Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Arizona 28 at San Francisco 38 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Arizona Cardinals: QB Jake Plummer is Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. This game was vintage Plummer. One minute he looks poised and smart, the next minute he's turning the ball over. Plummer had great passing yardage (286), but threw three INTs and no TDs. Had a nice 34 yard rushing TD. WR David Boston appears to be healthy now and was effective finishing with six catches for 83 yards. Frank Sanders drawing attention on the other side definitely helps Boston's game. Welcome to another RB mess. Both Thomas Jones and Marcel Shipp combined for a good running game, but this is a murky situation now. Jones had 15 rushes for 54 yards and a TD. Shipp only had six rushes for 27 yards, but he did get two TDs All three TDs by Arizona RBs were easy. Arizona's offensive line is huge and they run-block with authority. San Francisco 49ers: This is the kind of game that reminds us why Jeff Garcia was picked in the first round. Garcia was precise and smart all day. He finished 18 for 28, and 252 yards. Most importantly, Garcia had four TD passes and no interceptions. RB Kevan Barlow looked like a man among boys. Barlow is a frightening combination of speed, moves, and power. Garrison Hearst left the game and did not return apparently re-injuring his hamstring. Keep an eye on this. Hearst was very effective when he was in rushing 5 times for 35 yards. WR Terrell Owens exploded for eight catches, 132 yards, and two TDs. Owens' best play was a spectacular 61 yard TD catch and run. Owens dominated the Cardinals' pass defense all day. The 49er pass defense was bad. Jake Plummer tore apart the 49ers' DBs. The run defense wasn't any better. The 49ers' defense was supposed to be greatly improved that is not the case so far. This was evident at New Orleans, and is clearly the 49ers greatest weakness. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Arizona Cardinals QB: Jake Plummer earned the moniker "Jake the Snake" awhile back, but a more appropriate nickname might be "Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde." This game was vintage Plummer. One minute he looks poised and smart, the next minute he's turning the ball over. Plummer had excellent passing yardage (286), but threw three INTs and no TDs. Plummer proved he's still dangerous on the ground with a 34 yard TD run. WR: This unit didn't catch a TD, but the WRs kept Arizona in the game. David Boston's always had the physical tools but now seems to be healthy. Boston had two circus catches. One catch was called incomplete, but for the second one, Boston was spun 360 degrees in the air and he still caught the ball. Boston finished with six catches for 83 yards. Frank Sanders was a good weapon. Sanders took the heat off Boston with six catches for 76 yards. MarTay Jenkins also got in on the action with four catches for 46 yards. RB: Welcome to another RB mess. Both Thomas Jones and Marcel Shipp combined for a good running game, but this is a murky situation now. Jones had 15 rushes for 54 yards and a TD. Shipp only had six rushes for 27 yards, but he did get two TDs. All three TDs by Arizona RBs were easy. Arizona's offensive line is huge and they run-block with authority. TE: Freddie Jones had a nice day with five catches for 42 yards. Arizona Pass Defense: Abysmal. Garcia threw for 252 yards and four TD passes. This unit got burned like toast on Sunday. Arizona Rush Defense: The yardage total wasn't awful, but the 49er passing game was so good that running the ball wasn't necessary. If Arizona could have mustered some defense, the game may have turned out differently. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** San Francisco 49ers QB: Jeff Garcia was precise and smart all day. He finished 18 for 28, and 252 yards. Most importantly, Garcia had four TD passes and no interceptions. On his key 61 yard TD pass to Owens, Garcia improvised and scrambled out of trouble to deliver a perfect pass. Garcia didn't run much, but he did run for an important first down late in the game to help the 49ers kill the clock. WR: Terrell Owens exploded for eight catches, 132 yards, and two TDs. Owens' best play was a spectacular 61 yard TD catch and run. On that play, Owens got open and once he caught the past, he easily outran the Arizona defense. Owens dominated the Cardinals' pass defense all day. Though Tai Streets only had two catches for 62 yards, his 47 yard TD catch was a thing of beauty. Just as Streets caught the ball, he lost his balance. But Streets' physical strength and agility allowed him to stay on his feet and score the TD. Streets looked faster than the usual #2 WR JJ Stokes. Streets' performance makes a strong case as to why he should be starting over the average JJ Stokes. RB: If given the chance to carry the RB load, and the 49ers wanted to run more, Barlow could be a top five RB. Barlow looked like a man among boys. Barlow is a frightening combination of speed, moves, and power. Since Hearst was limited because of injury, Barlow was allowed to shine. Barlow delivered with 18 rushes for 51 yards and four catches for 35 yards. Combine those numbers with two TDs (one passing, one rushing), and you have a very good performance. Garrison Hearst looked good in limited action - finishing with five runs for 35 yards and three catches for 16 yards. Garrison Hearst left the game apparently re-injuring his hamstring and did not return. Keep an eye on this one. Before the injury, he was effective with 35 yards on just 5 carries. TE: No catches. This position is not a factor until Eric Johnson returns from injury. San Francisco Pass Defense: Ronnie Heard had a dream game for a DB with three interceptions. However, the 49er pass defense was horrible. The three interceptions did stop drives, but Jake Plummer tore apart the 49ers' DBs. San Francisco Rush Defense: What can you say about a unit that gives up 151 yards on the ground? The 49ers' defense was supposed to be greatly improved that is not the case so far. On the Arizona rushing TDs, the huge offensive line pushed the 49ers around.