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Cardinals running away in NFC West

Nov 4, 2008 - 7:38 PM SAN FRANCISCO (2-6) AT ARIZONA (5-3), Monday 8:30 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- It's been 33 years since the Arizona Cardinals celebrated a division title, a drought that is in serious jeopardy this season.

Kurt Warner and the Cardinals attempt to pad their NFC West lead and complete a season sweep of the division-rival San Francisco 49ers on Monday.

In what could be considered a controversial move, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt elected to start the experienced Warner over 2006 first-round pick Matt Leinart. The decision has paid off.

Warner has 2,431 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions, leading the Cardinals to the top of the downtrodden division.

Arizona already holds a three-game edge in the NFC West, despite being tied for the fifth-best record in the conference.

The 37-year-old Warner passed for 342 yards and two scores and rookie Tim Hightower rushed for 109 yards and a TD in his first career start during last Sunday's 34-13 win over the St. Louis Rams.

The 49ers are looking to avenge a season-opening defeat to the Cardinals and snap a five-game losing streak.

San Francisco did an adequate job containing Arizona's high-powered offense in Week One, but committed five turnovers en route to a 23-13 loss. The 49ers responded with back-to-back victories but have not won since.

San Francisco has lost each of those five contest by more than one score and changed coaches before a 34-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago.

The 49ers are hoping the bye week provides more immediate help than the coaching change. Mike Singletary replaced Mike Nolan on the sidelines and the results were not pretty.

A former Hall of Fame linebacker, Singletary's first week as a head coach was highlighted by an on-field argument with tight end Vernon Davis, a highly publicized postgame rant and a reported incident of pulling down his pants during a halftime speech.

Shaun Hill, who passed for 173 yards and a score in the loss to the Seahawks, will take over the team's starting quarterback. J.T. O'Sullivan had struggled at the position, committing 17 total turnovers.

Hill performed well when he played sparingly last season. The seven-year veteran, who has played in just five career games, passed for 501 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in 2007.