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1B Sports Weekend Dec. 28-29, 2013 49ers seek division title, Cards eye playoffs GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals talk about how much is at stake when they meet in their regular-season finale on Sunday. The correct answer might be hardly anything at all. The 49ers must win to have a shot at the division title and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the NFC; the Cardinals need a victory just to have any playoff chance. Both teams are at the mercy of others. San Francisco, which has clinched at least a wildcard spot, wins the NFC West if the 49ers beat Arizona and Seattle loses at home to St. Louis. The 49ers get the NFC's top seed with a victory over the Cardinals, a Seahawks loss and a loss by Carolina. Arizona's narrow path to the postseason is a victory over San Francisco and a Tampa Bay upset of the Saints in New Orleans. A win by the Cardinals (10-5) over the 49ers (11-4) would leave the teams with identical records, but San Francisco has the tie-breaker. That would leave Arizona only the second team to go 11-5 and not make the playoffs since the league went to its division format in 2002. Neither side plans any scoreboard watching, though. ''I'm sure it's going to be plastered all over the stadium,'' Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer said. ''It's probably not going to be easy to avoid, but we have to focus on the team that's across from us.'' Here are five things to watch when the teams meet Sunday: BAD HISTORY: In the Cardinals don't make it to the playoffs, they can look back at near-misses at St. Louis, at Philadelphia, and at San Francisco. In that Oct. 17 game in Candlestick Park, Arizona trailed 22-20 early in the fourth quarter and had the ball at the San Francisco 31. Palmer threw over the middle to Larry Fitzgerald, but Patrick Willis stripped the ball and the 49ers recovered at their 11-yard line. San Francisco used up 9:32 in an 18-play, 89-yard drive for the clinching score. Arizona lost the following week at home to Seattle, then went 7-1. CARDINAL CONFIDENCE: Arizona has gained a lot of belief in itself since the last time it met San Francisco. Winning seven of eight, and snapping Seattle's 14-game home winning streak, has the Cardinals talking about being the best team in the NFC. ''I sure do,'' Arizona coach Bruce Arians said. ''Hopefully, we'll show up Sunday and prove it and get a chance to prove it in the playoffs.'' A win by the Cardinals would mean the team finished the season 3-0 against NFC West competition after starting the season 0-3. Arizona is 7-1 at home. ''They're another team,'' San Francisco tight end Mercy boys basketball team drops game against Quincy DN Staff Report Mercy High School's boys basketball team fell in a game against Quincy on Thursday at Liberty Christian's 29th annual tournament. In the 63-50 loss, the Warriors' Teddy Ranberg led his team in scoring with 15 points. He was 3of-6 shooting from behind the 3-point line. Reid Gardner followed with 14 points of his own, and Adil Syed finished with seven on the day. Los Molinos defeated Fremont Christian, 51-35. On the girls side, Mercy downed Liberty Christian, 58-28, and Hamilton beat Los Molinos 56-35. The tournament continues through today, Saturday. Tehama Tracker Saturday's schedule BOYS BASKETBALL Los Molinos vs. TBD 29th Annual Liberty Classic Mercy vs. TBD 29th Annual Liberty Classic GIRLS BASKETBALL Los Molinos vs. TBD 29th Annual Liberty Classic Mercy vs. TBD 29th Annual Liberty Classic NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL at Bronx Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 9 a.m. BELK BOWL at Charlotte Cincinnati vs. North Carolina, 12:20 p.m. RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL at Orlando Miami vs. Louisville, 3:45 p.m. BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL at Tempe Michigan vs. Kansas State, 7:15 p.m. Sunday's schedule NBA Golden State at Cleveland, 3 p.m. Sacramento at San Antonio, 4 p.m. NHL Anaheim at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Sports on TV Saturday COLLEGE FOOTBALL 9 a.m. ESPN — Pinstripe Bowl, Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, at Bronx, N.Y. 12:20 p.m. ESPN — Belk Bowl, Cincinnati vs. North Carolina, at Charlotte, N.C. 3:45 p.m. ESPN — Russell Athletic Bowl, Miami vs. Louisville, at Orlando, Fla. 7:15 p.m. ESPN — Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Michigan vs. Kansas St., at Tempe, Ariz. MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 9 a.m. ESPN2 — Nebraska at Cincinnati FS1 — FIU at Georgetown 11 a.m. CBS — National coverage, Villanova at Syracuse ESPN2 — E. Michigan at Duke FSN — Samford at Marquette 11:30 a.m. FS1 — St. John's vs. Columbia, at Brooklyn, N.Y. 1 p.m. CBS — National coverage, Louisville at Kentucky 2 p.m. FS1 — Wake Forest at Xavier 3:30 p.m. NBCSN — Old Dominion at Richmond 5 p.m. ESPN2 — Missouri at NC State 7 p.m. ESPN2 — Alabama at UCLA SOCCER 4:40 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, West Bromwich at West Ham 6:55 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, Manchester United at Norwich 9:30 a.m. NBC — Premier League, Sunderland at Cardiff City WINTER SPORTS Noon NBC — Olympic trials, speed skating, at Kearns, Utah 1 p.m. NBCSN — Olympic trials, women's hockey, United States vs. Canada, at St. Paul, Minn. Sunday MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m. FSN — Texas Southern at TCU 2 p.m. FS1 — Chicago St. at Creighton 4 p.m. FS1 — Georgia Tech at Charlotte NFL FOOTBALL 10 a.m. CBS — Regional coverage, doubleheader FOX — Regional coverage, doubleheader 1:25 p.m. CBS — Regional coverage, doubleheader game FOX — Regional coverage, doubleheader game 5 p.m. NBC — Philadelphia at Dallas SOCCER 5:25 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, Arsenal at Newcastle 7:55 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, Liverpool at Chelsea WINTER SPORTS 10:30 a.m. NBC — Olympic trials, ski jumping and Nordic combined, at Park City, Utah Noon NBC — Olympic trials, speed skating, at Kearns, Utah WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Noon FS1 — Boston College at Providence 2 p.m. ESPN — Cincinnati at UConn Monday COLLEGE FOOTBALL 8:45 a.m. ESPN — Armed Forces Bowl, Middle Tenn. vs. Navy, at Fort Worth, Texas 12:15 p.m. ESPN — Music City Bowl, Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech, at Nashville, Tenn. 3:45 p.m. ESPN — Alamo Bowl, Oregon vs. Texas, at San Antonio 7:15 p.m. ESPN — Holiday Bowl, Arizona St. vs. Texas Tech, at San Diego MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. ESPN2 — Virginia at Tennessee 5 p.m. FSN — Louisiana Tech at Oklahoma NHL HOCKEY 5 p.m. NBCSN — Los Angeles at Chicago AP photo San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman, center, dives into the end zone after returning an interception 89-yards for a touchdown during a game against the Atlanta Falcons in San Francisco on Monday. Vernon Davis said of these Cardinals compared with the team the 49ers beat earlier. ''They're poised. They're playing great. They're playing fast. They're making plays. These guys, if you look at them on film, they want to win.'' STOPPING GORE: Arizona is ranked first in the NFL against the run, but that doesn't mean the Cardinals always have been successful. In that clinching drive against Arizona two months ago, Gore was the main force. He finished with 101 yards on 25 carries. No one else has topped 100 yards rushing against the Cardinals this season. ''That was a heck of a drive and, boy, that was a long time ago, though,'' San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. CORRALING DAVIS: Arizona has had trouble stopping the tight end, no one more than Davis in that first meeting. He had eight catches for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns. ''Sometimes it happens like that,'' WR Michael Crabtree said. ''I wouldn't really say they have problems with tight ends. It's just probably the wrong timing, because they are good. Maybe they needed to change some things up'' 49ERS FULLBACK TAG-TEAM: In their first game without do-everything fullback Bruce Miller — lost for the season to a shoulder blade injury suffered at Tampa Bay on Dec. 15 — the 49ers got solid contributions from both players they worked in to fill the void: Anthony Dixon and Will Tukuafu. ''They both did very well,'' coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''Now we can build, add to what each does going forward.'' Tukuafu was re-signed by San Francisco last week. He entered the league as a defensive tackle in 2010, but began getting snaps at fullback in 2012. ''I thought he came in, he had fresh legs, fresh mind,'' Harbaugh said. ''Was really good with his assignments.'' Raiders slide as Broncos rise OAKLAND (AP) — Two years after finishing tied atop the AFC West with eight wins apiece, the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders couldn't be farther apart. The Broncos (12-3) head into Sunday's season finale at Oakland (4-11) needing a win to clinch the top seed and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs for the second straight year. The Raiders are stumbling to the finish of another disappointing season. The reason for the change in fortunes for the two franchises is simple. The Broncos brought in Peyton Manning as quarterback last season and he has responded in record-setting fashion. Manning broke Tom Brady's single-season touchdown pass record last week by throwing his 51st and needs 266 yards passing this week to break Drew Brees' single-season mark. "It's only a special thing when it comes at the same time as winning games," Manning said. "If we were 3-12 at this point, it would not have been a unique or special accomplishment for the team because it didn't help you win games." The Raiders are still searching for answers at quarterback. Terrelle Pryor showed promise early this season before falling into a rut that, along with a knee injury, gave undrafted rookie Matt McGloin a chance to start. McGloin made a stellar debut with three touchdown passes and no interceptions in a win at Houston, but lost his last five starts, giving Pryor another chance to start in the season finale as the Raiders seek any kind of spark. "He adds those explosive plays," receiver Rod Streater said. "Having him AP photo Raiders coach Dennis Allen is in the hot seat. back there, you never know the season," Manning said. what to expect and you "I think the NFL making always expect the big play." that change to these division Here are five things to games the last week is watch when the Broncos going to provide some visit the Raiders: exciting football this weekH O M E - F I E L D end and we're a part of that." ADVANTAGE: The BronJOB STATUS: The cos have already wrapped final game of the season up a first-round bye in the also could be the final game playoffs, but they can clinch in Oakland for coach Denhome-field advantage with nis Allen. Owner Mark either a win or a tie or a Davis has said he will wait New England loss or tie. until the end of the season to Home field hasn't always make any decision about the been kind to Manning in the coaching staff. Allen has an postseason: Manning's five 8-23 record in his first two home losses are the most of seasons as the Raiders have any starting quarterback in been hampered by bad conNFL history. He lost his tracts and bad drafts in the only home playoff start with final years of late owner Al the Broncos last season in a Davis' tenure. No Raiders 38-35 overtime defeat to coach has even been Baltimore. brought back after two "It's a crazy last week of straight losing seasons. "I really don't want to get into all the speculation," Allen said. "There will be a time and place for that and I don't think right now this is the time or the place." MISSING MILLER: The Broncos once again will have to make do without star pass rusher Von Miller, who had a seasonending right knee injury last week. Denver started the season 6-0 while Miller was suspended. While it should be able to get by this week without him, Miller's absence could be crucial come playoff time. Miller has 35 sacks in 40 career games. "You can't replace what he can do on the field, but we just have to continue to play as a unit and try to limit our mistakes mentally and make teams beat us physically," cornerback Chris Harris said. STREATER'S GOAL: Streater's quest to become the first Raiders player with a 1,000-yard receiving season since Randy Moss had a hiccup last week when he was held to one catch for 2 yards. An apparent 39-yard touchdown was waved off when he did not complete the process of the catch all the way to the ground. Streater needs 152 yards this week to reach the milestone just two years after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. RACE FOR RECORDS: Denver needs 18 points to break New England's single-season mark of 589 set in 2007, and 28 to become the first team to reach 600 in a season. Since Manning arrived last season, the Broncos have scored at least 18 points in all but one regular-season game. If the Raiders allow 40 points, they will break the 1961 team record for most points allowed in a season with 459.