© Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Three weeks ago, the Cardinals beat the 49ers, 28-18, in one of the most unique games you’ll see. The 49ers crushed the Cardinals in just about every statistical category but lost the turnover battle, 5-0. It was probably San Francisco’s most disappointing defeat of the year, losing to the NFL’s only winless team at the time, with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen making his second professional start.
The 49ers will have a chance for revenge Sunday afternoon at Arizona. This is the first of San Francisco’s three-game stretch featuring currently one-win opponents.
Here are five things to watch.
Will the 49ers clean up the turnovers?
The 49ers’ Week-5 loss was historical for the wrong reasons.
The 49ers are the first team in NFL history to pick up 30 first downs, hold their opponent to 10 or fewer first downs, and lose by double-digits.
After today, NFL teams are 46-4 all time when they pick up 30 first downs and hold their opponent to 10 or fewer.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) October 7, 2018
Glance at the stat sheet, and you’d have thought the 49ers trounced the Cardinals. San Francisco gained 33 first downs to Arizona’s 10. The 49ers converted 10 of 17 third-down opportunities into first downs. Arizona converted just two of its 12. The 49ers more-than-doubled the Cardinals’ yardage — 447 to 220. San Francisco’s time of possession was 40:12, also more-than-doubling Arizona’s 19:48.
Turnovers, and lack of forcing them defensively, have been the 49ers’ biggest issue throughout a 1-6 start. Their 18 giveaways are the most in the NFL, and their three takeaways are the fewest.
Last week, they turned the ball over four times in a 39-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. For an undermanned offense, the 49ers can’t afford so many empty possessions.
Containing Chandler Jones
Three opponents have earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for their performances against the 49ers. Cardinals defensive end Chandler Jones is one of them. In Week 5, compiled six tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, a pass defensed, and two stuffs. He dominated 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, who played with a bum knee.
Staley is healthier now, and 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard is more aware of Jones after his performance. His length affected Beathard, who lost a fumble mid-throw and had a two-point conversion attempt batted down at the line via Jones.
The 49ers have allowed 27 sacks, the second-most in the NFL. They must constantly account for Jones, who led the NFL with 17 sacks last year.
49ers receivers’ production
The 49ers have not had Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis, their top two downfield receiving threats, together for a complete game this year. Goodwin has missed two games, and Pettis has missed the past three games with a knee injury he suffered on a punt return in Week 4.
In the three games that Pettis missed, all losses, the 49ers receivers averaged just 126 receiving yards per game. Last game, the 49ers receivers collected just four total catches for 35 yards.
The 49ers receivers rank 29th in the NFL with 64 receptions and 798 yards through seven game. For reference, Minnesota’s Adam Thielen has 67 catches and 822 yards alone.
A big reason is Pettis, San Francisco’s second-round draft pick, has not been available. He scored the team’s lone offensive touchdown in Week 1 on a nifty catch in the back of the end zone. Like Goodwin, his speed stretches defenses and opens up everything else.
The 49ers will not have a fully healthy receiving corps for Sunday, with Pierre Garcon out with shoulder and knee injuries. But they are expected to return Pettis, who should lift the offense.
Will Reuben Foster’s encouraging week of practice translate?
Reuben Foster has taken a noticeable step back in his sophomore season. He has missed the tackles he typically makes, been lost in coverage, and confused his assignments on a consistent basis.
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is not worried about Foster’s slow start. The 49ers coaching staff felt Foster put together his best practice of the season earlier this week.
“I promise you, Reuben is going to be just fine when this is all said and done,” Saleh said. “Second-year player, to push the panic button is way, way premature in my mind.”
Part of his slow start could be contributed to shoulder stingers he continues to suffer on tackles. Part of it may be rust from his two-game suspension to begin the season.
But we have yet to see the Foster we expected— the rangy, physically dominant tackling machine — in his five appearances this season.
Pressuring Rosen
With exception to a 75-yard touchdown pass on Arizona’s first offensive play of the game, the 49ers held Rosen in check in Week 5. The rookie quarterback completed just 10 of 25 pass attempts for 170 yards, his lowest total of the season.
In Rosen’s most recent appearance, a 45-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, he threw a pick-six on the game’s first possession. He was sacked six times. Rosen never found a groove, looking every bit like an overwhelmed rookie.
The 49ers will have to do the same. They had success pressuring Rosen in Week 5, but the pass rush has been inconsistent at best this year, which shows in San Francisco’s lack of takeaways.