San Francisco 49ers

Cardinals vs. 49ers: 5 Matchups in Week 5 to Watch for San Francisco

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals for an NFC West showdown on Thursday Night Football. Niner Noise takes a look at five matchups to watch between these two 1-3 teams entering Week 5.

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Who would have thought the Arizona Cardinals would have a 1-3 record heading into their Week 5 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers?

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But that’s exactly what the reigning NFC West champions have. 2016 has been weird for plenty of teams around the NFL, and it’s strange to say the Niners (1-3) are higher than the Cardinals in the division.

San Francisco owns the tie-breaker, by the way.

Irregardless of the record, the 49ers and Cardinals will square off at Levi’s Stadium on October 6 for Thursday Night Football.

TNF games aren’t always pretty. And it’s no surprise Odds Shark listed Arizona as four-point favorites.

Arizona is struggling though, especially on offense. And with Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (concussion) potentially out, will the 49ers be able to stage an upset?

If they do, the following five matchups will be reasons why.

Let’s look at these matchups and try to determine how San Francisco can upend its division rival at home.

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) looks on during the first half against the Oakland Raiders at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

LG Zane Beadles vs. DT Calais Campbell

The 49ers negated an excellent front-seven defense against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. Not so much in Weeks 2 and 3 against the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

Week 5 is another test, and the standoff between left guard Zane Beadles and Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell will be one to watch.

Campbell hasn’t necessarily been on the stat sheet much this season. But his presence has been felt, and Pro Football Focus is giving him an 84.4 overall grade — tops within the Arizona front seven.

Beadles, on the other hand, has been one of the weaker links in an otherwise sturdy Niners offensive line. PFF has him graded at a 48.3.

A primary area of concern has been Beadles’ run-blocking ability. Given all the quarterbacking problems San Francisco is enduring, running back Carlos Hyde needs to be a factor. And it will be up to Beadles to ensure Hyde has interior lanes through which to move.

Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Trent Brown (77) defends against Houston Texans defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (91) in a preseason NFL football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

RT Trent Brown vs. LB Markus Golden

On the flip side of the offensive line, second-year right tackle Trent Brown will have his hands full with pass-rushing linebacker Markus Golden.

Golden is tied for the Cardinals lead, alongside fellow LB Chandler Jones, in sacks (four) and will look to continue a pass rush against a San Francisco team having allowed just three on the year.

Brown has performed well enough in pass protection this year. But his major weakness has been in supporting the run. Per Pro Football Focus, Brown is grading out with a 36.7 run-blocking grade — worst along the line.

Our own Rich Madrid points out an example:

If he has to get to the 2nd level, he struggles. Top of the screen, RT #77. pic.twitter.com/3aaDnezW9e

— Rich Madrid (@rjmadrid) October 3, 2016

What makes this matchup even more precarious for San Francisco is Golden is actually ranked higher, per PFF, against the run (81.3) than in the pass rush (58.4).

Unless the 49ers want to run tailback Carlos Hyde to the left on almost every play, Brown will need to ensure his techniques are sound.

Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) dives into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

CB Rashard Robinson vs. WR Larry Fitzgerald

Through four weeks of the 2016 season, it’s clear rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson is a future starter and veteran corner Tramaine Brock’s starting days are numbered.

After posting five tackles and three passes defended in Week 4, Robinson is due for a starting assignment. Heck, even Pro Football Focus considers him the No. 4 overall rookie entering Week 5.

So lining him up opposite veteran Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald seems like a pretty good idea.

Robinson, at 6-foot-1, has the height to match up against the 6-foot-3 Fitzgerald. And while Arizona will likely feature the savvy veteran out of the slot, locking Robinson on his man would probably give San Francisco the best one-on-one matchup here.

Fitzgerald is currently leading the Cardinals with 25 receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He’s averaging 77.3 yards over 24 career contests versus the Niners.

Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

LB Aaron Lynch vs. LT Jared Veldheer

The 49ers can’t get pass-rushing linebacker Aaron Lynch back soon enough, and he’ll be in line for his first 2016 action in Week 5 after serving a four-game suspension.

With rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner (foot) doubtful for the contest, even more pressure will be on for Lynch to supply, well, pressure.

Keeping Lynch from getting to the quarterback will be the prime responsibility for Cardinals left tackle Jared Veldheer.

San Francisco’s pass rush has been largely absent over the first four weeks of 2016. Lynch is still the team’s best pass-rusher and, with the questions Arizona has at quarterback, having at least one player capable of regularly getting within the pocket is a must-have for the Niners defense.

And yet this isn’t the top matchup to watch for the 49ers in Week 5.

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

49ers Run Defense vs. RB David Johnson

Scratch the Niners’ Week 1 performance against Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley out of your minds.

San Francisco’s run defense is terrible. This unit currently ranks dead last in the NFL, averaging 140.5 yards against on the ground. Paltry numbers, which figure to get even worse now All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman (Achilles) is out for the season.

Running against the 49ers’ nickel defense has been especially problematic, per Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney:

#49ers run defense vs. Dallas:
Base/Short Yardage: 3.4 ypc allowed
Nickel: 6.5 ypc

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) October 3, 2016

Life won’t get any easier for the Niners as they face Cardinals running back David Johnson, who is averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

The 49ers haven’t shown a regular capability of bringing down ball-carriers at the point of attack, based off talent alone, and this has opened up substantial interior rushing lanes for opponents.