San Francisco 49ers Need to Make Statement Against Arizona Cardinals

It wasn't supposed to go down this way for coach Mike Singletary and his San Francisco 49ers.

Not again.

Not for the seventh straight season.

He was certain, that after an off-season of roster tweaks, after the hiring an offensive coordinator that he hand-picked, and after guiding his charges through exhaustive minicamps and a brutal training camp, that he had a team of winners.

The way they outfought, outsmarted and outlasted the defending conference champion Arizona Cardinals—on the road no less—in their September 13 season opener only reinforced his belief.

This 49ers team would be different.

This would be the one that would turn the franchise's fortunes around.

Singletary has always been a spiritual man, and well, you've probably heard that old saying by now, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

First the 49ers lost a last second heartbreaker at Minnesota, where graybeard quarterback Brett Favre only got the chance to orchestrate his latest miracle finish because Singletary opted to ram running back Frank Gore into a nine man line for three straight plays, giving Favre the ball with a little less than two minutes to go.

Then the team got routed at home 45-10 by the mediocre Falcons, who, having had two weeks to prepare for the 49ers, scouted San Francisco's offense well enough that they exposed quarterback Shaun Hill's weak arm and rendered him completely ineffective.

Another sorry first half at Houston and that was it for Hill, whose chariot turned back into a pumpkin in a span of six quarters and just like that, he'll never open the season as someone's starting quarterback in the NFL ever again.

Alex Smith, San Francisco's star-crossed first overall pick from 2005, took over the starting reins in the desperate hope that he would reinvigorate the moribund offense and save the team's season.

Smith has played well, far better than anyone could've expected him to, but it still hasn't been enough to make a difference.

No matter how well they've passed the ball of late, the running game has been stuck in mud all season, the defense has given up inopportune big plays, the receivers have had too many crucial drops, and the special teams units have been flat out awful.

The 49ers haven't been blown off the field since that week five game against the Falcons, but they've only won two of their last seven games and everyone is getting tired of their close-but-no-cigar act.

When Singletary gazes across the field to the Cardinals sideline Monday night, at least a small part of him, a side he doesn't reveal to the media, will have to be thinking, "That should be us."

The Cardinals were terrible when these teams first met. Their defensive couldn't cover ancient 49ers receiver Isaac Bruce let alone Vernon Davis. Their offensive line couldn't run or pass block. Quarterback Kurt Warner—whom the 49ers pursued as a free agent in the off-season—looked beaten and washed up.

However since that game, which the 49ers won 20-16, the Cardinals shook themselves off, got their receivers healthy, discovered a running game, and have won eight of 11, including road victories at Jacksonville, Chicago, Seattle, and against the New York Giants.

Last week they showed everyone just how dangerous they are by walloping the mighty Vikings 30-17 in a game that wasn't as close as the score.

The Cardinals have a trio of dangerous receivers, two running backs with over 500 rushing yards apiece, they protect Warner well, and their defense has playmakers on all three levels.

Not only will Arizona win their second straight NFC West crown, but they will clinch the division in Week 14 if they win on Monday at the 'Stick.

On paper they're a bit better than San Francisco, but not three games better.

Talent doesn't seem to be the issue as much as experience, maturity, and luck.

And yeah, maybe coaching too.

Singletary and his players will have one last meaningful chance to show that regardless of what the standings say, that they're every bit the team the Cardinals are and not some also-ran in the NFC West.

Not again.

Not for the seventh straight year.