Sep 7, 2008 - 9:33 PM
0 shoutsBy Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Anquan Boldin put his troubles aside against the San Francisco 49ers.
Boldin caught eight passes for 82 yards from quarterback Kurt Warner as the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 23-13, in the season opener for both teams.
The controversial receiver demanded a trade during the off-season due to the Cardinals reluctance to sign him to a new contract. Boldin, who caught 71 passes and scored a career-high nine touchdowns last season admitted during the pre-season that his relationship with head coach Ken Whisenhunt was strained.
Against the 49ers Boldin was outstanding, especially on Arizona's game clinching last scoring drive where he snared four passes, three of which were for first downs.
"That's what we expect from him," Whisenhunt said of Boldin's performance. "When he gets the ball in his hands, he's dangerous. He really stepped up today."
"We needed to get the ball into our playmakers hands," Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner said. "We needed to get the ball to Anquan."
Warner who was named the starter for the opener over former first-round pick Matt Leinart, completed 19 of 30 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown.
"We couldn't get in a rhythm in the first half," Warner said. "In the second half we got were able to get some first downs and keep the ball away from them."
Arizona took advantage of San Francisco's fourth fumble of the game in the third quarter when 11-year veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes, who was signed by the Niners during the pre-season, muffed Neal Rackers short kickoff giving the Cardinals the ball in San Francisco territory.
Tim Hightower capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge to giving the Cardinals a 20-10 lead.
"I was glad to contribute at the end," Hightower said. "I'm just grateful that the coaches had enough faith in me in that situation."
Midway through the first quarter, Cardinal kicker Neal Rackers pushed a 35-yard field goal attempt to the right which gave the Niners the ball own their own 25. Five plays later, running back Frank Gore busted through the Arizona front line and raced into the end zone for a 41-yard score and a 7-3 San Francisco lead.
Early in the second quarter, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner connected on a 40-yard bomb to wide receiver Steve Breaston. Warner then hit Larry Fitzgerald with a 1-yard touchdown pass to give the Cardinals a 10-7 lead.
Arizona running back Edgerrin James rushed for 100-yards on 26 carries. For James, it was his 56th career 100-yard game and seventh as a Cardinal.
San Francisco quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan made his first NFL start was was 14-of-20 for 195 yards with one interception. He was sacked four times and did not throw a TD pass.
"We did move the ball well at times," 49ers head coach Mike Nolan said. "But obviously we stopped ourselves several times with turnovers."
From the Bleachers
-
ARIZONA: 23
SAN FRANCISCO: 13
Final
Sep 7 7:18 PM -
NFL
FG ARI
NEIL RACKERS 30 YD
ARIZONA 23
SAN FRANCISCO 13 1:57 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 7 7:10 PM -
NFL
FG SFO
JOE NEDNEY 30 YD
ARIZONA 20
SAN FRANCISCO 13 12:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 7 6:44 PM -
ARIZONA: 20
SAN FRANCISCO: 10
End of 3rd
Sep 7 6:40 PM -
NFL
TD ARI
TIMOTHY HIGHTOWER 1 YD RUN
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
ARIZONA 20
SAN FRANCISCO 10 4:03 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 7 6:27 PM -
NFL
FG ARI
NEIL RACKERS 31 YD
ARIZONA 13
SAN FRANCISCO 10 8:25 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 7 6:08 PM -
ARIZONA: 10
SAN FRANCISCO: 10
Halftime
Sep 7 5:44 PM -
NFL
FG SFO
JOE NEDNEY 39 YD
ARIZONA 10
SAN FRANCISCO 10 1:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 7 5:36 PM -
NFL
TD ARI
LARRY FITZGERALD 1 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
ARIZONA 10
SAN FRANCISCO 7 10:25 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 7 5:10 PM -
ARIZONA: 3
SAN FRANCISCO: 7
End of 1st
Sep 7 4:58 PM -
NFL
TD SFO
FRANK GORE 41 YD RUN
(JOE NEDNEY KICK)
ARIZONA 3
SAN FRANCISCO 7 6:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 7 4:42 PM -
NFL
FG ARI
NEIL RACKERS 25 YD
ARIZONA 3
SAN FRANCISCO 0 11:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 7 4:26 PM
