49ers Fall To Cardinals, 21-19, In Arizona
GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS/AP) -- John Skelton was awful against San Francisco a month ago. This time was a far different story.
Skelton stepped in for the injured Kevin Kolb and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, and the Arizona Cardinals rallied to hand the San Francisco 49ers their third loss of the season, 21-19 on Sunday.
Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 149 yards, including a 46-yarder for a touchdown and a 53-yarder to set up the go-ahead score in the fifth victory in six games for Arizona (6-7), which ended a five-game losing streak against the 49ers.
Kolb left the game after a blow to the head on Arizona's third play. Skelton, benched after throwing three interceptions in the Cardinals' 23-7 loss at San Francisco on Nov. 20, had a 60-yard TD pass to Early Doucet and a 3-yard toss to Andre Roberts for what proved to be the winning score early in the fourth quarter.
Skelton, a second-year pro from Fordham, improved to 4-1 as a starter this season.
Arizona sacked Alex Smith five times after getting five against Dallas in its 19-13 overtime win over the Cowboys a week earlier. The 49ers (10-3) were at the Cardinals 4-yard line twice and the 6 once in the second quarter and had to settle for short field goals by David Akers each time.
Frank Gore rushed for 72 yards in 10 carries for the NFC West champion 49ers (10-3), including a 37-yard touchdown run that put San Francisco ahead 19-7 early in the second half. He passed 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth time in his career, but didn't do much damage after that.
The 49ers were without standout inside linebacker Patrick Willis, who missed the second game of his career, because of a right hamstring injury.
On Arizona's possession following Gore's big run, Fitzgerald went over the middle and outjumped safety Dashon Goldson for the ball, then ran the remaining 20 yards for the score to cut the lead to 19-14 with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
On the play, Fitzgerald passed 1,000 yards for the season for the sixth time in his eight years in the NFL, the last five in a row.
Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, Fitzgerald took a pass over the middle and ran to the San Francisco 20, a 53-yard play. On third-and-2 from the 12, Skelton threw a screen pass to Doucet for a 9-yard gain to the 3. Skelton threw to Roberts on the next play, and the receiver crossed the goal line for the touchdown that gave the Cardinals their only lead of the game, 21-19, with 11:50 remaining.
Kolb, in his second start after missing four games with a right turf toe and bruise on the side of his same foot, was hurt when, with his team on its 17, he faded to pass and was hit by Justin Smith as he threw. It was one of two forced fumbles and two sacks for Smith.
San Francisco got the ball on its 43 and, in an 11-play drive that managed 15 yards thanks to three sacks and a couple of penalties, Akers' 46-yard field goal made it 3-0.
San Francisco pinned Arizona deep again, and Ted Ginn Jr.'s 52-yard punt return put the 49ers on the Cardinals 4. But Arizona's defense, strong all day, held and Akers' 22-yarder put the 49ers ahead 6-0 with 14:02 left in the half.
Then came the oddest moments of the game.
On third-and-7, Skelton scrambled for a first down but, on a hit by Smith, fumbled the ball and San Francisco recovered at its 47. The 49ers moved to the Arizona 40, where Akers lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt. But it was a fake, with holder Andy Lee tossing to backup center Jonathan Goodwin, lined up as a tight end, for the apparent score.
The whistle blew mid-play. Arizona was challenging the previous play, a pass from Alex Smith to Kyle Williams. But the replay system wasn't working so the play had to be repeated.
This time, Akers' 50-yard attempt was wide right, his first miss from 50 and beyond in seven tries this season.
The next play, Skelton threw over the middle to Doucet, and with the help of a vicious block from Fitzgerald, he raced 60 yards for the score and Arizona, in a rapid 14-point turnaround, led 7-6 with 7:10 left in the half.
The 49ers responded with a 10-play, 69-yard drive, but again stalled deep in Arizona territory. On second-and-4 at the 6, Smith's pass was deflected by Arizona rookie Sam Acho. Then, the San Francisco quarterback tried a sweep left and was tackled for a 3-yard loss. Akers' 27-yard field goal put the 49ers back on top 9-7 with 1:58 to play.
Late in the half, the 49ers picked off a pass when Donte Whitner slammed into Roberts just as the ball arrived. Goldson intercepted and returned it 17 yards to the Arizona 16. Akers' 22-yard field goal as the half ended put Arizona up 12-7 at the break.
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