49ers' pass defense taking its lumps
GLENDALE -- , Ariz. - The 49ers' secondary could be a primary concern entering the postseason.
In a 23-20 win over Arizona on Sunday, Carson Palmer threw for 407 yards and two TDs to help the Cardinals escape a 17-0 first-quarter hole. Last Monday, Atlanta's Matt Ryan had 348 yards and two scores in a 34-24 loss to the 49ers.
The 49ers next get Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers in a wild-card game Sunday, and the status of starting cornerback Carlos Rogers could be in doubt. Rogers sustained a hamstring injury onLarry Fitzgerald's 23-yard catch late in the fourth quarter.
"It's not hurting me," Rogers said. "We'll see. Hopefully, it's not that bad."
The passing yards by Palmer and Ryan were the most the 49ers had surrendered this season. In their first 14 games, they allowed three 300-yard passers: Rodgers (333) in Week 1, Tennessee's Jake Locker (326) in Week 7 and New Orleans' Drew Brees (305) in Week 11.
Inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman couldn't put a finger on the late-game letdown. The Cardinals had 310 yards in the second half.
"I don't know," Bowman said. "I don't know. We just have to continue fighting."
He's a contender: Bowman did nothing to hurt his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy. In fact, he became the 49ers' first player with a sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery in one game since linebacker John Johnson on Oct. 31, 1993.
Prior to his game-sealing 89-yard interception return against the Falcons on Dec. 23, he hadn't had an interception in 29 games. When asked, Bowman made a personal pitch for DPOY honors.
"The reason why is that me and (Patrick Willis), we do so much and work so hard to be the best and lead our team," Bowman said. "That's all we've been doing, and I just think that's what you want in a Defensive Player of the Year."
Staley makes another grab: Left tackle Joe Staley, a standout tight end at Rockford (Mich.) High, got another chance to show off his pass-catching prowess.
Late in the first half, quarterback Colin Kaepernick lobbed a 14-yard completion to a wide-open Staley (who had lined up as a tight end), who was dragged down at Arizona's 16-yard line. It was Staley's second career reception - he had a 17-yard grab against theBrowns in 2011 - and part of a first half that included back-to-back runs by wide receivers.
"We have a lot of plays in our offense, different stuff that's in," Staley said. "We rep it for a long time and pick a good opportunity to run it."
Briefly: Kaepernick became the 12th player in NFL history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 500 in a season. He finished with 3,197 passing yards and 524 yards on the ground. With 21 TDs, he also became the first 49ers quarterback to throw for 20 touchdowns in a season since Jeff Garcia (21) in 2002. ... Frank Gore (13 carries, 14 yards) fell short of becoming the 29th player in NFL history with 10,000 career rushing yards. Gore has 9,967.
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
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