Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers: Game Preview, Prediction

Arizona Cardinals still have an outside shot at the number one or number two seed with a win

A lot of storylines for today’s game in San Francisco between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.  For the Arizona Cardinals the storyline is playoff seeding and quarterback Ryan Lindley getting another start.  For the 49ers, it is all about coach Jim Harbaugh and this being possibly his last game coaching the 49ers.

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The last time these two teams met was in week three in Glendale.  The Cardinals defeated the Niners 23-14 behind quarterback Drew Stanton, who was filling in for Carson Palmer.  It was a come from behind victory for the Cardinals that was marred by Niners penalties, some controversial but some obvious ones in the fourth quarter that showed just how much this team was starting to unravel.

What: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Where: Santa Clarita, CA

When: 2:25 pm Arizona time

TV: FOX 10 – Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), David Diehl (color analyst)

Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM – Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Ron Wolfley (color analyst), Paul Calvisi (sideline reporter); SiriusXM Radio – Internet 800 (Cardinals feed), SiriusXM 226/Internet 827 (49ers feed)

Keys to victory:

For the Cardinals it is plain and simple.  Ball control.  Last week against the Seattle Seahawks that was the plan and it never came to fruition.  With Ryan Lindley behind center, you can’t have him throwing the ball 44 times and expect to win.  They will need a strong run game on offense.  That means Kerwynn Williams needs carries.  Prior to the Seahawks game he had rushed for 71 and 100 yards in the previous two games.

For the Cardinals defense, it just need to play better.  Last week was a disaster.  Missed tackles and they gave up 339 yards passing and 267 yards rushing.  The Seahawks amassed 596 yards of offense.  The most disturbing was giving up the 267 yards on the ground.  Last week the 49ers had two 150 yard rushers in quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Frank Gore, so they can hurt you in that department as well.

Odds:

San Francisco -6.5

O/U: 37

Moneyline: Arizona -105, San Francisco -115

Prediction:

I just can’t see the Cardinals doing anything offensively with Lindley at center and before you ask I don’t think Logan Thomas would fare any better.  Cardinals are going to drop this one and get the 5th seed in the playoffs.

San Francisco 26 Arizona 10