49ers 19 - 21 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Cardinals sneak past 49ers

Dec 12, 2011 - 2:57 AM Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Andre Roberts caught the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Arizona Cardinals past the San Francisco 49ers, 21-19, at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Larry Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Fitzgerald went over the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his career and fifth consecutive season.

John Skelton threw for 282 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 19-of-28 passing after starter Kevin Kolb was hurt on the first offensive series and left the game.

"Skelton did a great job coming in without getting a lot of reps this week and making some plays," said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. "We were resilient today."

Early Doucet hauled in three passes for 73 yards and a score for the Cardinals (6-7), who have won three straight games.

Frank Gore ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Alex Smith threw for 175 yards on 18-of-37 passing. David Akers kicked four field goals for the 49ers (10-3), who won the NFC West last weekend with a 26-0 victory over the Rams.

Trailing 19-14, Arizona took the lead for good with 11:50 to go in regulation when Skelton led a six-play, 78-yard drive -- sparked by a big 53-yard completion to Fitzgerald -- and capped off by a three-yard touchdown catch by Roberts to put the Cardinals ahead 21-19.

Following the score, the teams swapped punts for most of the final quarter before San Francisco got the ball back with 2:51 to play.

They got as far as their own 41 before Smith's pass on 4th-and-1 was knocked down, sealing the win for the Cardinals.

"We were good at times, but not good enough," 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Certainly not good enough to win the game. We had opportunities and would have liked to have converted on third down and scored in the red zone."

The 49ers opened the scoring on their second possession of the game, as they took over at the Cardinals 43 following a punt. Faced with a 3rd-and-15 from the Arizona 34, Smith was sacked back at the 42 for an eight-yard loss, which would have ended the drive, but the 49ers were bailed out by a face mask flag on Adrian Wilson, giving them a first down on the 27. Akers then knocked through a 46-yard field goal to give San Francisco a 3-0 lead.

Ted Ginn Jr. took a 53-yard punt all the way down to the Arizona four-yard line on the final play of the first stanza. The offense stalled though, and Akers was good from 22 yards out to give his team a 6-0 advantage.

After Akers missed a 50-yard attempt, the Cardinals took over on their own 40 with 7:21 to play before halftime and needed only one play -- a 60-yard touchdown strike to Doucet -- to take a 7-6 lead.

But San Francisco responded on its next drive -- a 10-play, 69-yard march -- with another field goal by Akers, this one from 27 yards out, to go ahead 9-7.

Akers connected on another field goal from 22-yards out -- his fourth of the half -- to put the 49ers up 12-7 at the break.

After the break, San Francisco widened its lead. Starting from the Arizona 37 following a punt, Gore ran the length of the field to paydirt to put his team up 19-7 with 12:24 remaining in third quarter.

But Arizona responded on its ensuing drive when Skelton connected with Fitzgerald deep over the middle for a 46-yard touchdown strike to close the gap to 19-14.

Game Notes

San Francisco leads the all-time regular season series between the teams, 24-17...Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt is 3-7 against San Francisco...Arizona outgained San Francisco, 325-233...The Cardinals went 3- for-14 on third down, while San Francisco converted just three of its 17 third down situations...It was Fitzgerald's 30th career 100-yard receiving game...Arizona snapped a five-game skid against San Francisco.






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