This afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers will host the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park for an NFC West matchup between two 3-2 teams. The two teams last met on December 30, 2012 when the 49ers beat the Cardinals 27-13 in San Francisco. The two teams also met earlier that season in Arizona with the 49ers coming out on top by the score of 24-3.
Offensively, the 49ers are ranked 25th in the league while the Cardinals are ranked 30th. Defensively, the 49ers are ranked 5th in the league while the Cardinals are ranked 15th. The Cardinals have not allowed a touchdown in their past seven straight quarters. Against the Panthers, the Cardinals sacked Cam Newton a career-worst seven times and intercepted him three times.
Among the 49ers, Tramaine Brock has replaced Nnamdi Asomugha as the team's third cornerback. This week, Brock was named as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two interception performance against the Texans. The 49ers also made another backup quarterback change this week, letting go of John Skelton and signing former Sacramento State quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, whom the Minnesota Vikings released on Tuesday. Bethel-Thompson was with the 49ers during the team's 2011 training camp.
During their first three weeks (Packers, Seahawks, Colts), the 49ers gave up an average of 28 points per game. Since then (Rams, Texans), they have only surrendered a total of 14 points. Running back Frank Gore has led a 49ers ground game that has rushed for 396 yards over the past two games.
Last week, the 49ers (3-2) defeated the Houston Texans 34-3. The Cardinals (3-2) defeated the Carolina Panthers 22-6.
For the 49ers, WR Quinton Patton (foot) is out. CB Nnamdi Asomugha (knee), G Alex Boone (shoulder), T Anthony Davis (shoulder), C Jonathan Goodwin (illness), DT Ray McDonald (biceps), CB Carlos Rogers (knee), DT Justin Smith (shoulder), and LB Patrick Willis (groin) are listed as questionable. TE Vernon Davis (hamstring), RB Frank Gore (knee), G Mike Iupati(shoulder), QB Colin Kaepernick (foot), WR Marlon Moore (quadricep), T Joe Staley(knee), and WR Kyle Williams (knee) are listed as probable.
For the Cardinals, LB Kenny Demens (hamstring) and WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) are listed as questionable. LB John Abraham (shoulder), LB Jasper Brinkley (groin), G Daryn Colledge(shin), DT Darnell Dockett (groin), S Rashad Johnson (finger), LB Kevin Minter (hamstring), DE Ronald Talley (wrist), and LB Daryl Washington (knee) are listed as probable.
The game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT and, as usual, you can visit 49erswebzone.com for the latest news and updates during and after the game.
The game will be televised on FOX. The 49ers are 10.5 point favorites.
Within Yahoo! Sports, a popular mobile scores application, 88% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
Within our Pick 'em contest, 98% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
You can follow the game live on NFL.com's Game Center.
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Article photo by Kyle Terada of USA Today Sports