Cards making noise
QB Murray leads the final undefeated team vs. 49ers
The Cardinals are at the top of the NFL right now as the league’s final remaining undefeated team.
Playing the role of the favorite doesn’t bother Kyler Murray at all.
“This is not a new feeling for me. It feels right, it feels normal,” the thirdyear quarterback said. “To be back in a position where we go into each and every game confident that we will come out victorious is a great feeling, for sure.”
The Cardinals will try to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1974 when they host the 49ers (2-2) on Sunday.
Arizona comes into the game with the league’s highest-scoring offense at 35 points per game. That’s in large part due to Murray, who has emerged as one of the early season MVP favorites. The 24-year-old is completing 76.1% of his passes, which leads the NFL, and he’s thrown for nine touchdowns while running for three more.
The 49ers’ defense will try to make things uncomfortable for Murray. The Niners have an effective pass rush, led by Nick Bosa (four sacks) and Dee Ford (three).
“They’re just clicking on all cylinders,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of the Cardinals. “Which they did
at the beginning of last year, too. But they’ve got some playmakers, they’ve got a perfect scheme for all their playmakers and they’re making it tough for teams.”
Rookie debut: Niners rookie quarterback Trey Lance will make his first start with Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined by a calf injury. Garoppolo left last week’s game at halftime because of the injury and wasn’t able to practice this week.
Lance struggled with his accuracy during his long run of play in last Sunday’s 28-21 loss to Seattle, but still finished 9 for 18 for 157 yards, two touchdowns, a 2-point conversion run and 41 yards rushing.
No sacks, no problem: Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt — a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the
Texans — has zero sacks this season for his new team.
But he’s still making a huge impact. Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said teams are paying a lot of attention to Watt and linebacker
Chandler Jones. That’s made everyone else’s job on the defense easier.
Watt’s been close on several sacks, but said he’s not bothered by the lack of eye-popping statistics. He added he’s not surprised teams are using max protect blocking schemes against him.
“Wouldn’t you?” Watt said, grinning.
Later the 32-year-old added: “We’re 4-0, I don’t care. Do whatever you want.”
Spreading the love: One feature of the Cardinals’ offense so far this season is its balance. A.J. Green (248), Christian Kirk (244), DeAndre Hopkins (225) and Rondale Moore (211) all have at least 200 yards receiving this season. Tight end Maxx Williams is right behind them with 179 yards while running back Chase Edmonds has 140.
Could the Cardinals have four 1,000-yard receivers on one roster? It’s unlikely but also not totally out of the question.
Murray said he’s just getting the ball to whomever is open.
“I would love to do that, but as of right now, keep working, continue to try to not be one-dimensional,” Murray said.
Dazzling Deebo: Deebo Samuel has turned from a gadget player who excelled getting handoffs, fly sweeps and screens to a player who could be a bona fide No. 1 receiver for the 49ers.
Samuel has 28 catches for a leaguehigh 290 yards receiving in the first four weeks for the 49ers. He has posted the second-most yards receiving through four weeks in franchise history to Jerry Rice’s 522 in 1995.
“Deebo is a very special, unique player,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said.