49ERS (1-7) VS. CARDINALS (3-4-1)
SUNDAY, 4:25 P.M., AT UNIV. OF PHOENIX STADIUM, GLENDALE, ARIZ. uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 714
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale
About the 49ers: Things have gone from bad to worse for the 49ers, whose seven consecutive losses are a pretty good indication of where the era is headed. The
less defense can’t stop anybody on the ground, and facing Cardinals RB who rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the teams’ last meeting, probably isn’t a recipe for success. The positive to come out of San Francisco’s latest loss is that QB is starting to look like the Kaepernick of old. He had 416 yards of total offense Sunday and might be a difference-maker in this rematch after
threw two interceptions in the Week 5 loss to Arizona. Kaepernick might have to be a bigger part of the run game because the 49ers really miss RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder).
About the Cardinals: Arizona’s highoctane offense has struggled with a power outage despite the emergence of Johnson, and coach is hoping to get that side of the ball rolling again. Arizona saw signs of life when its defense matched that of the Seattle Seahawks in a 6-6 overtime tie three weeks ago, but then the Cardinals took another step back with a 30-20 loss at Carolina heading into the bye. Even the week off had its humbling moments — the Chicago Cubs’ World Series victory left this franchise with the longest current championship drought in sports (69 years). The health of S expected to miss at least three weeks because of a shoulder injury, could be a big factor in how the Cardinals fare over the second half of the season. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has given a spark to the 49ers offense.
Staley, the subject of trade rumors before the deadline last week, is one of the few remaining marquee names on a team that’s in rebuilding mode. Staley will face one of the NFC West’s best emerging pass rushers in Golden, who piled up six sacks over the first five games (including two in the win against the 49ers) but has gone silent since.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The 49ers figure to focus on him in the rematch, but that doesn’t necessarily mean San Francisco’s run defense has any answers. Look for Johnson to get plenty of early chances, and the Cardinals will keep giving him the ball until the 49ers prove they can stop him.
Combined point spread of Arizona’s three consecutive wins against San Francisco. The last 49ers head coach to beat the Cardinals was Jim Harbaugh, in his final game at the end of the 2014 season. Harbaugh went 6-2 against Arizona, while Jim Tomsula and Kelly have gone a combined 0-3 in the divisional matchup.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Carson Palmer: Arizona’s starting quarterback had to sit out the Cardinals’ first game against San Francisco — not that it had much effect on the Cardinals’ offense. Drew Stanton did enough, and at times looked better than Palmer has this season, while leading the Cardinals to a relatively easy win.
2. Plugging the gap: San Francisco’s run defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone this season, and the 49ers hit a new low in giving up 248 rushing yards to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Cardinals’ offensive line has been pretty good blocking for Johnson, but the loss of LT (triceps surgery) could shake things up.
3. Kaepernick’s feet: The Cardinals piled up seven sacks in the first meeting, but Kaepernick’s ability to make big plays with his legs could give the 49ers a fighting chance.
Scott Johnson