49ers at Cardinals
THE STORY: The San Francisco 49ers do not plan to rest on their laurels. Sure, it only took first-year coach Jim Harbaugh 13 weeks to secure the franchise's first division title since 2002, but the 49ers have their eyes on a bigger prize. In order to achieve that, they must fend off the New Orleans Saints, among others, to secure a potential first-round bye in the playoffs. San Francisco will look to strengthen its postseason position when it travels to the desert to face the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. For what it's worth, the 49ers trail the undefeated Green Bay Packers by two games for the top seed in the conference. For its part, Arizona is clinging to its slim postseason aspirations by winning four of its last five contests. The lone loss? A 23-7 setback to the 49ers on Nov. 20.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: 49ers -3.5, O/U 39.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (10-2): RB Frank Gore became the franchise's all-time leading rusher by surpassing the late Hall of Famer Joe Perry during last week's 26-0 triumph over the woeful St. Louis Rams. Gore is now 18 yards shy of recording his fifth 1,000-yard campaign in six seasons. Alex Smith has thrown for 16 touchdowns against three interceptions with a QB rating of 106.4 at home since December of last season. WR Michael Crabtree had seven receptions for 120 yards in the team's last meeting.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (5-7): RB Beanie Wells will look for a better effort against the 49ers, against whom he rushed for a season-low 33 yards a few weeks ago. Wells atoned for that effort by rolling up a career-high 228 yards versus St. Louis before mustering just 67 last week in an overtime win against Dallas. On Sunday, Wells will face the league's top-ranked rush defense, which may be without stud LB Patrick Willis (hamstring). QB Kevin Kolb returned from a four-game absence due to a foot injury last week. After a brutal first half, Kolb completed nine of 14 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown after halftime.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Cardinals have had trouble holding onto the ball this season. They are a minus-8 in the turnover ratio this season, while the 49ers are a plus-18.
2. Arizona stud wideout Larry Fitzgerald was held to three catches for 41 yards and a late TD in the team's previous meeting. He needs 57 yards to reach 1,000 for a franchise-best fifth consecutive year.
3. The 49ers have won five in a row and 24 of 40 overall versus the Cardinals.