Greetings from University of Phoenix Stadium. This isn’t original, but I must say I agree: From the outside this place really does resemble a stainless steel toaster oven.
As usual, I’ll be updating this blog with pregame notes leading up until kickoff:
• 49ers inactives: David Carr (3rd QB), K Joe Nedney, WR Kyle Williams, CB Tramaine Brock, CB Will James, LB Thaddeus Gibson, T Joe Staley, T Alex Boone.
• Williams was a mild surprise after he returned punts against Tampa Bay last week. A former star at Arizona State who went to high school in Scottsdale, he was hoping to make a triumphant return to Arizona.
• Barry Sims will make his second straight start at left tackle in place of Staley, Shane Andrus will handle the kicking duties and Ted Ginn will likely be returning both punts and kickoffs.
• Cardinals inactives: John Skelton (3rd QB), WR Max Komar, SS Hamza Abdullah, CB Greg Toler, CB Marshay Green, LB Reggie Walker, C Ben Claxton, DE Calais Campbell.
• Campbell is the only starter on Arizona’s inactive list. Alan Branch, the 33rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, will make his first career start in place of Campbell, who ranks second on the Cardinals with three sacks.
• RB Frank Gore had 167 rushing yards in the Niners’ 24-9 Monday night
win against Arizona last year, the second-highest total of his career.
By the way, one other 49ers running back has rushed for 100 yards against the Cardinals in a Monday night game. Any guesses?
Roger Craig? Great guess. Ricky Watters? Wonderful try. Amp Lee? Extremely creative. Delvin Williams? A true historian.
The correct answer: Lawrence Phillips, who had 102 yards on 9 carries in
a 24-10 win against the Cardinals on Sept. 27, 1999. In the interest of
full disclosure, Phillips also missed a blocked that allowed Aeneas
Williams to end Steve Young’s career.
• Are you ready for a historically awful matchup? Based on records, this
is the worst late-season matchup on MNF since the 49ers and Falcons,
both, 4-11, met in 1999. Thanks to David White of the San Francisco
Chronicle for that nugget.
• The Cardinals have a tortured — and highly entertaining — history on Monday Night Football since moving from St. Louis.
Since their arrival in Arizona, the Cardinals are 1-6 on MNF. Their
losses have included a 37-13 shellacking against Dallas in 1995 marked
by Buddy Ryan’s exit before the game ended. In 2006, they blew a 23-3
lead against the Bears highlighted by Dennis Green’s postgame
they-were-who-we-thought-they-were meltdown.
• Looking at the Niners’ MNF history, I noticed this stunner: Joe
Montana threw for 441 yards against the Redskins on Nov. 17, 1986 and
San Francisco lost 14-6. Nearly 500 yards passing and six points? Anyone
remember this game?
• DT Justin Smith will make his 150th consecutive start tonight, the
longest among defensive linemen and sixth among all active players.
• LB Patrick Willis will make his 58th straight start tonight. Willis is
one of three players from the 2007 NFL draft class to have started
every game since being drafted (Browns T Joe Thomas and Panthers LB Jon
Beason).
• The Niners have a 2-10 road record since 2009. Their two wins? Last
year, they had a 28-6 win against the 1-14 Rams and they beat Arizona,
20-16, in their season opener.
• Mike Singletary and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt are part of a surprisingly small fraternity.
Only seven other head coaches have NFL playing experience, a list that includes recent additions in interim coaches Leslie Frazier (Vikings) and Jason Garrett (Cowboys).
The others include Jack Del Rio (Jaguars), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Jeff Fisher (Titans), Tom Cable (Raiders) and Sean Payton (Saints).
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