Brian Westbrook had one of the biggest rushing nights in his career Monday as he carried the ball 23 times for 136 yards in the San Francisco 49ers’ 27-6 victory at Arizona.
The 49ers will need much more from the former Philadelphia Eagle down the stretch if they expect to make a run at the NFC West title now that they’re a game back of the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks. That is because the team announced that starting running back Frank Gore will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured right hip, suffered in the first quarter of the victory at University of Phoenix Stadium.
It’s a huge blow for San Francisco, which has been trying to settle down offensively with quarterback Troy Smith. Westbrook and rookie Anthony Dixon, a powerful short-yardage option, will be forced to carry the load from here on out. There’s no question it was a costly victory.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune