Niners topple NFC champs
Photo & article by Andy Lopusnak of Bay Area Sports Drive Magazine
September 13, 2009

The San Francisco 49ers used a fierce pass rush and a late rally by quarterback Shaun Hill to beat the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals 20-16 in the 2009 NFL regular season opener. It marks the 49ers first win over Arizona since sweeping the Cardinals in 2007.  

San Francisco went three-and-out on five of its six possessions in the second half. The only one to get a first down went 80 yards on 15 plays, culminating in the game-winning score (Frank Gore’s three-yard receiving TD from Hill).

Hill completed just 18-of-31 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown. He was sacked four times, but did not toss an interception. That wasn’t the case for Arizona QB Kurt Warner. The two-time NFL MVP threw two picks and was sacked three times. The 49ers’ pass rush forced both interceptions, which also kept the ball out of the hands of the Cardinals’ dynamic receiving duo of Anquin Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald (combined for just eight catches and 90 yards). San Francisco’s consistent pressure also contributed to the Cardinals’ twelve penalties.

Patrick Willis led the 49ers’ defensive charge with 13 tackles and an interception. Nate Clements also picked off Warner, but San Francisco’s offense couldn’t convert either takeaway into points.

Joe Nedney kicked two first quarter field goals to give the 49ers a 6-0 after the first frame. Sandwiched between two Cardinals field goals Gore had a six-yard rushing score and the 49ers led 13-6 at the half. It marked the first time in Gore’s career that he had a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game. However, Gore rushed for just 30 yards on 22 carries and overall San Francisco averaged less than a yard per rush.

Arizona took its only lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter on Neil Rackers’ fourth field goal of the game. That’s when Hill directed the Niners down for the game-winning score. The game marked the fourth straight season that the two teams started the regular season against each other (each team has two wins). San Francisco has won its season opener in odd number years since 2001 and looks to go up 2-0 for the first time since 2005 when the 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday. After starting 2-0 in 2005, the 49erslost their next eight games and finished 5-11.  

 

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