Cardinals burn the 49ers 31-14 in Mexico

By Hugo Guzman | Monday, October 03, 2005 | ( 0 )

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The San Francisco 49ers recovered two fumbles for scores in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead, but the Arizona Cardinals scored 31 unanswered points to win the first ever regular season NFL game to be played on foreign soil 31-14. The 49ers simply could not find an answer for the Cardinals passing attack all evening long.

The game proved to be a coming out party of sort for two quarterbacks. Arizona Cardinals QB Josh McCown, playing in place of an injured Kurt Warner, threw for a career high 385 yards and two touchdowns on 32 of 46 passing. San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Alex Smith saw his first significant regular season game action, but threw for only 34 yards on 6 of 10 passing. Starter Tim Rattay was an ineffective 11 of 21 for 126 yards with one interception.

The game was also a showcase for three young emerging receivers. Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald both went over the 100-yard mark. Boldin caught 8 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Fitzgerald caught7 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco's Brandon Lloyd refused to be outshined, coming up with 7 catches of his own for 102 yards.

Neither team could muster much of a running attack. 49ers RB Kevan Barlow collected 45 yards on 10 carries. He could have broken off a big run if given more carries. The same could not be said for Cardinals two main rushing threats. Marcel Shipp tallied only 42 yards on 16 carries. Rookie J.J. Arrington once again struggled, rushing for a mere 13 yards on 7 carries.

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