For the first time in years, they were favored on the road, against a 49ers team obviously in a re-building mode. After demolishing the Saints at home the week before in a game that showcased Emmitt Smith looking like the back he once was, a win was expected in week five.
Spirits were high throughout the clubhouse, ESPN published an article complementing the Cardinals defense, Emmitt Smith was the Sunday Stud, and the 49ers were 0-4.
With 8:39 left in the third quarter, the Cardinals scored their fourth touchdown of the game, as rookie wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald got his first career TD reception. Arizona took a 28-12 lead in the game and seemingly took control. At the time, they looked like they were going to catapult themselves into second place in the division, as the Rams were down by 17 to the Seahawks and the Cardinals were up 16. Unfortunately for Cardinal fans and fortunately for Rams fans, it was a wild day in the west.
Pendergast’s “bend but not break” style of defense broke with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter. San Francisco, led by quarterback Tim Rattay put together a 15-play 80-yard drive that ended in a touchdown on 4th-and-6. Rattay found his favorite target in tight end Eric Johnson for the touchdown. Johnson, who is leading all NFL tight ends in receptions, yards, and average per game, had 13 receptions for 162 yards on the game.
San Francisco still needed a two-point conversion on this drive, a defensive stand, another touchdown, and a two point conversion, to just tie the game; which seemed nearly impossible at this point. Rattay got it started again rushing in for the two point conversion. When the Cardinals went 3-and-out, and only took 1:21 off the clock, the 49ers chances improved even more.
The Cardinals pass defense seemed to give the 49ers every chance to win the game in the fourth. After a 14-yard completion to veteran wash-up Curtis Conway, Rattay hit inconsistent Brandon Lloyd for a 26-yard touchdown, leaving the 49ers only a two-point coversion away from tying the game. The Rattay-Lloyd connection worked again, and the game was tied.
Playing for overtime, the Cardinals lost the toss (Guys, TAILS NEVER FAILS!). On third down, a 15 yard penalty kept the 49ers from punting the ball back to the Cardinals, and Rattay hit Johnson for a 23-yard gain, which set them up for a field goal even Todd Peterson could make. The Cardinals blew the game, and possibly their chances of making a statement to the rest of the league.
The loss was completely demoralizing as the Cardinals had played so well for 7/8 of the game, and seemed to establish themselves as a contender in the NFC West. But after letting the young passing attack of the 49ers trounce all over them, the Cardinals need a bye week, which they have this week, to recover. Hopefully next game, their defense won’t surrender 417 passing yards, although you don’t know what to expect from the Cardinals now.
