Connecticut Post

SAN FRANCISCO (5-9) AT ARIZONA (8-6)

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KICKOFF: 4:30 p.m. AMAZON, TWITCH

OPENING LINE: Cardinals by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD: 49ers 5-9, Cardinals 7-7

SERIES RECORD: 49ers lead series 31-27

LAST MEETING: Cardinals beat 49ers 24-20, Sept. 13, 2020 in San Francisco

LAST WEEK: 49ers lost to Cowboys 41-33; Cardinals beat Eagles 33-26

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: Arizona is trying for its fifth season sweep over San Francisco in the past six seasons. … The game will be the first to air on a national level exclusivel­y on Amazon Prime Video, Twitch and Amazon’s other services. … The Niners are playing a road game at their temporary home in Arizona after being forced out of their home stadium because of coronaviru­s rules. San Francisco lost its two home games at State Farm Stadium. … The 49ers became the second team in the past 13 seasons to finish with a losing record the season after losing the Super Bowl. Carolina went 6-10 in 2016. … San Francisco has committed at least two turnovers in eight straight games for the first time since 2008. The last time the Niners had a longer streak in a single season came in 1978 when they did it in the first 11 games. … C.J. Beathard will make his first start at QB for the 49ers since 2018 with Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens injured. Beathard lost nine of 10 starts in 2017-18 and has a 77.2 career passer rating. … WR

Brandon Aiyuk’s 59 catches are the second most for a San Francisco rookie, and his 733 yards receiving are third best. … The 49ers have gone four straight games without scoring on the opening drive, matching the longest streak in four seasons under Kyle Shanahan. … San Francisco DL Arik Armstead had two sacks last week for the first time since Nov. 24, 2019. He hadn’t had a sack this season since a half-sack in Week 4 vs. the Eagles. … The Niners have allowed a league-low 17 drives of at least 10 plays. … The Cardinals have played on a Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday this season for just the second time in franchise history. The other instance was 2016. … The Cardinals have won their past two games and are alone in the No. 7 and final spot in the NFC playoff race. Arizona is trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth if they beat the 49ers and the Chicago Bears lose or tie against the Jacksonvil­le Jaguars this weekend.

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