Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly chases 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the Cardinals' 20-17 loss Sunday.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – This was the second strike, and the Cardinals know one more could mean they're out.
For the second straight game, a mobile quarterback wreaked havoc on the defense. Last week it was Seattle's Russell Wilson who caused trouble with his arms and legs. On Sunday afternoon, it was Colin Kaepernick.
The 49ers' signal-caller was 15-of-26 for 204 yards passing with a pair of touchdowns and added seven carries for 63 yards in the 49ers' 20-17 victory. The Cardinals will face the Panthers and running quarterback Cam Newton in the wild card round next weekend, realizing if they don't keep him contained, it could end their season.
"It's going to be three weeks in a row, the same style," coach Bruce Arians said. "Hopefully we've learned from it."
Missed tackles were a big culprit against San Francisco, as the defenders had Kaepernick in their grasp countless times before he managed to wiggle free. Another issue was the lack of gap integrity, which gave Kaepernick lanes to run.
It didn't help matters to have veteran linebacker Larry Foote inactive with a knee injury. He had played nearly every defensive snap of the season previously, and while Foote was still yelling the 49ers plays from the sidelines, it wasn't nearly as impactful as having him on the field.
Linebackers Glenn Carson and Kevin Minter filled in, and while Carson finished with a game-high nine tackles and Minter was third on the team with six, they weren't thrilled with the performance. San Francisco running back Frank Gore had 25 carries for 144 yards and San Francisco finished with 206 yards on the ground.
"To go in there and play that many snaps was a good feeling," said Carson, who saw his first significant action after making the team in training camp as an undrafted rookie free agent. "At the same time, they ran the ball too much on us. As a middle linebacker, every time the ball gets run down your throat a little bit you take it as a personal responsibility."
The Panthers will follow the same formula as the two teams before them, with the mobile quarterback and a powerful running game. The Cardinals' defense knows it must answer the challenge moving forward.
"We've learned that, especially with scrambling quarterbacks – this week it's Cam Newton – we've got go get them down," linebacker Sam Acho said. "We've got to be defensively sound. It's nothing they're doing. It's us not being in our gaps. It was the same thing a couple weeks ago with Russell Wilson. From the outside looking in, the media might say, 'He's just an unbelievable quarterback.' That's not the case. They (Kaepernick, Wilson and Newton) are all good quarterbacks, but if we do our job, a good defense stops a good offense any day."
HARBAUGH OUT AS COACH OF 49ERS
Jim Harbaugh was given a game ball and Gatorade shower when the contest came to a close, as some of the 49ers showed appreciation for their now-former coach.
After months of rumors, it didn't take long afterward for the team to announce it was mutually parting ways with Harbaugh after four seasons. The 49ers finished 8-8 this season and missed the postseason. They made the NFC Championship game in each of his first three years at the helm, highlighted by a Super Bowl run following the 2012 season.
"I thought we accomplished great things," Harbaugh said. "Tremendous football, and so many people to thank for that. So many people work so hard to construct where this football team is and feel great to be part of it. (I) feel it's been the signature years in my life."
While it's widely believed Harbaugh will take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan, he declined to confirm that speculation.
"There will be announcements made concerning those things," Harbaugh said.
RUNNING GAME GETS BACK ON TRACK
Arians felt he got away from the running game too early against the Seahawks, and stayed with it consistently against the 49ers.
Running back Kerwynn Williams had only two carries for four yards last week but finished this one with 17 rushes for 67 yards. Stepfan Taylor added seven rushes for 26 yards. It helped out quarterback Ryan Lindley, most notably on an early flea-flicker in which the safeties were sucked up and he found Michael Floyd for an easy touchdown.
"We came in wanting to establish the run and be a balanced offense," Williams said. "I think we executed the run game as well as the pass game. Ryan (Lindley) had a great day."
ACHO GETS FIRST SACK OF THE SEASON
Kaepernick avoided several near-sacks, but linebacker Sam Acho was one guy who brought him down. Alex Okafor brought pressure on the play from the left, which forced Kaepernick to roll to his right and into a waiting Acho.
Acho didn't have a sack previously this season.
"It felt good, but overall we don't have a good feeling right now," Acho said. "You never have a good feeling after you lose."
Images from the regular season finale in San Francisco

QB Ryan Lindley and the Cardinals take the field for Sunday's game

QBs Logan Thomas and Lindley take snaps during pre game warm ups

Lindley and Thomas warm up before kickoff

QB Ryan Lindley scrambles

49ers RB Frank Gore is tackled by LB Matt Shaughnessy

TE Darren Fells catches a pass

WR Larry Fitzgerald is tackled after a catch

Coach Bruce Arians

WR Michael Floyd celebrates after catching a touchdown pass

WR Ted Ginn on a kickoff return

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick lofts a pass

LB Kevin Minter attempts to bring down 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick

RB Kerwynn Williams finds running room

WR Michael Floyd makes a nice catch

RB Kerwynn Williams

QB Ryan Lindley

49ers WR Anquan Boldin heads to the end zone

RB Stepfan Taylor

RB Stepfan Taylor

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh before the game

TE Darren Fells makes a catch

RB Kerwynn Williams finds a running lane

WR Larry Fitzgerald initiates contact after a catch

WR Michael Floyd wide open in the end zone on a flea flicker

The first of Floyd's two touchdowns on the day

Lindley and the offense celebrate his first career NFL touchdown

Lindley shows his excitement

The Cardinals defense gang tackles RB Frank Gore

Lindley shows progress in Bruce Arians' offense

WR Michael Floyd skies for an incredible juggling catch near the sideline

DT Tommy Kelly provides chase to 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick

49ers make an earyl field goal attempt

Williams runs outside against the 49ers

LB Alex Okafor reaches to grab Kaepernick

Lindley surveys the field

Floyd flies through the air to cap off a 41-yard touchdown pass from Lindley

Floyd breaks the pylon and the score is good

Lindley trying to mount a comeback in San Francisco

RB Stepfan Taylor earns tough yards up the middle

Lindley with legendary coach Tom Moore

Fitzgerald looks on at the action during Sunday's game

LB Sam Acho sacks Kaepernick late for a 15-yard loss

Gore is met by a wall of Cardinals defenders

Fitzgerald dissapointed with the outcome but knows the playoffs are up next