THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW
The NFL’s only remaining undefeated team hosts the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on Sunday as the Cardinals look to secure their first 5-0 start since 1974.
To reach 5-0 the Cardinals will have to slow down an explosive 49ers team that – like Arizona – ranks near the top of the NFL in points scored and total TDs this season. After starting the season 2-0, San Francisco enters Sunday’s game looking to snap a two-game losing streak in games that were decided by a combined nine points.
Both the Cardinals (at the Rams) and 49ers (vs. the Seahawks) are coming off their first division game of the season in Week 4. Arizona earned a convincing 37-20 victory over Los Angeles to snap an eight-game losing streak in the series. San Francisco fell to Seattle 28-21 at Levi’s Stadium.
The Cardinals and 49ers are meeting for the 60th time in a series that dates back to 1951. This game will mark the 39Ǧth meeting between the two teams since they became NFC West rivals in 2002.
In recent years when these two teams have met at State Farm Stadium the games have been close. The last fi ve matchups in Arizona have been decided by one score, including four straight games that were decided by three points from 2016-19.
Sunday’s game also resumes the rivalry of the top-2 picks from the 2019 NFL Draft in Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (#1 overall) and 49ers DE Nick Bosa (#2 overall). This will be the fourth Ɵ me the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year have faced each other in the NFL.
This week’s contest will also feature quite a few former teammates going head-to-head. That includes LB Chandler Jones vs. QB Jimmy Garoppolo (together in New England), WR A.J. Green vs. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (teammates in Cincinnati) and WR Mohamed Sanu Sr. vs. CB Robert Alford (together in Atlanta).
Following this week’s game, Arizona is back on the road for its fourth away game of the season. The Cardinals will be traveling to Cleveland for their second game vs. the Browns in the last three years (2019). San Francisco has its bye in Week 6
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
WITH A WIN THIS WEEK…
Arizona would start a season 5-0 for the first Ɵ me since 1974 and for just the fifth time in franchise history.
The Cardinals would improve to 9-7 against the 49ers at State Farm Stadium and would have six wins in San Francisco’s last eight visits.
ARIZONA LEADS IN NFL’S TOUGHEST DIVISION
A LOOK AT THE NFL’S TOUGHEST DIVISION
The NFC West is Ɵ ed (AFC West) for the most wins (11) and has scored the most points (465) of any division.
The NFC West and AFC West are the only divisions in the NFL in which all four teams have a positive point differential.
The NFC West is the only division in which all four teams have scored 100+ points.
BY THE NUMBERS
4-0
Arizona’s record in 2021. The Cardinals are the NFL’s lone undefeated team for the first time since 1974 when they started the season 7-0. Heading into this week’s game against the 49ers, Arizona sits alone in first place in the NFC West.
140
Points for the Cardinals through four games. That leads the NFL in 2021 and represents the second-highest total in franchise history through the first four games of a season (148 in 2015).
440.5
Average net yards per game for the Cardinals in 2021. Arizona has the NFL’s #1 ranked offense this season.
1,762
Total net yards (1,216 passing; 546 rushing) for the Cardinals in 2021. That is the highest total in franchise history through the first four games of a season.
4
Consecutive games in which the Cardinals have had 400+ yards and 30+ points to start the 2021 season. Arizona is just the fifth team in NFL history to have 400+ yards and 30+ points in each of the fi rst four games of a season – joining the 2013 Broncos, 2011 Patriots, 2007 Patriots and 2002 Raiders.
11
Games in which the Cardinals have put up 400+ total yards and 30+ points dating back to last season. That is the most such performances in the NFL during that stretch.
2
NFL teams in the last 60 years – 2021 Cardinals and 1980 Chargers – that won
three of their fi rst four games on the road by margins of 12+ points.
45:42
Time which the Cardinals led in their 37-20 victory over the Rams last week. In their first three games this season, the Rams trailed for a combined total of 2:03 and never trailed at any point in their first two home games.
17
Total TDs for the Cardinals in 2021. Only Kansas City (18) has more. Arizona (9 passing TDs, 7 rushing TDs) and Buffalo (9 passing TDs; 6 rushing TDs) are the only team in the NFL that rank in the top-5 in both passing and rushing TDs this season.
3
Games in which the Cardinals have allowed 20 points or fewer this season. Arizona (3), Denver (3), New England (3), Carolina (3) and the L.A. Chargers are the only teams that have allowed 20 points or fewer in at least three games.
216
Rushing yards for the Cardinals in the win over the Rams last week. It was the sixth time the Cardinals have rushed for 200+ yards in 36 games under Kingsbury. That equals the number of 200-yard games in the 16 seasons (2003-18; 256 total games) prior to his arrival.
76.1
Completion percentage for QB Kyler Murray in 2021 (102-of-134). That total leads the NFL. In his last three games (80.6%, 82.4% and 75.0%) Murray became the first player in franchise history to complete at least 75.0% of his pass attempts in three consecutive games.
120.3
Passer rating for Murray in the win over the Rams last week. It marked his sixth career game with a passer raƟ ng of 120.0+ and his second this season.
12
Touchdowns for Murray in 2021 (9 passing, 3 rushing). Only KC’s Patrick Mahomes (15) has more combined passing/rushing TDs this season.
5.9
Yards per rush attempt for RB Chase Edmonds in 2021 (255 yards on 43 attempts). Among players with at least 40 attempts this season, Edmonds’ 5.9- yard rushing average ranks second in the NFL behind only Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (6.6).
66.0
Sacks for Chandler Jones in just 73 games with the Cardinals. He enters this week’s game needing just 1.0 sack to pass Freddie Joe Nunn (66.5) as the franchise all-Ɵ me sack leader.
248
Receiving yards for WR A.J. Green this season. Green has caught 15 passes for 248 yards (16.5 avg.) and two TDs in 2021. His 248 receiving yards and 16.5- yard receiving average both lead the team.
15
Receptions for TE Maxx Williams in 2021. The only TE in franchise history to have more receptions in the first four games of a season was Hall of Famer Jackie Smith (17 in 1966). Williams is Ɵ ed for the NFL lead among TEs with three receptions of 25+ yards this season.
