Although the Seattle game is the only loss of the season, it may have been the defense’s best performance. If it weren’t for the turnovers from the offense, the story would have been dominated by the 49ers’ defensive dominance.
Now they take on an Arizona team that gave them some fits and forced what may have been their worst performance just two weeks ago.
The defense will want to show they can hang against Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. Here are the six players to watch on that side of the ball:
LB Fred Warner
Warner impressed against Seattle with the best game of his career. He finished with 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection, and was all over the field in general. The defense lost a leader in Kwon Alexander, but if Warner can continue his performance from Monday night, he can step into a new role as the heart of the defense.
LB Dre Greenlaw
Greenlaw replaced Alexander in the lineup and played well while seeing the . highest snap count of his career. He finished with a season-high eight tackles and had an interception of Russell Wilson in overtime that almost led to a win. Greenlaw is known more for his run-stopping abilities, and faces an Arizona offense that features Kyler Murray, David Johnson, and Kenyan Drake. Another big game from the rookie fifth-round pick is necessary Sunday.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon should make his long-awaited return to the lineup following his injury back in Week 3 against Pittsburgh. He was having a great start prior to the injury and looked head-and-shoulders better than he did last season. The defense struggled a little against Murray on Halloween, and struggled against the up-tempo version of Kingsbury’s offense. Any help in the secondary will be important Sunday.
DL DeForest Buckner
Buckner was a presence in the backfield when these two teams met two weeks ago with a sack and two tackles for a loss. They’ll need that pressure up the middle against Murray to prevent the mobile quarterback from getting loose outside the pocket. The 49ers have had trouble containing mobile quarterbacks. Murray ran for 34 yards, and Wilson rushed for 53 against them the past two weeks. If Buckner can create pressure up the middle, the edge rushers job could be easier in preventing Murray from getting to the outside.
Safties Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward
Tartt made one of the plays of the season forcing a fumble before DK Metcalf could get into the end zone prior to halftime on Monday night. Ward has been solid in preventing the big play, except for one instance this season. That instance was against Arizona when Murray hit Andy Isabella for an 88-yard touchdown that Ward allowed after missing a tackle. Arizona has plenty of big-play ability and it’ll be on the 49ers duo of safeties to prevent them.
