We haven’t done predictions as a staff all season. What better time to bring them back than the second half of the season? The San Francisco 49ers are slight road favorites against the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s a tricky line, as both teams are coming off blowout losses.
Here are our predictions about what will happen on Sunday.
Kyle’s prediction: 49ers 27, Cardinals 20
The 49ers couldn’t ask for a better matchup on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the 49ers face a defense that is 21st in passing efficiency and 25th in pressure rate. It’s also a defense that’s middle of the pack at stopping the run.
Ricky Pearsall had over 100 yards receiving the first time these two teams played. That’s been a theme for number one receivers against Arizona. Last week, Jaxons Smith-Njigba had 93 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb had 85 yards. The week before that, Romeo Doubs had 73 yards. I’d expect Pearsall to pick up where he left off.
No Marvin Harrison Jr. is a big blow to an offense that was trending in the right direction through the air. Jacoby Brissett had a strong connection with Harrison Jr. He won’t have the luxury of having his WR1 or WR3 on Sunday. That will allow Robert Saleh to continue being aggressive, as he was last week, when he blitzed Matthew Stafford on a season-high 48 percent of his dropbacks.
A garbage-time score will make the game look closer than it really was. I’d expect the Niners to get out to an early lead and have a touchdown lead for much of the game against a Cardinals team that’s been punching above its class all season.
Rohan’s prediction: 49ers 27, Cardinals 21
I’m with Kyle on this one. I think this is an ideal matchup for the 49ers.
They’re getting Ricky Pearsall back, who should open up the passing game, even if Brock Purdy is a little rusty in his return from the sidelines. Arizona has struggled at cornerback this year, be it due to injuries or performance.
Then, there’s the Cardinals offense, which has struggled on the ground. The 49ers aren’t a great run defense, but if they can mitigate the damage there, I think they’ll have more success in the air against Jacoby Brissett working without Marvin Harrison Jr.
Getting players like Bryce Huff back will help the pass-rush out, and I think the 49ers respond well with a faster start this weekend, forcing Arizona to play behind the eight-ball.
Divisional matchups are usually relatively competitive, and Arizona has been competitive this year outside of last weekend. But, I see a Niners victory on Sunday.
Nicholas’ prediction: 49ers 31, Cardinals 23
Everything looks to be lining up for a perfect homecoming for both Purdy and Pearsall to enjoy a winning return to their home state. This is the healthiest the 49er offense has been since Week 1, and they’re facing an Arizona defense dealing with injuries at every level.
If Purdy is able to play with no limitations, then there’s no reason the 49ers shouldn’t be able to put up 30-plus points as they did a couple of weeks ago against the Giants.
Optimism has to be tempered somewhat, given the issues the 49ers have on defense. However, to state the obvious, there is a vast difference between facing Matthew Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and facing Jacoby Brissett missing several of his best weapons.
For as much as the 49ers’ defensive line has struggled, the Cardinals’ offensive line is one they can exploit, and I expect Bryce Huff and Co. to do just that.
I still think the Cardinals will score points, but I also see the 49ers creating a couple of turnovers and controlling the ball. The best unit in this game is the 49er offense, and I expect that to bear out on Sunday with San Francisco improving to 7-4.
Andrew Pasquini: 49ers 28, Cardinals 17
The 49ers begin what should be considered a must-win-four-game-if-they-want-to-be-serious-playoff-contenders stretch in Arizona on Sunday. The offense is as healthy as it’s been all year with the return of Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall, while the heavily-injured defense will catch a bit of a break getting to face an Arizona offense without Marvin Harrison and Zay Jones. While Trey McBride will be a handful by himself, the Cardinals’ offense will be lacking firepower against the newly found firepower of the 49ers offense.
Pat’s Prediction: 49ers 28, Cardinals 24
The Cardinals tread the 49ers like a Super Bowl opponent, so I won’t be surprised to see them playing the 49ers hard. With Brock Purdy’s return likely to bring some rust along with it, I think we’ll see a bit of struggle from a 49ers offense that has had issues in the past against the Cardinals’ defense.
We must also remind ourselves that this is the Cardinals. I’m expecting a few field goals with a touchdown mixed in to make it interesting, field goals in a “Field goals aren’t good enough” type of game. When the Cardinals get the ball and absolutely need to get down the field in their final possession, they will fail. The 49ers defense needs any sort of confidence it can pry and stopping even the Cardinals will be enough to help them get back on track.
Jason’s prediction: San Francisco 28, Arizona 17
Arizona is missing many key players on both sides of the ball. No Marvin Harrison, Jr or Zay Jones with right tackle Jonah Williams out on offense, but the absences of Will Johnson, Baron Browning, and Mack Wilson, Sr are significant blows to the Cardinals’ defense. Meanwhile, the 49ers are as close to healthy as possible, especially on offense, with Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall returning. The Cardinals’ run defense has been gashed over the last few weeks, and that should continue on Sunday. Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson, Jr, stand to benefit.
The 49ers’ defense will have its chances to tee off as pass rushers, but the offense should be in a position to put up close to 30 points on Sunday to make the defense’s life easier. The running game gets on track, play-action will be deadly, and the 49ers attack the middle of the field to create explosive plays. Niners win big in Arizona.
