Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.

Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.

With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.

Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Pulled Pork Stew

Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse

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Monday Night Football Preview

Arizona Cardinals (8-4) at San Francisco 49ers (5-7)

• Cardinals-49ers Date: Monday, December 13
• Cardinals-49ers Kickoff Time: 8:30
• Cardinals-49ers TV Network: ESPN
• Cardinals-49ers Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
• Cardinals-49ers Point Spread: Cardinals -3
• Cardinals-49ers Over-Under Odds: 44.5
• Cardinals-49ers Spread Pick by Jerod (from Monday): Tough game to predict. The 49ers beat Arizona in Arizona earlier this year and now get them at home. The Cardinals have always been a poor road team, but have somehow reversed that this year to become a very good team away from home. Oh, and Arizona absolutely destroyed the Vikings in Week 13. I’m going with Arizona because they are just so good through the air and the 49ers are not great at defending the pass. Cardinals-49ers free pick: Cardinals -3

Cardinals-49ers Analysis

In the whimsical world of media overreaction, the Arizona Cardinals are the NFL’s flavor of the week. Aside from the Colts and Saints, no team is receiving more love than Arizona right now, after the Cards’ blasting of the erstwhile one loss Vikings last Sunday night on national TV.

Arizona (8-4) has apparently replaced Minnesota in NFL hierarchy and certainly left the three loss Bengals, Chargers and any four loss team in the dust — according to “those who know.”

Truthfully, Arizona is a good team. They are not as bad as they were early when Indy blasted them in Phoenix and especially when San Francisco beat them up in week one. Their passing game is much more in sync now no doubt, but are the ‘Birds as good as advertised here in mid-December? Are they super bowl or NFC title game bound as I now hear daily? Who knows? I won’t venture a guess, because like the media, I’d rather not look silly a few weeks (or less) from now.

The San Francisco 49ers, who’ve ridden a roller coaster 2009 season under fiery coach Mike Singletary, pretty much need to win out to have a shot at a playoff berth. Sweeping the Cards, who they trail by three with four to play in the NFC West, would be a good start, especially since ’Frisco closes with the Lions and Rams. On the other hand, a loss Monday gives Arizona their first back-to-back division titles in over 30 years, in turn sending SF to the golf course on January 4.

The Niners have been a good home team this year (4-2), but Arizona, in a rarity for them and most warm weather teams, has won an impressive five of six away from University of Phoenix Stadium this season, with their lone road loss coming on the final play in Nashville a fortnight ago. (Ken Whisenhunt’s crew won five in a row away from home start the campaign). San Fran has won their past two home games, but has also dropped six of eight overall after a 3-1 start.

Alex Smith, who started the season on the bench before being named starter in late October, completed 27 of 45 throws for a career-best 310 yards with two touchdowns in week 13′s three point loss to Seattle .

The Number One overall pick in the 2005 draft is shining in the team’s new spread offense, throwing for seven touchdowns and one interception in his last three games.  Naturally, with the new air success, the 49ers have struggled with their running game.

Frank Gore has run for just 117 yards (no touchdowns) in his last three games after rushing for nearly 300 and three scores in his previous three games. The Cardinals limited Gore to 30 yards in that season-opener three months ago. And Arizona’s defense is coming off a game where they sacked Brett Favre three times, given them 35 on the season (third in the NFC). Favre, who had only throw three interceptions in his first 11 games in 2009, was picked off twice. Arizona also held Adrian Peterson to a season-low 19 yards in their impressive victory.

If Arizona contains the usually-reliable Gore and the temperamental Vernon Davis, who has been stellar of late, the Forty-Niners may run out of offensive options in a much-maligned 28th ranked unit.

To add to the troubles for SF, Kurt Warner is on one of the best rolls of his career, amassing 12 touchdowns and nearly 1,100 years, with no interceptions his past 14 quarters. That’s good enough for a passer rating of 133.2 during that stretch.

His offensive line, coached by legendary Russ Grimm, has been part of the reason Warner, a possible hall of famer, is on such a historic run the past few games.

As of late this past week, both teams had minimal injury concerns.

Cardinals-49ers Prediction

Arizona, who’s getting contributions everywhere of late, has won six of the last nine in the series, and I don’t see much changing Monday night. Though I don’t think it’ll be a blowout, as these games rarely are, take the hot team and lay the points.

MNF Cardinals-49ers spread pick: Cardinals -3

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* – Mike Singletary photo credit: YouBeQB

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