The 49ers and Cardinals on Sunday will meet for the second and final time of the 2023 season. San Francisco took home a 35-16 victory at Levi’s Stadium. That was a more maximized version of the 49ers than the one we’re likely to see Sunday, and a worse version of the Cardinals which now has quarterback Kyler Murray instead of QB Josh Dobbs who started in Week 4.
To get a gauge on the new-look Cardinals we touched base with our buddy Jess Root, the Cards Wire managing editor and asked him a few questions.
Here’s what’s happening in the desert:
Niners Wire: How has Kyler Murray looked in his return?
Jess Root: Overall, he looks like he never had a knee injury. His arm was never a problem and he looks as good moving around as he did before the injury.
He looked great in his first game with a couple of missed throws. He had a couple of weirdly bad throws against the Texans. Against the Rams, he looked complicit in a tanking effort with his decisions. Against the Steelers, he looked as good as he could with only two players making any plays.
I’m still waiting for the big game where we all can say “oh, yeah, Kyler is back.”
NW: What do we think the Cardinals WR corps looks like?
JR: It hasn’t been good. Hollywood Brown has been banged up for almost a month. When he has been healthy, he has been absolutely cooking defenders but the quarterbacks miss him down the field. Michael Wilson, who was great against the 49ers in Week 4, just hasn’t been healthy, missing four of the last five games.
The only “receiver” of note is tight end Trey McBride, who really has emerged with three games of 80+ yards in the last five.
NW: What's the biggest reason Arizona's defense has struggled?
JR: Honestly, it is lack of talent.
Three of their best four defensive linemen are on IR. Kyzir White, the tone setter at linebacker, is on IR. The edge guys just don’t get consistent pressure. Early in the season, they had good sack numbers, but their pressure numbers are bad. They have been playing four rookie cornerbacks.You can only scheme so much success. They just don’t have the horses to slow any capable offense.
NW: Is there a path to a Cardinals upset on Sunday?
JR: In a word, no.
That’s not true. Anyone can beat anyone. The 49ers are coming off their toughest stretch of games and the Cardinals are coming off the bye with an offensive unit that could be at full strength, playing against a banged-up defense. If the offense takes advantage and the defense manages to force multiple turnovers (because that is the only way they will stop the Niners offense), kicker Matt Prater is one of the best clutch late-game kickers ever.
NW: How do you think the game goes?
JR: This could very well be a 42-10 or 42-17 Niners win. However, with the Niners banged up on defense, Arizona’s offense will keep them hanging around. The defense won’t slow them much and the Niners will be in control but the Cardinals could have a late score for he backdoor cover. 49ers 31, Cardinals 20
