The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers square off in the regular season finale. Arizona will play on, as they have clinched a playoff berth. San Francisco's season ends and changes will happen. Jim Harbaugh will be leaving to take the Michigan head coaching job, so the Niners will undergo a coaching change.
But let's look at the matchup between the two teams.
Stats:
Offense:
Points scored per game: Cardinals 19.5 (24th), 49ers 19.1 (26th)
Total yards per game: 49ers 322.9 (23rd), Cardinals 314.6 (28th)
Rushing yards per game: 49ers 131.3 (6th), Cardinals 80.1 (30th)
Passing yards per game: Cardinals 233.9 (16th), 49ers 191.6 (31st)
Touchdowns: 49ers 31 (24th), Cardinals 30 (27th)
Defense:
Points allowed per game: Cardinals 18.6 (4th), 49ers 21.5 (11th)
Total yards per game allowed: 49ers 316.4 (5th), Cardinals 366.4 (24th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 49ers 100.9 (7th), Cardinals 102.2 (8th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 49ers 215.5 (5th), Cardinals 264.2 (30th)
Touchdowns allowed: Cardinals 30 (6th), 49ers 38 (13th)
Turnover ratio: Cardinals +11, 49ers +4
History:
BigRedBilly wrote a much more complete history between the two teams. You must read it.
The Cardinals and 49ers have played 46 times. San Fran leads the all-time series 28-18, 15-8 at home. They first played in 1951 and last played in Week 3 of this season, which the Cardinals won 23-14. Arizona last beat the 49ers on the road in 2008.
Connections:
Arizona has one former 49er -- receiver and returner Ted Ginn. he played for the 49ers from 2010-2012.
San Fran has a trio of former Cardinals. One is receiver Anquan Boldin, one of the best Cardinals to play here. He was a second round pick in 2003 and caught 586 passes and 44 touchdowns for Arizona. He had 27 games with at least 100 yards receiving. It should not go unnoticed that the Cardinals did not make it back to the postseason after he was traded after the 2009 season to the Ravens.
Running back Alfonso Smith played for Arizona from 2011-2013 and was on the practice squad in 2010. He was mostly a special teams player, but started one game and scored two touchdowns in his Arizona career.
Linebacker Desmond Bishop joined the Niners recently. He was with Arizona in the preseason and again from weeks 5-13, but never saw any playing time.
Milestones:
Arizona, with a win, would set a franchise record for wins in a season with 12,
This has been on the milestone list for a few weeks, but if Larry Fitzgerald catches a touchdown pass, it will be the 90th of his career. He would become the 10th player in league history to have at least 12,000 receiving yards and 90 touchdown catches.
With a touchdown reception, Fitz would also have his 13th in his career against the 49ers. It would put him in first place for an opposing player against San Fran. He is currently tied with Andre Rison with 12.
Rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro can tie Jay Feely (2013) and Greg Davis (1995) for second place in team history for field goals made in a season with 30.
On the San Francisco side, if Frank Gore rushes for at least 38 yards, he would reach 1000 yards for the season, the eighth time in his career he would reach the milestone. He would become just the 11th player in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards in a season at least eight times.
With a win, San Francisco would win its eighth straight home finale.