Lasting that long in the playoffs is beginning to look dubious now...

...in the Thanksgiving Harbowl to the Ravens (brutal), but this is just kinda icing on the cake to Smith getting sacked a record amount of times in the Harbowl.

I think the starters need some rest.

New Orleans is breathing down their neck for the 2 seed and the bye week. If they just back into the playoffs like this, it's one and done.

Even with the effective defense against some of the Arizona ground game.

will be good enough to beat steelers on monday night.

They are a different team than they were in the first half of the season, especially on defense. They would easily be in the playoff mix (they still got a distant shot) if the same D showed up first half of the season. 49ers easily could have had a huge lead at half with all the drives that started deep in Cards territory. I have one excuse, new D-Coordinator w/ no offseason. Only recently they showed some flashes of the Pittsburgh D formations the Coordinator had at Pittsburgh and they use it sparingly which shows that they're still learning it. The front 7 get great pressure, unlike I've ever seen from this team and this is going back to the Philadelphia game though they did a great job against Carolina. Peterson is starting to lock down #1 receivers on a consistent basis. It is nice to have a good D-Coordinator. The Cardinals' D has just been awful the previous 3 seasons including Super Bowl year.

I agree, a game San Francisco should have won. I chalk a lot of that up to energized home crowd as the past 5 seasons or so this has been the biggest rivalry in the division. Most likely a different game if played in SF.

My point is, I think SF will be fine even if they have a tough road ahead while they're neck and neck with the Saints.

----Cardinals also greatly benefited from the whistle after the snap on the attempted challenge(couldn't challenge because replay booth was down) where the refs said it was before the snap when it clearly wasn't. Different game because that fake FG was executed perfectly.

The D is steppin' it up now

There was little protection for Alex Smith on pass plays and he got rattled early. When that happens he's toast. That's the way to beat San Francisco -- concentrate on playing the box.

I thought the fake field goal challenge play changed the tempo. Arizona scored immediately afterward and found their mojo. They played a great game.

At least my 49ers didn't give up a rushing touchdown - the streak lives!

No congrats on a game well played!