The San Francisco 49ers are charging into Week 3 looking for a perfect 3-0 start, and honestly, the Arizona Cardinals couldn’t be catching them at a worse time. After getting absolutely *smoked* 31-7 by our very own Drew Lock-led Seattle Seahawks last week, the Cardinals are now staring down a Niners squad that’s already blown out the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 and the Miami Dolphins 35-13. San Francisco hasn’t even been threatened in either game, dominating the second halves and getting an early jump in what everyone knows is a tough NFC West. Every division win counts big time, and the pressure is on Arizona after that beatdown from the Emerald City.
Run Game Ready to Explode Against a Soft Defense
San Francisco’s offense has been an absolute engine, right? Brock Purdy’s passing attack has been hot, making opponents pay for trying to shut down other options. But let’s be real, the run game hit a bit of a speed bump in Week 2. Christian McCaffrey only got 23 yards on 10 carries, and Kaelon Black mixed in with 7 carries for 25 yards. That’s a dip from Black’s 14 carries for 65 yards against the Rams. This is where the Cardinals’ pain becomes the Niners’ gain, folks. Arizona’s defensive line, even with pieces like Walter Nolen and Josh Sweat, has been below average against the run all season. You put a top-10 offensive line like San Francisco’s against that kind of defense? This is exactly the opportunity for the 49ers’ ground game to explode and remind everyone they aren’t just a passing show, especially when they’re expected to win by more than a touchdown.
Morris’ Blitz Blitz Blitz Plan Targets Cardinal Weakness
Now, let’s talk defense. Without Nick Bosa out there, the 49ers are going to have to get creative to rattle Jacoby Brissett. The dude is a quality passer, no doubt. But the Cardinals don’t lean into play-action much with his mobility, and he doesn’t exactly look to scramble out of the pocket. Brissett has a propensity to get the ball out quick, so maybe a ton of sacks aren’t a guarantee for the 49ers on Sunday. But you know what Raheem Morris is gonna do? He’s going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Brissett. A heavy blitz day, different packages, all designed to get to the quarterback and create those juicy late-down situations. Why? Because the Cardinals are absolutely *terrible* on third downs this year, converting only 34.6 percent and ranking 22nd in the league. You think Morris isn’t going to exploit that after what they just went through with our very own Drew Lock and the Seahawks? No chance.
The oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook have kept the 49ers winning by more than a touchdown all week, and honestly, it makes total sense. The Cardinals are still reeling from that 31-7 beatdown our Seahawks put on them. The Niners are playing at home, smelling 3-0, and looking to cement their early NFC West dominance. This isn’t just another game for San Francisco, it’s a massive statement against a division rival that just got humbled by Seattle. Get ready for a game where the Cardinals are fighting uphill all afternoon, desperately trying to forget that Week 2 embarrassment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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