2021 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 9

Arizona Cardinals (7-1) at San Francisco 49ers (3-4)

Sunday, November 7, 4:25PM ET

The Arizona Cardinals may have suffered their first loss, but don’t expect them to stay down for long. They’re still one of the top contenders in the league and are going to be eager to prove that Thursday night loss was a lone bump in the road rather than a sign of things to come.

It’s not like the San Francisco 49ers are an intimidating opponent right now. Sure, they’re coming off a solid win and have plenty of talent on the roster, but they’ve been cursed by injuries this season and have had a hard time with penalties. Look for the Cardinals to turn this one into a shootout, which they’re more than capable of winning.

Kyler Murray airs it out early and often, relying on DeAndre Hopkins and Zach Ertz to move the chains. A few touchdowns later, he’s got Arizona in the lead and ready to run the 49ers into the ground as Jimmy Garoppolo struggles to get going against the Cardinals’ dangerous defensive front.

The Cardinals get back on track with a win, while the 49ers fall further behind in the race for one of the NFC’s Wild Card spots.

Prediction: Cardinals win 36-17 | Spread: Cardinals (-2.5)