Best NFL matchup on ESPN no. 3: San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 11 on ESPN Monday Night Football are two teams who could be a challenge to the Los Angeles Rams. The San Francisco 49ers typically give the Rams heartburn, while the Arizona Cardinals are a legitimate contender to spoil a repeat for the reigning NFC West champions.
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck will be on the call from Mexico City, an absolute hotbed for NFL football, and an always rumored site for league expansion.
The 49ers will be looking to an unproven quarterback in Trey Lance. General Manager John Lynch greenlighted Jimmy Garoppolo to seek a trade, leaving San Francisco with a question they better hope is the right answer.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have a dark horse MVP candidate in Kyler Murray. Murray, likely the second-best quarterback next to Matthew Stafford, provides Arizona with a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl, which is at their home stadium in Glendale.
Both the Niners and Cardinals will draw well in Mexico City. While expansion may be way down the road, they are part of a rotation for international play along with Germany and London.
Back in 2016, the league flirted with the idea of San Francisco playing a preseason game in China, opening up a new market of NFL fans.
Week 11 could have an impact on how the NFC West ultimately shakes out. Even with the Rams seeming to have a stranglehold on the division, both San Francisco and Arizona could throw a monkey wrench into their plans to repeat as the kings out West.