GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner’s ageless arm and an improbable goal-line stand at the finish saved the Cardinals from an ugly loss on a national stage.
The Cardinals stopped Michael Robinson up the middle from the 2-yard line as the game ended Monday night to preserve a 29-24 victory over the 49ers.
Warner finished 32-of-42 for 328 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in Arizona’s sixth consecutive home victory and fourth this season.
The Cardinals never led until Karlos Dansby’s 34-yard interception return set up Warner’s 4-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin with 4:16 to play.
San Francisco had two chances after that.
The first ended on Adrian Wilson’s diving interception of Shaun Hill’s pass. The second was much more nerve-racking for the home team and exasperating for the 49ers.
Hill’s 14-yard pass to Jason Hill moved it to the Arizona 1.
With the last few seconds ticking off, 49ers running back Frank Gore was pushed by a defensive player as he ran around left end, then stumbled to the ground just outside the 2.
After officials reviewed the play to make sure Gore was down by contact, the 49ers handed off to the fullback Robinson, who was stuffed nowhere near the goal line.
Allen Rossum returned the opening kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown and the 49ers never trailed until Arizona’s late score.
“It would have been nice to have a blowout but, hey, those games are sweet when you win,” Warner said. “Man, it’s fun. It’s fun to pull these out.”
