Goal-line stand lifts Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Kurt Warner’s ageless arm and an improbable goal-line stand at the finish saved the Arizona 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 San Francisco 49ers.

Warner finished 32 of 42 for 328 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in Arizona’s sixth consecutive home victory, fourth this season.

The NFC West-leading Cardinals (6-3) never led until Karlos Dansby’s 34-yard interception return set up Warner’s 5-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin with 4:16 to play.

San Francisco (2-7) had two chances after that. The first ended on Adrian Wilson’s diving interception of Shaun Hill’s pass. The second was much more exasperating for the 49ers, who lost their sixth in a row.

The Cardinals won on Monday night for the first time since they moved to the desert 20 years ago and opened a four-game lead in the NFC West. The other three teams in the division – San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis – are all 2-7.