Cardinals open new stadium with win
2006-09-10

People Larry Fitzgerald Edgerrin James Kurt Warner Event 2006 NFL Clubs Arizona Cardinals San Francisco 49ers

After 19 seasons in Arizona, the Cardinals finally have their own home -- and maybe even a home-field advantage. Kurt Warner completed 23 of 37 passes for 301 yards and three scores, the Cardinals turned two first-quarter San Francisco turnovers into touchdowns, and Arizona held on to beat the 49ers 34-27 on Sunday.

Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 63,407 in their $455 million, air conditioned new stadium, the Cardinals opened a season at home for the first time since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988.

They jumped to a 21-7 lead, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter for the first time in 31 years -- then withstood a last-minute San Francisco rally for their first season-opening victory since 1999 and only the third since '88.

Larry Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 133 yards, including a crucial 28-yard reception on third-and-10 from the Arizona 37 late in the game. The play came on a 13-play, 68-yard drive that lasted seven minutes and ended with Neil Rackers' 30-yard field goal that put the Cardinals ahead 34-24 with 1:50 remaining.

Joe Nedney, who missed a 34-yarder earlier, kicked a 44-yard field goal with 36 seconds left to cut the lead to 34-27. Marcus Hudson recovered the onside kick for San Francisco at the 49ers 39. Alex Smith threw 25 yards to Antonio Bryant to the Cardinals 36, but two passes into the end zone fell incomplete as the game ended.

Edgerrin James had a rugged debut for the Cardinals behind Arizona's suspect line, gaining 73 yards in 26 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

Frank Gore carried 16 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns, but fumbled to set up an Arizona touchdown. Smith completed 23 of 40 passes for 288 yards and one score.

The game was tied at 7 when Gore fumbled, then Arizona's Gerald Hayes scooped up the ball and rambled 19 yards to the San Francisco 5. It took three tries, but James scored from the 1 for his first Cardinals touchdown.

After the ensuing kickoff, Davis fumbled and Darnell Dockett recovered at the 49ers 41. Warner's 28-yard pass to Fitzgerald set up a 6-yard touchdown toss to Anquan Boldin and it was 21-7 with 59 seconds left in the first quarter -- exciting a crowd that, for once, was fully supportive of the Cardinals.

A pair of unnecessary roughness penalties against Arizona aided a San Francisco scoring drive. Gore's 4-yard touchdown run sliced the lead to 21-14. Rackers' 36-yard field goal put Arizona up 24-14 at the half.

Walt Harris sacked Warner, then recovered the Arizona quarterback's fumble at the Cardinals 7 in the third quarter, setting up Gore's 2-yard run to cut Arizona's lead to 24-21 with 7:41 left in the third quarter.

But the Cardinals responded with a 10-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that featured a pair of 19-yard passes to Boldin. Warner threw over the middle 7 yards to Adam Bergen for the score.

The visitors scored the first regular-season points in the new building. Gore's 32-yard run ignited a seven-play, 79-yard drive on the game's opening possession. Smith threw to wide-open rookie tight end Vernon Davis on a misdirection play that went 31 yards for a touchdown.