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| 49ers RB Frank Gore should get a lot of carries early as the 49ers try to establish the run on Monday Night Football against Arizona. (US Presswire) |
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (turf, indoor)
When: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: 49ers by 7
Records: 49ers (Overall: 5-2, NFC West: 1-0); Cardinals (Overall: 4-3, NFC West: 1-1)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 11, 2011: Cardinals 21, 49ers 19; Nov. 20, 2011: 49ers 23, Cardinals 7. Series record: 49ers 24-17.
What matters: Establishing the run. For the 49ers, getting RB Frank Gore and the running game going early has been the key to offensive success. One of the common denominators in their two losses has been the absence of early success with Gore. Once the team is forced to play from behind, it gets out of its element. Expect Gore to get a healthy dose of carries on the team’s first possession and that theme to continue throughout.
Who matters: QB Alex Smith. While the offensive runs through Gore, it’s Smith who takes the blame when it doesn’t fire on all cylinders. Whether that is fair or not isn’t up for debate because it’s reality. After setting the franchise record for attempts without an INT (249) early in the year, Smith has regressed with four in the last two games. If Smith doesn’t turn it over and can up his completion percentage, the 49ers should be fine in the desert.
Key matchups: 49ers front-seven vs Arizona OL. The Cardinals have been historically bad in pass protection through seven games. They’ve allowed 35 sacks, which projects to 80 for the season. That figure would represent the second-most in NFL history. OLBs Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks should be licking their chops with a chance to pad their sack numbers on Monday Night Football.
Injuries of note: LT Joe Staley has been battling an illness throughout the week. It is not expected to keep him out against the Cardinals. Other than that, it’s a pretty healthy team.
Inside stuff: 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt are two of nine coaches in NFL who played in the league. Between the two of them, they played a combined 24 seasons in the NFL -- Harbaugh 15, Whisenhunt 9.
Connections: 49ers LS Brian Jennings and Cardinals TE Todd Heap were teammates at Arizona State (1998-99); 49ers DT Ricky Jean Francois and Cardinals WR Early Doucet were teammates at LSU (2006-07); 49ers P Andy Lee and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald were teammates at Pittsburgh (2002); 49ers RB Frank Gore and Cardinals DE Calais Campbell were teammates at Miami (2002); 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was a QB for Baltimore in 1998 when Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was the team’s TE coach; 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell was a graduate assistant for the University of Washington when Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton was a CB for the team (1981-82).
Stat you should know: The 49ers have the No. 1-ranked passing defense in the NFL, allowing just 173.4 ypg.
Looking ahead: After its trip to Arizona, San Francisco has its bye week to prepare for a third straight NFC West game against St. Louis at home on Nov. 11.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Cardinals 13
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.
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