The 49ers nearly pulled off an upset defeat in Arizona, but instead came up short on one last final goal line carry by Michael Robinson in a 29-24 Monday Night Football loss to the Cardinals.
A pair of offensive turnovers allowed the Cardinals short fields, which led to a field goal and a touchdown to give Arizona their first lead of the game with 4:16 remaining.
The 49ers twice drove into Arizona territory looking to retake the lead, but Hill had a shovel pass picked off by Adrian Wilson.
The defense held the Cardinals to a three and out, and the 49ers got the ball back with a 1:06.
With three straight passes to Jason HIll, the 49ers advanced to the 1-yardline where Shaun Hill eventually spiked the ball with 20 seconds left. The 49ers then tried to run plays. The first was by Gore who tried to get the left corner, but was stopped back at the 2. The 49ers then split Gore out wide, and handed off to Robinson who was stuffed on his try up the middle as time expired.
4th Quarter Scoring Summary
The 49ers scored a Neil Rackers short field goal following a fumble by the offense at the 10-yardline to cut within one with just over minutes left to play.
Another turnover, this time an interception by Karlos Dansby of a Shaun HIll pass set Arizona up at the 49ers 5-yardline. A few plays later, Kurt Warner hit Anquan Boldin to take a 29-24 lead. The Cardinals attempted a two-point conversion, but failed to convert. The score came with just over four minutes remaining and gave Arizona their first lead of the game.
3rd Quarter Scoring Summary
Arizona scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald, to finish off a 7-play, 61-yard third quarter opening scoring drive. The quick slant pass occurred on a 4th and 1 play.
Halftime
The 49ers headed into the locker room at the half with a 21-13 advantage over the Cardinals.
2nd Quarter Scoring Summary
The 49ers extended their lead to 14-3 on the first play of the second quarter when Shaun Hill threw a 31-yard rainbow touchdown pass to Josh Morgan. The 3-play drive covered 55 yards and was set up by a reverse on the punt return from Allen Rossum to Nate Clements. The 16-yard return by Clements set the 49ers up at theird 45-yardline. Frank Gore also had a key 20-yard run on the drive, sprung by rookie guard Chilo Rachal in his first ever snap on offense.
The Cardinals quickly answered with a 4-play, 78-yard scoring drive that was finished by Anquan Boldin's 13-yard touchdown reception. Steve Breaston came up with back to back key plays, catching an 18-yard slant route and then a 46-yard deep ball to set Arizona up at the 14. The score brought the game to a 14-10 in favor still of the 49ers with 11:48 to go in the second quarter.
With 4:41 to go in the second quarter, Arizona pulled to within a point at 14-13 with a 33-yard Neil Rackers field goal at the end of a 12-play, 65-yard drive.
With 29 seconds before the half, the 49ers scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hill to tight end Vernon Davis, who hauled in the pass over safety Adrian Wilson for the score. The 14-play drive covered 77 yards. A key play on the drive included a 12-yard rush by Shaun Hill on a 3rd and 11 play at the start of the drive. Hill lost his helmet on the run but continued to fight to get beyond the first down marker.
1st Quarter Scoring Summary
The 49ers won the toss with Allen Rossum taking it back 104 yards on the opening kickoff for a touchdown to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead.
The Cardinals responded with a 9-play, 65-yard scoring drive that was completed by Neil Rackers 28-yard field goal.
