What 49ers Need To Watch For Against Cardinals

Bo Brack joined Matt & Kayla to preview the 49ers’ Week 3 matchup and where Arizona could challenge an unbeaten San Francisco team.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 24, 2026, 1:32 PM

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Watch: What 49ers Need to Watch For vs. Cardinals in Week 3 | 24 mins

The San Francisco 49ers have opened the season with two straight wins and now face another NFC West matchup Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. After beating the Rams in Australia and handling the Dolphins in their home opener, San Francisco enters Week 3 looking to remain unbeaten.

Bo Brack of PHNX Cardinals joined Matt & Kayla on Sactown Sports to provide an Arizona perspective on the matchup and identify where the Cardinals may be able to challenge the 49ers. San Francisco’s run defense could play a crucial role in the game.

Despite an impressive start overall, the 49ers have shown some vulnerability against the run, particularly through the middle of the defense. Arizona invested heavily in its backfield this offseason, using the third overall pick on running back Jeremiyah Love and adding Tyler Allgeier in free agency.

“Where the Niners are struggling and where you haven’t been able to kind of get it going, this is the perfect opportunity to do so,” Brack said.

For San Francisco, slowing the rushing attack would go a long way toward preventing Arizona from controlling the game. Brack pointed out that one of the Cardinals’ best paths would be to sustain drives, keep the 49ers offense on the sideline, and create more favorable opportunities for their passing game.

That puts some pressure on San Francisco’s defensive front to avoid allowing Arizona to dictate the pace. On the other side of the ball, the 49ers have far fewer concerns and have performed exceptionally.

Quarterback Brock Purdy has started the season efficiently, including a dominant Week 2 performance against Miami.

“He just understands how to operate Kyle Shanahan’s offense to perfection,” Brack said.

Arizona’s challenge will be trying to make San Francisco one-dimensional. Christian McCaffrey and rookie Kaelon Black have given Shanahan a productive tandem out of the backfield, and Brack believes slowing the run is essentially the Cardinals’ first requirement if they hope to get Purdy and the offense off the field.

Yet, forcing Purdy to throw may not be ideal, given how he has started the season and the number of weapons available to him. That’s what makes the 49ers offense so dangerous as a unit, especially led by head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Generating pressure could cause problems, but San Francisco has not allowed Purdy to be sacked through the first two weeks. The interior of the 49ers offensive line may be Arizona’s best opportunity to change that.

The matchup also gives San Francisco another chance to build separation early in what is expected to be a difficult NFC West. Arizona enters 1-1 and remains a team trying to establish itself under a new coaching staff, with Jacoby Brissett serving as the current starting quarterback.

No matter, divisional matchups always carry more weight. Arizona’s opportunity is to attack San Francisco on the ground and keep Purdy off the field.

If the 49ers can take that away, they should once again be in a strong position to let their talent advantage take over and move to 3-0.