SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Bare-chested Joe Staley as well as Mike Iupati jumped along putting on simply their shorts, every questionable lineman executing his finest to will the particular Vikings in order to victory from afar.
The 49ers sporting refreshing red NFC West champion truck caps soon after defeating your Arizona Cardinals 27-13 on Sunday crammed in to the nice limits health of their locker space and evolved into Minnesota's fiercest cross-country cheering section. When Blair Walsh's 29-yard domain purpose sailed in the uprights for any Vikings while period expired to present San Francisco your playoff bye, the particular teeny dressing region with Candlestick Park's southern part erupted right into a crazy, celebratory scene.
"C'mon, baby, bye week!" shouted protecting correct Ricky Jean Francois.
The Vikings without doubt deserved a number of thanks. So would Michael Crabtree.
Crabtree's profession day and also stunning catch-making screen routed San Francisco to a second right scale concept and in to the playoffs together with a few much-needed momentum.
Crabtree grabbed touchdown passes regarding forty nine plus 7 yards and finished using a career-high 172 meters upon actions receptions, leading that 49ers for you to a different rout involving Arizona immediately after a slowly start.
Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-best 276 back yards and two TDs because the Niners (11-4-1) managed their aspect to help deal with their postseason destiny after that waited all of with regards to 15 moments to watch after Minnesota defeat Green Bay and give San Francisco the actual NFC's No. 2 seed starting and also a week out of before web hosting your divisional playoff game.
"It was a great deal more difficult this occassion all over to have it," said protection Donte Whitner, his different do not lik with backward. "We were the actual targeted this year and acquired everybody's most effective shot. To are available out and about and also still gain our scale and also have your possibility to obtain a first-round bye can be tremendous."
Frank Gore ran for your 2-yard report earlier in your fourth quarter to get his franchise-best 51st touchdown rushing, stopping a new tie having guru Roger Craig along with delayed Hall regarding Famer Joe Perry.
With yet again new face below center, the particular Cardinals (5-11) displaced to get your 11th occasion for their previous twelve month period online games within just what exactly may have already been Ken Whisenhunt's final sport when coach. Brian Hoyer journeyed 19 associated with 34 with regard to 225 yards along with a past due TD toss around his / her first NFL get started seeing that Arizona's final quarterback this kind of season.
He could hardly continue with Crabtree and also Kaepernick.
Crabtree's exceptional outing ended up being the best by the 49ers receiver seeing that Terrell Owens' 166-yard performance on Nov. 25, 2002, towards Philadelphia.
"My dude created it happen," Crabtree said, investigating Kaepernick. "I'm really centered on these playoffs."
Crabtree grabbed a 31-yard pass to put together his team-leading eighth TD wedding ceremony party within the next play. The collection placed him over 1,000 yards, giving San Francisco their first 1,000-yard receiver given that T.O. in 2003.
On your next series, Crabtree built some sort of pretty, one-handed seize using his right fretting hand across the remaining sideline about third-and-11 for the 19-yard gain in addition to initial down. He made your 14-yard capture on fourth affordable the later part of within the third, and later on transmuted one more fourth decrease which includes a wedding ceremony party connected with 7 yards.
What some sort of supercharge regarding an injury-depleted getting corps missing Mario Manningham with the remaining portion of the time due to a new knee injury. Plus, tight end Vernon Davis seemed to be limited 1 week following preserving a concussion.
Struggling San Francisco kicker David Akers not so great vast left using a 44-yard arena intention test midway through the next quarter, then would the item again together with close to similar cease from 40 yards this time around twenty four a few moments ahead of halftime. Akers put his hands upon his or her legs as well as closed his eyes in annoyance as boos rained along on the sellout audience at Candlestick Park.
He missed with the fourth time period with their very last eight spanning some online games as well as 13th time around 40 will try following setting an NFL single-season file using 44 industry goals with 52 effort very last year. Akers bounced back by nailing a single from 43 meters early on within the second one half although has been after attached around his or her scolding 12 inches by Arizona's Justin Bethel. Akers remained at around the particular game, next booted a 26- yard field goal having simply just more than being unfaithful a matter of minutes remaining.
Coach Jim Harbaugh couldn't exclude a change.
"We'll consider that," he said. "It's his / her employment to generate the particular kicks."
Hoyer showed poise while in the early on moments. He carried out eight connected with his or her first 13 goes over as well as three instantly with regard to 7, 15 and also 12 back yards in the course of one drive while Arizona took a 3-0 direct on Jay Feely's 35-yard field target overdue while in the first quarter. Feely added your 31-yarder early while in the second to make that 6-0.
The Cardinals outgained your 49ers 129-15 inside opening fraction along with presented San Francisco with out a very first down.
But in which didn't continue long.
The Cardinals ended a six-game stretch without getting a touchdown pass while Hoyer hit Michael Floyd for a delayed 37-yard score. Floyd have nine catches pertaining to 166 yards.
The Cardinals pounded your ball toward the suitable side of San Francisco's shielding line where Pro Bowler Justin Smith were being stout towards the run most of months just before acquiring harmed not one but two 2 or 3 weeks ago. Now, San Francisco includes an excess week for Smith for you to heal.
"Today's adventure variety with shown our season," Whisenhunt said. "I'm very pleased of the approach our own team's worked. You understand this is usually component of the particular business. We never have won sufficient mmorpgs this kind of year."
Former commencing quarterback Alex Smith produced precisely what perhaps have been recently their finalized overall look inside some sort of 49ers uniform when he / she inserted the action using 5:57 to search playing that will chants connected with "Let's Go, Alex!" along with "Alex! Alex!"
Notes: Cardinals Pro Bowl CB Patrick Peterson seemed to be lost to somewhat of a kept hamstring personal injury in the fourth quarter. RG Pat McQuistan ended up being sidelined in the first by using an ankle injury plus decided not to return, though LB Paris Lenon hurt his kept hand in cost-free half. . 49ers LB Aldon Smith gone with not a sack for any 3 rd right game, winding up along with 19 some bashful of Michael Strahan's single-season NFL record arranged inside 2001 for that Giants.
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