The Arizona Cardinals were unable muster any offense and could not stop the San Francisco 49ers, losing 38-7. Brian Westbrook rushed for two touchdowns and Alex Smith threw for a pair of scores, giving interim coach Jim Tomsula a win in his coaching debut. The loss completed a 5-11 season for Arizona and sole possession of last place in the NFC West.
The game also marked the NFL debut for Cardinals quarterback Richard Bartel, who just a few weeks ago was hunting wild pigs. He came in at the end of the third quarter and finished the game. Skelton ended the game 14/25 for 92 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked three times.
The 49ers jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 37-yard pass from Smith to Ted Ginn, and extended it to 10-0 after a Jeff Reed 39-yard field goal. The Cardinals countered with their best drive of the game when Skelton drove Arizona down the field and connected with Larry Fitzgerald for a 10-yard score.
From that point, there was little to be pleased about for the Cardinals. Vernon Davis scored on a 59-yard pass from Alex Smith. Brian Westbrook, who torched the Cards defense for 123 yards in the last meeting, rushed for 79 yards on 13 carries and put the ball in the end zone twice. The exclamation point was a Bartel interception returned 62 yards for a TD.
In a game with a lack of positives, there was one. Larry Fitzgerald was rediscovered by Skelton and Bartel. He finished with 11 receptions for 125 yards and a score. His touchdown brought him within one score of tying Roy Green's team record for receiving touchdowns.
The win was the fourth straight over the Cardinals for the 49ers, who finished the season 6-10.
Arizona will have the fifth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.