Cardinals-49ers Report Card

Oh boy, it looks like someone's staying after school. Or spending a few days in detention. Or maybe even getting shipped off to some faraway military school!

It seems our gridiron heroes tricked us, and led us to believe they had it together; and after the stomping of the previously un-stomped Minnesota Vikings, led us to believe that they were a disciplined bunch.

I'm not sure at this point if we, the faithful, should be the ones disciplined. I mean, isn't it our responsibility to see through the bologna? Isn't it up to us to support them, no matter how unruly they are, but still provide the tough love necessary?

Nahhhhh, this is all on them. I mean, we didn't fumble the ball like it was dipped in pig fat. We didn't throw ill—advised passes, miss tackles, and allow opportunity (and the division crown) slip through our mitts. This one is on our Cardinals, and therefore, I must dish out the scholastic justice. That said..

Cardinals Offense—Rushing: D

Its hard to hand out such a low grade when the running game averaged over five yards per carry. I mean, quite possibly our new starting RB, Beanie Wells was impressive. The OL opened a few holes, and Beanie found them. Wells amassed 79 yards on only 15 carries (5.3 ave). Starter Tim Hightower was held to just three yards on two carries.

But in what is becoming a seriously frustrating pattern, Hightower opened the game by putting the pig on the ground.

Last week against Minnesota Vikings, the Cards were able to overcome it. This week, it set a tone (and a pattern) that didn't bode well at all for the Big Red. After Hightowers fumble, he didn't carry the ball again.

That's when Wells looked to take the starting job by the horns and ride it like a wild stallion. With the Cards down a remarkably low 17 points (considering 5 turnovers) at the start of the third quarter, Wells put together consecutive runs of 9, 12, 11, and 7 yards before the drive stalled and they settled for a Neil Rackers field goal.

But Beanie decided to join Hightower in their season—long game of fumble—rooskie, and it was the killer. The Cards got within one score at 17-9 (PAT was blocked), the defense held, and they got the ball back. But Beanie put it on the ground, San Francisco recovered, and never looked back. For good measure and not to be outdone, 3rd string/rookie RB Larod Stephens-Howling put the ball on the ground, too.

Averaging over five yards per carry against the NFL's fifth rushing defense in the league is great. Three fumbles/turnovers aren't. I said earlier that the Cards have managed to get away with fumbles, but if they continued it would come back to haunt them. On this night, it did.

Cardinals Offense—Passing: D

As I stated in my pre—game, this game would come down to the play in the trenches, especially when the Cardinals had the ball. And as I also noted, if the Cards OL doesn't protect Kurt Warner, chances are good they would have to put off their division title celebration for a week or more.

Well, I'm not patting myself on the back, believe me. But that pretty much summed up the night.

Warner was sacked four times. He was hit many other times. He fumbled twice, losing one. He was under siege from both ends, and up the gut. The OL, while Ok in run blocking, took a huge step backward in pass protection from a week ago, when they pretty much shut down the Vikings formidable defensive line.

Add WR Anquan Boldin's late fumble while trying to stretch a play, and it was just a lousy night for the Cards passing game. Fourth—string WR Early Doucet led all receivers in yards, with 41, and Boldin added 40 on 5 grabs.

The only real bright spot was the return of WR Larry Fitzgerald, who had to be helped off the field in the 3rd quarter. He came back out in the 4th quarter after heading to the locker room for X—rays.

According to the Cards website, his MRI today "revealed a bone contusion and right knee sprain. However the knee is stable and there isn’t any more significant damage. He’ll be evaluated as the week progresses."

Its a horrible night when the only bright spot is that your All—Pro receiver didn't suffer a serious injury.

Cardinals Defense—Rushing: D-

San Francisco RB Frank Gore was limited to 30 yards on 22 carries that fateful September night in the desert when the 'Niners pulled out a win. It seemed he had left his heart in San Francisco, and found it on this night in the City by the Bay.

Gore slashed, dashed, plowed, pushed, and punished his way to 167 yards on just 25 carries, averaging well over six yards per carry. The Cardinals had no answer for him.

They over—pursued often, and when they did manage to get their hands on him, he slipped their grip. It was just another phase of a night in which no one area really played well.

It was pure torture to watch.

Cardinals Defense—Passing: C-

Hey LOOK! A grade that doesn't totally suck! Kind of sucks, yes. But not totally.

That's because Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson played his heart out, and DL Darnell Dockett showed why he should be in Hawai..errrrr, Miami in January. Each had an interception, and Wilson put himself in position to pick off at least one or two more.

Niners QB Alex Smith did nothing special, but the defense did allow him to complete a few third down passes that extended drives. And can we really expect a team area to grade out above average when they fall for every hard count, and call it excitement or over—exuberance, manage to get called for offsides three times in the opening drive?

Wilson and Dockett, who added a couple tipped passes to his pick, played like All—Pros.

No. 90's read and react tip and pick was a true thing of beauty. Its unfortunate that their solid play in keeping the game within reach despite the offense giving San Francisco the ball at every possibly opportunity, wasn't rewarded with a better outcome.

Cardinals Special Teams and Coaching: D+

Neil Rackers made his only field goal attempt. But he had an important point-after blocked when Reggie Wells played matador, ushering the Niners Ray McDonald through and, in keeping with the tone of the evening, gave the 49ers much needed confidence when it seemed that the tide had turned.

Punter Ben Graham only punted four times, but that's because the Cards apparently chose to either throw the ball into a defender's hands, or put it on the ground and let SF scoop it up.

It's hard to say how good the play calling is when the team constantly turns the ball over. But it's pretty clear that head coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't have his team prepared. That's not to say the players don't bear responsibility for that, because they do. But as with any other lot in life, the buck stops at the head man, the one in charge. And when his team plays with such lack of discipline, their leader must take some responsibility for their sloppiness.

Overall: D

The only thing that saves this disaster from an "F" is the fact that, despite doing everything they offense could to give the game to San Francisco, they were within one score in the 4th quarter.

To overcome that ridiculous amount of miscues and turnovers and be in that position shows not only that there was some decent defensive play, but how average a team the 49ers are.

I know 'Whiners fans would disagree, but their team didn't win this game. Maybe in keeping with the holiday spirit, the Cardinals gift wrapped this game and handed it to San Francisco. Season sweep aside, the Cardinals are the best team in the division. Hands down.

How good that is in the giant scheme of things remains to be seen in coming weeks.