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Arizona Cardinals vs 49ers preview: Four critical areas

By Chad Barrett

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up on field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up on field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Time To Add to the Record

If there was ever a time to release Fitz to go crazy it would be this game.  Fitz has dominated the 49ers like no other player in history.  His career stats vs the Niners are incredible:  2204 receiving yards, 17 receiving TDs, 165 catches – all records (Pro Football Reference).  I’ve written previously about how underused Fitzgerald was in Mike McCoy’s offense.  Leftwich has promised we will see more Fitzgerald.  There’s no better time than now and no better team than San Francisco.

If the Cardinals can capitalize on the strategies discussed, we could see a big day for the Redbirds.  It will require serious protection of Rosen, using Johnson “outside the box,” and Fitz being . . . well . . . Fitz.

Some turnovers caused by the defense certainly wouldn’t hurt either.  Plus, THE NEST will need to be rocking a lot more than last week when much of the red jerseys cleared out after the first quarter.

Next. Arizona Cardinals: 3 key players vs 49ers. dark

Should the Birds accomplish 3 out of the 4 items mentioned above, they’re still looking pretty good.  Less than that and Arizona will solely occupy the cellar in the NFC West.

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