Arizona Cardinals (1-3) at San Francisco 49ers (1-3)
Lindy’s picks vs the spread can be seen by clicking HERE
KICKOFF: Thursday, 8:25 p.m. EDT, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. — CBS/NFL Network, Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson.
SERIES HISTORY: The 50th meeting in a series that dates back to 1951. The 49ers lead the all-time series, 29-20. Last season, the Cardinals earned just their fourth-ever sweep of San Francisco and first since 2008. In Week 12, Arizona snapped a six-game losing streak on the road against the 49ers with a 19-13 victory. Overall, Arizona is just 9-16 on the road against San Francisco. Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald enters the game with 14 career touchdown receptions against the 49ers. No player in NFL history has more receiving touchdowns vs. San Francisco. Fitzgerald’s 1,854 receiving yards against San Francisco are more than he has against any other opponent.
GAME DATE: 10/6/16
KEYS TO THE GAME: With QB Carson Palmer (concussion protocol) out and backup Drew Stanton behind center, look for the Cardinals to get the ball in the hands of RB David Johnson as often as they can. With 49ers ILB NaVorro Bowman (Achilles) out for the season, the key to stopping Arizona’s rushing attack may fall replacement Nick Bellore or Gerald Hodges. And Johnson is a tough test for 49ers linebacker tryouts.
The Cardinals might be 1-3, but their defense has created turnovers, including seven interceptions. It would be wise for the 49ers’ offense to focus on the running game, featuring RB Carlos Hyde, against a team that allowed Buffalo’s LeSean McCoy to rush for 110 yards and two scores. Then again, the Cardinals appeared to grow from that performance, limiting Los Angeles’ Todd Gurley to 33 yards last week.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Cardinals QB Drew Stanton vs. 49ers OLB Aaron Lynch. With Carson Palmer out, Stanton must not make the type of mistake that might spell the difference in a competitive game. The pass-rushing Lynch should be full of energy in his season debut after a suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. The 49ers have been good at forcing turnovers this season (plus-2).
–49ers RB Carlos Hyde vs. Cardinals’ run defense. The key to stopping the run for Arizona is SS Tony Jefferson. He has been all over the field this season, recording at least nine tackles in each game. He was a big reason the Cardinals limited the Rams’ Todd Gurley to 33 yards last week. His goal this week: Keep Hyde out of the end zone, where he landed five times this season.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cardinals DB Tyrann Mathieu. Keep an eye on the Honey Badger, who is ready to return to his regular role in the slot, playing closer to the box where he can have more of a direct impact on plays. His surgically repaired right knee wouldn’t allow it to start the season, as Mathieu played mostly deep safety through the first four weeks. However, he was closer to the line of scrimmage against the Bills and the Rams and thinks he is ready to do it full-time Thursday night against the 49ers. San Francisco will have to account for him at all times. Mathieu can be a game-changer and was in the thick of consideration for Defensive Player of the Year before he was sidelined last season.
FAST FACTS: Cardinals RB David Johnson leads NFL with 510 scrimmage yards. He is the first player in franchise history to record at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of first four games of a season. … Arizona LBs Chandler Jones and Markus Golden each have a sack in all four games this season, a franchise first. Golden has a sack in the past six games. … 49ers RB Carlos Hyde leads the NFC (and is second in the NFL) with five rushing touchdowns. … WR Jeremy Kerley leads San Francisco with 18 catches and 202 yards and is averaging 14.3 yards per punt return.
PREDICTION: Arizona was expected to be one of the best teams in the league this year and San Francisco one of the worst. But each is 1-3, with the Cardinals not doing as well as expected, and the 49ers are playing more competitively than predicted. The Cardinals do have better players on both sides of the ball, even with a backup at quarterback.
OUR PICK: Cardinals, 23-21.
–By Frank Cooney