Arizona Cardinals/San Francisco 49ers Rivalry Discussion

I see this series being a sweep. The series hasn’t been a split since 2003 and I can’t imagine it changing this year. For some reason, the team that wins first must gain more confidence going into the second game. Since the first game is primetime in AZ, I’m taking the Cardinals(big surprise) to sweep the 49ers in 2010.

I just posted a link to this over at NN and closed the comments so we can keep people chatting over here.

It does seem like a split ends up being the likely result. It’s hard to tell recently though with the first game happening in the opener. Most folks really aren’t all that sure about their team until a few weeks into the season, so the lesser team can often sneak away with the win at the start of the season. This year, the games will be late in the season when everybody will know what’s what with their respective team.

Naturally I think the 49ers will sweep, but a split might be more likely if one team runs away with the division. If the 49ers or Cardinals win the first game and come Week 17 have a comfortable lead, we could see starters rested, thus opening the door for a split. But, I’ll stick with a 49ers sweep.

I personally look at the way the 49ers get up for these games. Last year, the opener, seems like a totally different team that the 49ers marched on the field. Shaun Hill and his punt-like passes (few and far between though the final drive was a thing of beauty)…Gore getting stuffed, no Crabtree catching passes, and a green Dashon Goldson still making some mistakes.

The offensive philosophy was predictable and the aforementioned final drive was the only time we really saw things become versatile. We all saw what happened last year through the Alex Smith transition and eventual offensive shift, balance, or whatever it ended up as in your own mind. I think the team will do it’s best to be unpredictable on offense unless it gets to the point in a game where it needs to grind the ball, play from behind, etc.

Crabtree had a stellar start to his career and showed us real talent in plucking the ball, crisp, deceptive routes, and getting yards after the catch as a tough nosed receiver. Gore performed well when he had blocking, and the line generally improved not to mention the addition of Iupati and Davis (both of whom I think we’d all expect to be playing by the time the two teams face later in the season).

The defense has no losses to any starters and gained some solid depth. Guys like Goldson, Brown, Brooks, etc. will also have had another season, off-season, etc. to add to their repertoire. Willis has his job security validated and Franklin, Lawson, Goldson are all in a contract year…tasting the dollars they saw P-52 make.

Alex Smith also has his first season with the same playbook, coaches, and a healthy shoulder since he entered the league. Plus, he now looks to have protection and skill around him.

I can’t say I think the Cardinals are a better team this year than last. Losing Warner is a step back no matter who is the replacement. We could debate the other key losses and their replacements but I don’t think I could certainly say one way or another on them.

All of this to me, call it the off-season optimism, makes me believe that the 49ers will prevail in a series sweep again in 2010.

Our passing game was never what it could have been against them. I feel like a new offensive strategy is what the Cards need to overcome the poor play we witnessed against San Fran last year. A steady dose of Beanie, mix in some Timmy, some exciting plays from Doucet and Roberts and 1 or 2 big catches from Breaston and Fitz each in a Monday night game takes the Cards to a win. The final game of the season I feel won’t matter as one team or the other will already have the division, and because I’m biased, I’m saying Cards sweep.

It’s no secret that the 49ers had an 8-8 record. With a suspect line and often inefective running game, they switched to a spread formation effectively hiding the O-lines faults. With a greatly improved O-line they now have the ability to run when they want to.

49ers lost 6 of the 8 games by 7 points or less. With one of those losses coming from a Farve pass at the end of the game. BTW you don’t have Farve so I’m not worried about you guys doing that to us this year. 49ers are the ONLY team last year to hold Warner and P. Manning without a touchdown in a single game. (Warner had one in the first game, I’m talking about the second game were we rolled you : ) I see the 49ers sweeping the 2 games by a close margine. You guys lost alot of talent this year and I just don’t see you recovering enough to pull out the division. Needless to say that Seattle has improved to the point that they can win games now, and the Rams can always pull one out of their hat.

9 wins in 2008 and 10 wins in 2009. So even without the loss of Warner, Boldin, Rolle, Dansby etc. the Cards were barely a 10 win team. We swept you last year, and by all accounts the 49ers have improved while the Cardinals have undoubtedly regressed, if only because of Warner’s absence. There’re absolutely no signs pointing toward a Cardinal sweep of the Niners, let alone the Cards winning more than 6-7 games.

Take it from me, losing a great QB can throw a franchise into a tailspin, and I think come week 9 or 10 you Card fans will be forced to realize that your team is not what it was with Warner. If you get really lucky and you find a good replacement, it will still take a year or two before you’re back to winning.