Cardinals knock off 49ers, 26-20

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals extinguished the San Francisco 49ers' flickering playoff hopes with one last commanding drive.
Matt Leinart passed for 162 yards before spraining his left shoulder before halftime, and Warner finished up with 105 yards passing in the Cardinals' fourth victory in six games, 26-20 Sunday to eliminate San Francisco from postseason contention.
Edgerrin James had 105 yards to become Arizona's first 1,000-yard rusher in eight years, and Marcel Shipp ran for a score as the Cardinals (5-10) jumped to an early 20-3 lead, then held on for their fourth straight win over the 49ers (6-9). Improbably, Arizona is a division-best 4-2 against NFC West opponents during its eighth consecutive losing season.
Leinart was injured when Roderick Green sacked him shortly before halftime, and the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner watched the second half in street clothes. The rookie quarterback was replaced by Warner -- and the two-time MVP struggled before coolly directing Arizona's final clock-killing drive, finishing a five-minute march with three straight kneeldowns.
Alex Smith passed for 190 yards, and Frank Gore's second touchdown run with 5:00 to play cut Arizona's lead to six points. But the 49ers couldn't get the ball back after two earlier fourth-quarter drives ended in turnovers.
Gore rushed for just 51 yards, failing to surpass Garrison Hearst's single-season rushing record in a roundly disappointing afternoon for the 49ers, who still entertained hopes of winning the division.
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