CARDINALS (1-3) at 49ERS (1-3)
Line: ARI by 4.
Cote's pick: ARI 24-13.
TV: 8:25 p.m. Thursday, CBS/NFLN.
NFL Week 5 kicks off with two of the 13 teams slogging through the first quarter of the season at 1-3. Niners were expected to be this bad, but Super Bowl-dreaming Cardinals are the league's most disappointing team thus far (along with Carolina, perhaps). The one hesitation in this pick was that 'Zona QB Carson Palmer was questionable with concussion symptoms, and then word came out late Wednesday saying that Palmer is, in fact, out and Drew Stanton will be the starter _ a huge dropoff. Nevertheless, Cardbirds' havoc-wreaking defense will make things tough for Blaine Gabbert. Also, the Cacti's fantasy-darling running back, David Johnson _ NFL leader with 510 scrimmage yards _ figures for big numbers against a Frans defense now missing injured run-stopping inside linebacker Navorro Bowman.
