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49ers–Cardinals rivalry
Still shot of a 2009 game between the two teams
San Francisco 49ers
Arizona Cardinals
Location Phoenix, San Francisco
First meeting November 18, 1951
Cardinals 27, 49ers 21
Latest meetingDecember 17, 2023
49ers 45, Cardinals 29
Next meeting2024
Stadiums49ers: Levi's Stadium
Cardinals: State Farm Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total65
All-time series49ers: 36-29
Largest victory49ers: 50-14 (2003)
Cardinals: 47-7 (2015)
Longest win streak49ers: 5 (1980-1987), (1993-2002) (2009-2011)
Cardinals: 8 (2015-2018)
Current win streak49ers: 4 (2022–present)
Championship success
NFL championships (7)

NFC championships (8)

NFC West Divisional titles (29)

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Cardinals
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Locations of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals

The 49ers–Cardinals rivalry is a professional American football rivalry in the National Football League (NFL) between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. The two teams met each other occasionally from 1951 to 2000. As part of the league's 2002 realignment, the Cardinals moved from the NFC East to the NFC West Division, of which the 49ers had been a part of since its inception as the Coastal Division in 1967. Since 2002, the teams have competed against each other as division rivals. The rivalry is a closely contested series, particularly after the 2002 realignment. [1] Through the 2023 season, the 49ers lead the series 36–29. [2]

History

The 49ers and Cardinals first met on November 18, 1951 at the former's home field, Kezar Stadium. Behind the performance of Charley Trippi, the then- Chicago Cardinals won the game 27–21. [3] The Cardinals would lead the series prior to the arrival of Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice to the 49ers. [3]

Following the 1987 season, the Cardinals relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. In the 49ers' first trip to Phoenix, they blundered a 23–0 lead. The Cardinals came back and won 24–23, scoring a touchdown in the final seconds of the game. [4] [5]

During a 1999 game between the two teams, Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams delivered a sack on 49ers quarterback Steve Young. Young was concussed on the play, with his injury ultimately being a career-ending one. [4]

Anquan Boldin had multiple 1,000 receiving yard seasons with both the 49ers and Cardinals

The two teams became division rivals when the Cardinals moved to the NFC West, as part of the NFL's 2002 realignment. In 2004, the 49ers finished with a dismal 2–14 record; both of their 2 wins, however, came against the Cardinals. [4] The following season, the two teams played the first NFL regular season game held outside of the United States. [6] Dubbed Fútbol Americano, the game was played at Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City; the Cardinals won 31–14. [7] [8]

To kick off their 2006 season, the Cardinals hosted the 49ers at the newly opened University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won the game 34–27. [5]

During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the 49ers and Cardinals were common Monday Night Football (MNF) opponents, having played each other five times in six years (from 2007 to 2012). [9] In the 2007 matchup, quarterback Alex Smith led the 49ers to a comeback victory over the Cardinals to kick off the season. [10] Also during this period, Cardinals and 49ers players were noted as often sharing hateful sentiments about the opposing side. [11] [12] 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett were also noted exchanging barbs on Twitter. [13] The results between the two teams were lopsided during this period, with the Cardinals winning one of ten matchups from 2009 to 2013. Then-Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians likened the rivalry to the Browns–Steelers rivalry. [14] However, shifting into the mid-2010s, the Cardinals dominated the 49ers, winning eight straight games in the rivalry from 2015 to 2018. [15] [16]

The two teams once again met in Mexico for another Monday Night Football matchup in 2022. [17] 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 4 touchdowns in the game, leading his team to a 38–10 victory. [18]

