The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers face one another in a Week 11 NFC West battle. The two met in Week 9, and the 49ers won 28-25.
What can we look forward to in Week 11?
To get some insight about the 49ers, I got together with Niners Wire managing editor Kyle Madson and asked him a few questions.
The Cardinals saw Jimmy Garoppolo at his best when they last played. Can we expect to see a similar game this weekend in Santa Clara?
Not as long as George Kittle is out and Emmanuel Sanders is banged up. Those two are both exceptionally talented at their best, and combined for 13 catches, 191 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Cardinals. With Kittle out and Sanders limited, the 49ers are down their top two pass catchers, and they become easier to defend at other spots. I expect to see San Francisco try and get their run game going more effectively than they did last game, and use Garoppolo to convert third downs and make some plays in the red zone before they drop him back 37 times again.
The 49ers are very banged up, especially on offense. What is the most likely lineup they are going to play on Sunday, and what will the offense look like with that group?
Ross Dwelley will start at tight end with Kittle out. Matt Breida is also doubtful, which means more carries for Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert. Jeff Wilson Jr. could also see some work in short-yardage situations. Sanders should play, but I’m expecting a lot of Kendrick Bourne and perhaps some more Richie James than usual. Joe Staley is also out, so it’ll be Justin Skule, who started at left tackle last time these teams faced off. The 49ers simply can’t throw as effectively when Kittle isn’t in the game, and if Sanders is on a snap count, their passing attack becomes nonexistent. We saw that Monday against Seattle, and it would probably happen again Sunday. I’m expecting a heavy dose of the rushing attack to try and open the playbook on play-action and some throws down the field.
What chance is there that this is a trap game for the Niners, either simply because of their health or because they have some very important games coming up?
If they’d beat the Cardinals more soundly last time they played, it’d be a huge trap game. The Cardinals showed a couple Thursdays ago they can’t be overlooked, though. San Francisco already overlooked them a little and got punched in the mouth. They’ll tighten up and ensure they take down Arizona before they welcome the Packers in for Week 12. Arizona is too talented to be considered a trap game though, even with three vital games looming on the 49ers’ schedule. If they beat the Cardinals, they’re a full game up on the Packers and Seahawks. They’re tied with those teams if they lose. This Week 11 game is crucial.
The Cardinals are the only offense all season to score more than 20 points [against the 49ers], the only team not to turn the ball over, the only team to rush for over 150 yards and only the second team to net over 200 passing yards. Did they crack the secret to success against that defense?
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