Ladies and gentlemen, we give you a nominee for the 2008 ‘game of the year.’ The 49ers and Cardinals ended up giving most viewers way more than they bargained for. It wasn’t even because the game came down to the wire with one final play, but mainly because the game was close at all.

The Niners came in as nine point ‘dogs in the desert, but in the end barely lost to Arizona 29-24. Although the entertainment value was high, the game lacked discipline from both sides as the teams racked up a combined 20 penalties for 164 total yards.

The Cardinals’ narrow escape puts a four-game vice grip on the scrawny NFC West division, and with seven games to play it seems as if Arizona should already plan their home playoff game in January.

Let’s see if we can make it count this time, and pound it in with always your best goal-line option…..

The U’s Primetime Players:

Quarterbacks:

Kurt Warner
Anyone need another reason for him not to be the unanimous MVP this season? Sure, it’s the 49ers defense he’s playing against, but not even Warner could have seen his night going this well. His brilliant night ended with 32-of-42 passing, 328 yards and three touchdowns. Some may even rival his intensity and skill right now with that of his old Rams squads back in the day. No turnovers, no mistakes, and no reason to doubt former two-time MVP. With Warner passing like this, do we really care who’s in the Arizona backfield running the ball? MNF Grade: A +

Shaun Hill
Believe it or not, this game was Hill’s first loss as a starter in three career games. The first and second halves were virtually opposites in the touchdown-interception ratio, yet almost identical in completion percentage. Hill was inconsistent all night despite throwing two huge touchdowns early. He finished his night just below 50 percent passing, yet in reality threw five interceptions (three were negated by Cardinals penalties). There are only so many chances a young quarterback is going to get in a game like this; Hill pushed it too far and couldn’t pull out the victory. MNF Grade: C

Running backs:

Frank Gore
Is there anyone in the NFL more consistent than Gore? Once again, the “Inconvenient Truth” was over 4.0 yards per carry, and was just one yard shy of reaching 100 in the game. For some reason, the Niners abandoned the run despite staying close for the entire game. We have to question just what Mike Martz is thinking sometimes in calling plays that don’t involve the tailback. He almost scored on the second to last play of the game but tripped over his own feet on the way to the endzone. This was only the third game in 2008 in which Gore did not record a rushing or receiving touchdown. Shame on San Francisco for not giving the man 30+ carries. MNF Grade: B +

Tim Hightower
The hyped home debut of Hightower proved to be all smoke and mirrors. Although the Cardinals definitely were not going to run the ball much with Warner at the helm, the starter still struggled to get anything at all against a suspect Niners defense. Hightower ripped off one good 12-yard run, yet otherwise managed only 10 yards on his other 12 carries. Usually the savior of the team’s red zone offense, Hightower barely got any touches in Arizona’s pass-happy game plan. MNF Grade: D +

Wide receivers:

Every player in a Cardinals jersey
Anquan Boldin had two touchdowns. Larry Fitzgerald added another score. Yet neither of these guys led the team in receiving on Monday night. How could this be? Warner only hit four receivers during the game, but every receiver’s numbers turned out to be huge. Steve Breaston hauled in seven passes, all in the first half, to finish with 121 yards on the night. Although he didn’t score, Breaston did set up touchdowns to Boldin and Fitzgerald. Boldin had seven catches for 92 yards and Fitzgerald posted eight catches for 49 yards. Even Jerheme Urban got in on the action: four catches for 38 yards. It was a good night to be an Arizona Cardinals receiver. MNF Grade: A +

The Niners youngsters
Surprisingly it wasn’t the ageless Isaac Bruce that starred as a 49ers wide out on Monday night. WRs Jason Hill and Josh Morgan both had solid games in establishing their roles as the future of the team. Hill connected with the QB Hill seven times for 84 yards, including two key plays on the 49ers final drive. Morgan juggled the ball but managed to snag in a 31-yard TD pass early in the second quarter as part of his four catches for 54 yards. Both players should find more prominent roles in the offense as the team rebuilds toward 2009. MNF Grade: B +

Tight Ends:

Vernon Davis
It was only fitting that Davis caught a touchdown pass to redeem himself in front of his head coach, who only weeks before sent him to the locker room during the game. The 18-yard steal out of a Cardinals defender’s hands was Davis’s only catch, but it didn’t have to be. The tight end missed a wide open pass in the end zone on a drive in which the Niners had to settle for three points. Even the MNF commentators were quick to question whether Davis should have dove to make the catch. Something tells us that if he lays out for the ball, the 49ers might be 3-6 instead of 2-7. MNF Grade: B -

Leonard Pope
Any sign of life at the tight end position in Arizona? Neither one completion nor even a look from Kurt Warner was warranted Monday night. Pope’s season numbers have been entirely disappointing (five catches for 36 yards) and he has not given the Cardinals another weapon to complement the incredibly dangerous passing game. MNF Grade: N/A

Defense/Special Teams:

Arizona
How bad could it get for the Cards defense? The group did force three turnovers, but it could’ve had three more if not for stupid penalties. The unit was undisciplined, allowing Gore to gash the team for almost another 100-yard rushing game. The defense was not supposed to give up 336 yards to the 49ers offense, and surely not supposed to allow the opening kickoff to be returned for six. There were kudos to be given out though; Arizona stuffed San Francisco on the game’s final play to preserve the win. MNF Grade: C +

San Francisco
It must have been a nightmare being on the field as a member of the 49ers defense. Although we mentioned the running game was completely shut down, the team had no answer for Kurt Warner and his cast of devastating receivers. Warner alone put up 328 of Arizona’s 374 total yards, and the secondary was powerless to prevent three touchdown passes. It doesn’t get much worse for this unit, even after KR Allen Rossum started the evening with a bang on one of the longest kickoff returns on Monday Night Football. MNF Grade: C -

Kickers:

Neil Rackers
Rackers hit three field goals (28, 33, 23) and two extra points in the Cardinals victory. He has not missed a kick since September, and should continue to help Arizona with steady performances like these. MNF Grade: A

Joe Nedney
The always reliable Nedney hit on his three extra points and his only field goal from 41 yards out. Oddly enough, the only two field goals he’s missed this season came in the only two games San Francisco has won. MNF Grade: B -

Join us next Monday night from the blistery northeast as Brady Quinn’s new-look Cleveland Browns (3-5) visit the Buffalo Bills (5-4).