ronald Fields sack forced a Warner fumble, which Tully Banta-Cain pounced on for the heart-stopping victory.

at SAN FRANCISCO 20, ARIZONA 17 (Sept. 10, 2007)
Coming off a rather inspiring 2006, the 49ers were looking to start off the 2007 season with a bang.  The young guns, Alex Smith and Matt Leinart, combined to throw under 50% and do everything they could to single-handedly kill Monday night ratings.  The 49ers tandem of newly acquired Nate Clements and Pro Bowler Walt Harris looked sharp in holding Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to a combined 7 catches for 43 yards.  Patrick Willis made his debut with an impressive 11 tackles, showing a sign of things to come.

However, the finish is what this game will be remembered for.  With 2:58 to go, Alex Smith led the 49ers on 86 yard drive with a 4th down conversion followed by a 3rd and long conversion.  The 3rd down conversion almost resulted in disaster as Arnaz Battle fumbled the ball on the 1 into the end zone.  The ball was recovered in the end zone, but since the offense can't advance a fumble, the ball was spotted at the 1.  Arnaz Battle redeemed himself with an end around for the game winning touchdown with 22 seconds left.

Check out the results of the previous three games after the jump....

Continue reading this post »