SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals usually are
the ones that are the laughingstocks. But heading into
Sunday's game at Monster Park, the San Francisco 49ers
own that distinction.
It has been a struggle on both sides of the ball for the 49ers,
who are off to their worst start since losing their first seven
games under legendary coach Bill Walsh in 1979.
The Niners opened their season with losses by a combined five
points to Atlanta and New Orleans, but have badly been outplayed
in their last two games.
Two weeks ago, the Niners were shut out for the first time in
420 games in a 34-0 debacle at Seattle. Last week, they endured
a 24-14 loss here against St. Louis, a game in which the final
score was not as close as the final score indicated.
Tim Rattay, who missed the previous two games with a separated
shoulder, returned to the lineup against the Rams and completed
31-of-47 passes for 299 yards. He threw two fourth-quarter
touchdown passes when the game was out of reach.
A perennial doormat, the Cardinals have been respectable under
new coach Dennis Green.
The Cardinals lost their first three games - St. Louis, New
England and Atlanta - but were competitive in each contest.
Last week, the Cardinals finally broke out and gave Green his
first victory as coach with a 34-10 rout of the New Orleans
Saints.
Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, had a flashback
to his glory years as he rushed for 127 yards - his best total
since signing with Arizona last season - and a touchdown. He
also threw a his first career TD pass, a 21-yard connection with
fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.
The teams split two meetings last season, with each winning at
home.
In last season's meeting here, Jeff Garcia threw four touchdown
passes and ran for two more as the Niners rolled to a 50-14 rout.
Matchup to watch: Cardinals left tackle Leonard Davis
faces right end Andre Carter.
Series: San Francisco leads, 15-10
Next week: Arizona has its bye
San Francisco visits New York Jets, October 17,