3 Bold Predictions: Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers – Week 9
By Sion Fawkes
Arizona’s passing game steals the show
No Kyler Murray? No DeAndre Hopkins? No problem. While we will see if Murray and Hopkins are ready to go, the Cardinals will still have an effective passing game behind Colt McCoy. McCoy, signed because of his experience and ability to grasp any offense, played well in the preseason.
No, you won’t see those backfoot throws Murray constantly makes or anything dramatic. But a dink-and-dunk game featuring Zach Ertz, Rondale Moore, and Christian Kirk will be more than enough for Arizona to get the job done. Plus, McCoy has a solid running game to open the pass, considering the Cardinals decide to run the ball more this week.
While you may scoff at this bold prediction, we are not even one week removed from some guy named Mike White taking over a game with the New York Jets, over the upstart Cincinnati Bengals, mind you.
If a backup quarterback like White can come out and steal the show the way Joe Namath used to back in the day, McCoy can get this done with much better talent at his disposal than what White has in New York.
McCoy (or Murray) will throw for over 300 yards and toss a couple of touchdowns that will force the 49ers’ offense to keep up. Not that they will score 30-plus points against an elite 49ers defense. But Arizona will move the ball effectively through the air.