It was over when ...
Cardinals defensive back Eric Green failed to pick up a 49ers fumble in the end zone, allowing San Francisco to recover the ball and take over at the 1-yard line. On the very next play, Arnaz Battle rushed around the left end and scored the game-winning touchdown.
 |
| Getty Images |
| Alex Smith struggled in the passing game, but made a key 25-yard rush on a late fourth-and 1 to help San Francisco to the win. |
Game balls
In his first regular-season game, 49ers rookie linebacker Patrick Willis was sensational. He made 11 tackles, several of them being high-impact, and forced a fumble. On Arizona's side, running back Edgerrin James was impressive, gaining 92 yards on the ground and scoring a touchdown.
Key stat
The two teams combined for 176 yards passing and only a 49 percent completion percentage as both quarterbacks -- the Cardinals' Matt Leinart and the 49ers' Alex Smith -- struggled with their accuracy.
Noteworthy
New Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt's loss dropped rookie head coaches to 1-4 in Week 1. San Francisco coach Mike Nolan got his first win over the Cardinals after being swept by them in his first two years.
