49ers (2-2) at Cardinals (4-0)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
TV: Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Cardinals by 5 ⁄2
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49ers’ keys to victory: No one has been able to stop the Cardinals offense through four games. To limit Arizona, the 49ers have to get to QB Kyler Murray. With DE Nick Bosa and DE Dee Ford, they must apply pressure, get sacks and force bad throws. The Cardinals have struggled early in the running game the last three games, so the 49ers must take advantage and gets in the early portion of the game. The Cardinals have a bottom-half rushing defense.
Cardinals’ keys to victory: The Cardinals need to keep doing what they are doing on offense and exploit a defense that is only so-so against the run. Arizona has over 30 points and over 400 yards of offense in each of their first four games. Getting an early lead will get things going. In their wins over the Titans in Week 1 and the Rams in Week 4, the Cardinals pulled ahead in the first half and didn’t let them get back into the game.
Matchup to watch: 49ers LT Trent Williams vs. Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones. This game pits one of the league’s most productive pass rushers against one of the very best tackles, assuming Williams will be able to play after injuring an elbow against the Seahawks. Jones has seven sacks against the 49ers in 10 games and had his only sack of 2020 against them. Jones has five sacks this season.
Who wins? Arizona continues its run on offense and Murray has his way with the 49ers defense, adding another three touchdown passes to his total. The 49ers can’t keep up.
Cardinals, 34-17