Cardinals awaits 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 14 – NFL Preview
During the week-11 game of the National Football League current season, Arizona Cardinals travelled to San Francisco only to get a defeat 23-7. As they host the same opponent this Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Cardinals
are seeking revenge, but beware! 49ers have just clinched the National Football Conference West division title and their morale is boosted after securing a playoff spot.
So, have Cardinals got what it takes to beat the division champions? The answer is ‘yes’. They have got something that was missing in the previous encounter. The much-needed support to the Cardinals’ offense was the return of quarterback
Kevin Kolb, who took the field last Sunday after four weeks and shined brightly enough in the second half of the game to see his team through against the NFC East division in-charge, Dallas Cowboys.
In eight games this season, Kolb has completed 145 passes of 252 attempts for 1,953 yards while recording nine touchdowns.
An interesting encounter is certainly on the cards and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt thinks that it will be a great achievement if his team beats the 49ers.
“Any time a team in your division has clinched when they have, you have respect for what they’ve done,” he said.
“They are the division champs for this year and this is a chance for us to go against them. If we can get a win it always is a sweet win; it always means something.”
Cardinals have won four of their last five games. Although the only defeat came at the hands of the 49ers, it is in the best interest of San Francisco to refrain from getting complacent.
49ers cornerback Tarell Brown thinks of Cardinals as a team on ‘a high horse’.
"They came out with a 'w' (against Dallas) so we've definitely got to go to their place and slow down that momentum."
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who is in his first coaching year at the franchise, is delighted on his team’s achievement, but is not ignoring the threats 49ers could face in future.
“Feel good about that accomplishment and then move forward to the next goal,” the coach said about the division title.
Not to be ignored in the 49ers’ line-up is the franchise record holder for most rushing yards, Frank Gore. During the last week victory against St. Louis Rams, Gore beat late Joe Perry to become the leading rusher for the franchise
with 7,396 yards.
49ers might not have much at stake, but Cardinals are eyeing a playoff position through a wildcard-entry. They are currently ranked third in the NFC West division with five victories and seven defeats.
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