Monday, October 28, 2002
San Francisco took sole possession of first place in the NFC West by holding off the Cardinals, 38-28.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- With a strong second-half rally in San Francisco, the Arizona Cardinals proved their outstanding start to the season isn't a fluke.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens already had shown the advantages of experience and chemistry.
Garcia passed for 252 yards and threw two of his four touchdown passes to Owens, and Ronnie Heard had the first three interceptions of his career, as the 49ers jumped to a big early lead and held off the Cardinals for a 38-28 victory Sunday.
In an unlikely showdown for sole ownership of first place in the NFC West, the 49ers (5-2) scored 24 points before the second quarter was a minute old. They led 31-7 at halftime, and not even a second-half rally by comeback artist Jake Plummer could save the Cardinals' three-game winning streak.
"Jeff stayed in the pocket and delivered the ball, and T.O. made some great catches," said receiver Tai Streets, who had a pretty good 47-yard TD catch of his own. "We've been in big games, and maybe they haven't been in as many. We know you've got to start strong."
Eight receptions
Owens finished with eight catches for 132 yards, finally producing a big game after a slow start to the season. Arizona didn't lock down Owens with the same constant double-teams he has faced this year, and Owens made the Cardinals regret it.
He even signed another one of his catches with a pen from his sock -- but it was during pre-game warm-ups, when he caught a practice pass and pulled the same trick that earned him a warning from the league after he did it during a victory over Seattle two weeks ago. This time, Owens handed the ball to a kid.
The 49ers, missing several injured regulars and struggling on defense, barely hung on against Arizona's roaring second-half rally. Plummer twice got the Cardinals (4-3) within 10 points, and they were driving again when Heard made his third interception with 5:26 remaining to seal it for San Francisco.
Didn't give up
"I should be disappointed, and I am in a certain way -- but these guys in this room were fighting all the way to the last second," Cardinals safety Kwamie Lassiter said. "We just can't spot a team that many points."
Marcel Shipp ran for two TDs for the Cardinals. Kevan Barlow caught a TD pass and ran for another score for the 49ers.
Arizona's final drive ended when Heard -- a backup safety and special teams player -- stepped in front of David Boston at the goal line and returned his interception to the 36. The three picks were the most in five seasons by a San Francisco player.