The San Francisco 49ers have a chance to get back to 2-3 at home against an 0-4 Arizona Cardinals team. Here we look at five players key to their hopes.
After a tough stretch to start the season, the San Francisco 49ers may be very happy to see a winless Arizona Cardinals team come to Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers had plenty of chances to secure victory in their narrow 29-27 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 and favored to get back on track against a Cardinals team starting a rookie quarterback on the road in Josh Rosen.
Yet the Niners should not underestimate Rosen — who played well in defeat to the Seattle Seahawks — and a Cardinals team that has talent on defense. Here we look at five players who will be key to ensuring the 49ers do not slip up and fall into a 1-4 hole.
Matt Breida
For all the struggles endured by Arizona this season, the Cardinals defense remains a difficult one to face. It is ranked 11th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA and is in the top 10 in passing defense by yards per game allowed.
Running backs, however, have been able to have success against the Cardinals, who are allowing 141.2 yards per game on the ground at a clip of four yards per carry. They are also giving up 52.5 receiving yards per game to tailbacks, per Football Outsiders.
All of this bodes well for Breida, the NFL’s third-ranked rusher, who had a quiet game against the Chargers, gaining 39 yards on just nine carries while catching three passes for 32 yards.
With C.J. Beathard going up against a Cardinals pass rush ranked sixth in Adjusted Sack Rate by Football Outsiders, Breida — providing he shakes off a shoulder injury — should receive a lot more work on the ground and figures to provide a valuable safety net in the passing game.
The Cardinals defense is good enough to keep them in games against mediocre teams, Breida, outside of Beathard, is the player most important to making sure it does not this week.