Results

San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals season-by-season results
1950s (Cardinals, 2–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1951 Cardinals
27–21 		Kezar Stadium
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
1–0 		Cardinals located in Chicago from 1922–1943 and 1945–1959.
1957 Cardinals
20–10 		Kezar Stadium
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
2–0
1960s (49ers, 2–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1962 49ers
24–17 		Busch Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Cardinals
2–1 		Cardinals relocated from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960. Teams never faced each other in Chicago.
1964 Cardinals
23–13 		Kezar Stadium
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
3–1
1968 49ers
35–17 		Kezar Stadium
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
3–2
1970s (Cardinals, 4–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1971 49ers
26–14 		Busch Memorial Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Tied
3–3
1974 Cardinals
34–9 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
4–3
1976 Cardinals
23–20 (OT) 		Busch Memorial Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Cardinals
5–3
1978 Cardinals
16–10 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
6–3
1979 Cardinals
13–10 		Busch Memorial Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Cardinals
7–3
1980s (49ers, 5–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1980 49ers
24–21 (OT) 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		Cardinals
7–4
1982 49ers
31–20 		Busch Memorial Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Cardinals
7–5
1983 49ers
42–27 		Busch Memorial Stadium
(St. Louis) 		Cardinals
7–6
1986 49ers
43–17 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		Tied
7–7
1987 49ers
34–28 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		49ers
8–7
1988 Cardinals
24–23 		Sun Devil Stadium
(Tempe) 		Tied
8–8 		Cardinals relocated to Tempe, Arizona; a suburb of Phoenix. Cardinals overcome 23–0 deficit. 49ers win Super Bowl XXIII.
1990s (49ers, 3–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1991 49ers
14–10 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		49ers
9–8
1992 Cardinals
24–14 		Sun Devil Stadium
(Tempe) 		Tied
9–9
1993 49ers
28–14 		Candlestick Park
(San Francisco) 		49ers
10–9
1999 49ers
24–10 		Sun Devil Stadium
(Tempe) 		49ers
11–9 		Steve Young's final game.
2000s (49ers, 10–7)
Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Overall series Notes
2000 49ers 1–0 49ers
27–20 		49ers
12–9
2002 49ers 2–0 49ers
17–14 		49ers
38–28 		49ers
14–9 		Cardinals move to the NFC West as a result of NFL realignment.
2003 Tie 1–1 Cardinals
16–13 (OT) 		49ers
50–14 		49ers
15–10
2004 49ers 2–0 49ers
31–28 (OT) 		49ers
31–28 (OT) 		49ers
17–10 		49ers' lone regular season wins in 2004.
2005 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
31–14 		Cardinals
17–10 		49ers
17–12 		Cardinals home game was first regular season game played outside the United States, in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca on Monday Night Football, marketed as Fútbol Americano.
2006 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
34–27 		Cardinals
26–20 		49ers
17–14 		Cardinals open University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2007 49ers 2–0 49ers
37–31 (OT) 		49ers
20–17 		49ers
19–14
2008 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
29–24 		Cardinals
23–13 		49ers
19–16 		Cardinals sweep division. Cardinals lose Super Bowl XLIII.
2009 49ers 2–0 49ers
20–16 		49ers
24–9 		49ers
21–16
2010s (Tie, 10–10)
Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Overall series Notes
2010 49ers 2–0 49ers
27–6 		49ers
38–7 		49ers
23–16
2011 Tie 1–1 Cardinals
21–19 		49ers
23–7 		49ers
24–17
2012 49ers 2–0 49ers
24–3 		49ers
27–13 		49ers
26–17 		49ers clinch NFC West division title with win at home. 49ers lose Super Bowl XLVII.
2013 49ers 2–0 49ers
23–20 		49ers
32–20 		49ers
28–17
2014 Tie 1–1 Cardinals
23–14 		49ers
20–17 		49ers
29–18 		49ers open Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
2015 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
47–7 		Cardinals
19–13 		49ers
29–20
2016 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
23–20 		Cardinals
33–21 		49ers
29–22
2017 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
18–15 (OT) 		Cardinals
20–10 		49ers
29–24
2018 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
18–15 		Cardinals
28–18 		49ers
29–26 		Cardinals win 8 straight meetings (2015–18).
2019 49ers 2–0 49ers
28–25 		49ers
36–26 		49ers
31–26 		49ers lose Super Bowl LIV.
2020s (49ers, 5–3)
Season Season series at Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Overall series Notes
2020 Tie 1–1 49ers
20–12 		Cardinals
24–20 		49ers
32–27 		No fans attended either game due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Cardinals 2–0 Cardinals
17–10 		Cardinals
31–17 		49ers
32–29
2022 49ers 2–0 49ers
38–10 		49ers
38–13 		49ers
34–29 		Cardinals home game played in Mexico City, at Estadio Azteca on Monday Night Football.
2023 49ers 2–0 49ers
45–29 		49ers
35–16 		49ers
36–29 		49ers clinch NFC West division title with win in Glendale.
Summary of results
Season Season series at CHI/STL/Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Notes
Regular season 49ers 36–29 49ers 16–15 49ers 20–14 The 49ers won the series in St. Louis 4–2. Teams are tied 1–1 in Mexico City, officially Cardinals home games.

See also

References

  1. ^ Cox, Seth (November 21, 2022). "Cardinals vs. 49ers rivalry has been fairly equal since NFC West realignment, except for one aspect". SB Nation. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Cardinals vs. 49ers: History between the two franchises goes back a ways to the bay". SB Nation. December 25, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Nordmeier, Andrew (July 12, 2013). "An Arizona Cardinals Fan Guide to Hating the San Francisco 49ers". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Harner, Andrew (June 26, 2022) [July 17, 2020]. "10 Greatest Wins in Arizona Cardinals History". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "15 Lesser-known Facts about 49ers-Cardinals Rivalry". 49ers.com. San Francisco 49ers. December 22, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "History to be made in Mexico City". NFL.com. National Football League. September 28, 2005. Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
  8. ^ Weber, Brendan (November 21, 2022) [November 14, 2022]. "What to Know: 49ers vs. Cardinals in Mexico City". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals share intense rivalry". East Bay Times. August 15, 2016 [October 28, 2012]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Gay, Nancy (September 12, 2007). "49ers, Cardinals turn competition to rivalry". SFGATE ( San Francisco Chronicle). Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Beanie Wells hates the 49ers". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. August 20, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Branch, Eric (October 29, 2012) [October 28, 2012]. "49ers visit Arizona on Monday". SFGATE ( San Francisco Chronicle). Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (May 19, 2010). "Vernon Davis, Darnell Dockett do battle on Twitter". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  14. ^ McCauley, Janie (September 12, 2015). "Cardinals have lost 9 of 10 to 49ers; now they have a distraction to deal with, too". Fox News. Associated Press. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Root, Jess (October 5, 2018). "Cardinals have dominated 49ers in recent history". Cards Wire. USA Today. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Dubow, Josh (October 30, 2019). "49ers look to end 8-game skid vs. NFC West rival Cardinals". Associated Press. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  17. ^ Rodriguez, Tristi (November 16, 2022). "Fiel a la Bahía: 49ers takeover appears likely in Mexico City". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  18. ^ Maiocco, Matt (November 21, 2022). "What we learned as 49ers crush Cardinals, move up in NFC". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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