The San Francisco 49ers are looking to end the season on a strong note, possibly harming the team's draft position along the way. However, players don't play for draft picks.
The two-game road ahead won't be an easy journey. Kyle Shanahan's injury-ravaged roster, one that is signing Josh Rosen this week just to have a backup quarterback for C.J. Beathard, will face two division foes to close out the season. First up are the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. After that, the team will end the season against the Seattle Seahawks.
According to MyBookie, the Cardinals are 4.5-point favorites (O/U 49.0) over the "road-team" 49ers. "Road team" is in quotes because the venue for Sunday's game, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, has also served as San Francisco's home venue for its last two home games and will be where the 49ers and Seahawks play during Week 17.
The Cardinals are coming off a 33-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, a game that, coupled with San Francisco's 41-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, officially eliminated the 49ers from playoff contention.
San Francisco has now lost six of its last seven games and will once again be without several key players. Quarterback Nick Mullens, who has started the last six games, is done for the season and may require elbow surgery. Running back Raheem Mostert re-aggravated his ankle injury and won't play again this season. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, is also done for the year.
Shanahan did say this week that there is a chance that tight end George Kittle returns to the field after missing six games with a broken bone in his foot.
"I think he's got a chance this week," Shanahan said. "That was the point of getting him back at practice last week, to see how he responded. I know he responded good from a medical standpoint and from him, so I'm looking to see how he is this week, and if he's good, I plan on him playing."
The Cardinals opened the season with a 24-20 victory over the 49ers on September 13 at Levi's Stadium. The two teams kick off at 1:30 p.m. PT (2:30 p.m. MT) on Saturday.
San Francisco has put together a losing 5-9 record against the spread this season.