Cardinals left deal with Paris Johnson Jr. mentioned he’s by no means seen something prefer it.
The 49ers have.
Arizona couldn’t apply to begin the week. They had been compelled to concern a double-sided damage report on Friday.
They’re banged as much as excessive heaven, main the Arizona Republic to declare that they’re the NFL’s “unluckiest team.”
“This is probably the first year that I’ve been in this kind of environment where it’s a lot of guys going down,” Johnson mentioned this week.
Apparently the Cardinals haven’t been maintaining tabs on their NFC West rivals.
The 49ers are in sitting at the back of the Unfortunate Saloon, holding down a desk for therefore lengthy they’ll obtain mail there.
And so they have a query for the Cardinals:
First time?
Name Sunday’s Niners-Cardinals showdown the Battle of Wounded Knee… and Leg, and Shoulder, and Toes, and even Appendixes. You don’t want NFL Subsequent Gen Stats knowledge to interrupt down this recreation, you want a duplicate of Grey’s Anatomy and a first-year resident on name.
Positive, the Niners will probably be with out stars — down Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Brandon Aiyuk, and even perhaps Deommodore Lenoir — however at the least there’s some certainty on who’s out and in. However solely Lenoir — listed as questionable as of Friday afternoon — carries an damage designation going into Sunday.
In the meantime, the Cardinals have 5 gamers dominated out and 6 listed as questionable.
All issues thought-about, the Niners could be the more healthy group coming into Sunday’s recreation.
I can’t keep in mind the final time that occurred.
It put the 49ers’ offense able the place they’ll argue they’re a full squad. (Shout out David Lee.)
And it couldn’t come at a greater time: this Niners offense has to hold San Francisco to the playoff this season.
Seven video games stay on the schedule. The Niners want at the least 4 extra wins to make the postseason, and so they have a protection that, at the least final week, might cease neither the run nor the go.
Maybe Arizona is so depleted that — former Stanford star Michael Wilson has develop into the group’s No. 1 receiver for backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett — that the Niners’ protection will obtain a one-week reprieve.
Or maybe Brissett, who has been markedly higher than Kyler Murray (two extra yards on his common goal, 86 extra passing yards and a landing extra per recreation) has opened up the Cardinals’ offense sufficient that Sunday’s recreation will probably be a extra truthful shootout than 49ers-Rams.
Both method, the Niners’ offensive purpose this week — and each week from this level onwards — is straightforward: 4 touchdowns or bust.
I feel they’ll do it.
However, alas, I’m solely going after three — predictions that’s — for Sunday’s recreation.
Brock Purdy’s mobility will shine
Mac Jones did a beautiful job filling in for Purdy, profitable 5 video games to place the 49ers able to battle for a playoff spot. The Niners are, one way or the other, the NFL’s main passing group this marketing campaign going into Week 11’s recreation.
However for all the nice issues Jones did throughout his time within the saddle, one factor he didn’t do was threaten opposing defenses together with his legs.
As such, defenses might promote out a bit in opposition to the run and as a blitzing group, realizing that Jones would take a look at of unhealthy run appears to be like however wouldn’t prolong the following passing performs to seek out the large achieve, a lot much less break a man-to-man protection with an enormous scramble. As a rule, he’d hit a easy slant or toss the ball to Christian McCaffrey. Ignore the stats in opposition to the Rams — they had been barely attempting after going up three scores. The efficacy was waning.
If Purdy is wholesome, and he swears he’s, he not solely challenges each space of the sphere together with his arm, however retains defenses trustworthy together with his ft.
Jones is a powerful system quarterback. The system can solely take you up to now. This group wants from Brock Magic, and I feel it’s — pardon the puns — within the Playing cards this week.
The 49ers’ offensive line retains up its good play
The 49ers tried out extra hole (man-to-man) blocking runs in opposition to the Buccaneers Week 6, however actually dedicated to it in opposition to the Falcons in Week 7.
Since then, the Niners’ run recreation has been okay (a large improve from horrible) and after final Sunday’s robust efficiency in opposition to the Rams’ formidable go rush, you possibly can argue that San Francisco’s a lot maligned offensive line is enjoying effectively.
It didn’t, you’ll recall, play effectively in opposition to the Cardinals when these two groups performed in September. The Cardinals’ gap-and-a-half defensive entrance and thumping linebackers gave the Niners actual bother.
However the brand new method up entrance and improved well being (notably at left guard) ought to change that paradigm within the second go round. I’m anticipating the Niners to hurry for 4.5 yards or higher per stick with it Sunday, with Brian Robinson offering one other good counterpunch to McCaffrey’s all-around excellence.
Particular groups picks up the slack
Very like with the Niners’ offensive line play, the group’s particular groups models — notably in return and protection — have improved in latest weeks, with Siran Neal trying just like the standout that was promised when the Niners signed him with excessive reward this previous offseason.
The Cardinals, I think, will be capable of transfer the ball on Sunday, notably from heavy (two-or-three tight finish units that assault both a smaller Niners protection or linebackers that may’t play in area), and whereas the Niners will probably be scoring, the margin would possibly come right down to the third section of the sport.
Hidden yardage — the type that’s gained or misplaced while you’re within the lavatory — will show big on this recreation, and the Niners will probably be on the suitable aspect of it.
Prediction: 49ers 30, Cardinals 25
