Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers: Week 1 Preview
By Scott Allen
Key additions:
Arizona – WR DeAndre Hopkins, LB Isaiah Simmons (draft), DE Jordan Phillips, CB Dre Kirkpatrick
San Francisco – WR Brandon Aiyuk
Key losses:
Arizona – DT Rodney Gunter, C A.Q. Shipley
San Francisco – WR Travis Benjamin, OL Joe Staley, WR Jalen Hurd, DT Deforest Buckner
Both teams are pretty much who they were last season, although the Cardinals did improve their defense by drafting Isaiah Simmons. They also get Patrick Peterson back for a full season. Maybe that makes all the difference?
There were times last season Peterson looked very disinterested in paying, especially in the loss at home to the 49ers on Halloween when he was consistently found well out of position. This season Cardinals fans are hoping for a different result against Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and their offense.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray seemed to give the Niners defense fits at times last season. He threw for 431 yards in the air in the two games against the Niners but he also ran 13 times for 101-yards and a touchdown.
The Cardinals defensive line needs to get to the quarterback and the defense needs to find a way to contain tight end George Kittle. Is this the year the Cardinals finally learn how to slow down opposing tight ends? It’s not likely but we can dream.