Pros
- The Arizona Cardinals will be rolling with backup QB Colt McCoy in this week’s contest, which generally means fewer pass attempts and more rush attempts.
- The Cardinals are a 3.5-point underdog in this week’s contest, likely leading to a passing game script.
- The Arizona Cardinals have run the most plays in the league this year, totaling a colossal 63.8 plays per game.
- The weatherman calls for 4-mph wind in this game. Low wind generally means increased pass volume, increased TD potential, and increased passing effectiveness.
- The Arizona Cardinals have utilized play action on 30.6% of their dropbacks since the start of last season (6th-most in football), causing the defense to bite on the run and resulting in much higher passing production.
Cons
- THE BLITZ projects the Cardinals to run the least offensive plays on the slate this week with 61.6 plays, based on their underlying tendencies and game dynamics.
- Opposing quarterbacks have passed for the 7th-least yards in the league (just 212.0 per game) against the San Francisco 49ers defense this year.
- The San Francisco 49ers pass defense has shown strong efficiency this year, allowing 7.24 yards-per-target: the 8th-least in the league.
- The San Francisco 49ers defense has been quite strong when opposing pass-catchers have gotten into space, giving up an average of 5.17 yards-after-the-catch this year: the 7th-least in the league.
- The San Francisco 49ers linebackers project as the 3rd-best LB corps in football this year in covering receivers.
Projection
THE BLITZ
246
Passing Yards