Week 3 - Cards @ 49ers 9/27/26 @ 1:05PM PST Game Thread

Didn't Brissett throw for 400+ yards against us last year ?

Originally posted by DrEll:
Didn't Brissett throw for 400+ yards against us last year ?

That was last year when we were decimated. We are a bit healthier now despite a couple of injuries. Bosa is back which will apply, if nothing else, psychological pressure on their QB. I am feeling confident the team will win this one.

These games are often tight and frustrating. We should win big but you never know

Originally posted by genus49:
I have two concerns for this game.

Our run D - they will run a lot and use playaction to try and hit us for bigger plays.

Their DL - they have talent on that line and who knows how Australia travel, Garrett injury impacted the Rams front against us. I'm hoping like crazy our OL is taking a big step forward and it's not a mirage due to the competition so far.

Arizona is a tough read for me cuz I expected more from the Chargers. If our OL continue to play well I think we win this game by a good margin. If their DL causes problems for us it may be an ugly close game that I hope we win.

I do tent to over worry earlier in the year until the team shows more of what it is or what it isn't but Arizona is at the very minimum a step up from the Dolphins. In the end I hope we take care of business so we can get a real test from Denver and then of course the defending champs

Running game on both sides of the ball is a big concern.

Originally posted by DrEll:
Didn't Brissett throw for 400+ yards against us last year ?

Yes. In a game we won 41-22.

I'm more so concerned at how much of a nail-biter our week 3 home game against the Cardinals LAST year was… plus Bosa tore his ACL in that game.

Originally posted by Fanaticofnfl:

Originally posted by DrEll:
Didn't Brissett throw for 400+ yards against us last year ?

Yes. In a game we won 41-22.

I'm more so concerned at how much of a nail-biter our week 3 home game against the Cardinals LAST year was… plus Bosa tore his ACL in that game.

Don't know how much we can really look at recent history for this one. New HC is a big unknown. Kyle does tend to have a pretty good plan vs his former employees so I hope that trend continues.

Will be curious at the final actives list for them. It does look like they have a rash of injuries in the secondary so that helps with our injuries at WR. If the OL can hold up vs their DL our offense should be able to put up points on them unless somehow their backups have a major glow up in this game.

Also one major thing from week 3 last year - no Brock Purdy, no Kittle, No Jennings and first start for Colby at LG.

Originally posted by TD49ers:

Originally posted by genus49:
I have two concerns for this game.

Our run D - they will run a lot and use playaction to try and hit us for bigger plays.

Their DL - they have talent on that line and who knows how Australia travel, Garrett injury impacted the Rams front against us. I'm hoping like crazy our OL is taking a big step forward and it's not a mirage due to the competition so far.

Arizona is a tough read for me cuz I expected more from the Chargers. If our OL continue to play well I think we win this game by a good margin. If their DL causes problems for us it may be an ugly close game that I hope we win.

I do tent to over worry earlier in the year until the team shows more of what it is or what it isn't but Arizona is at the very minimum a step up from the Dolphins. In the end I hope we take care of business so we can get a real test from Denver and then of course the defending champs

Running game on both sides of the ball is a big concern.

I think you're overstating things we have a top 12 run D by yards/ carry and have had a few goal line stops as well not to mention we have yet to allow an explosive run play

Originally posted by ritz126:

Originally posted by TD49ers:

Originally posted by genus49:
I have two concerns for this game.

Our run D - they will run a lot and use playaction to try and hit us for bigger plays.

Their DL - they have talent on that line and who knows how Australia travel, Garrett injury impacted the Rams front against us. I'm hoping like crazy our OL is taking a big step forward and it's not a mirage due to the competition so far.

Arizona is a tough read for me cuz I expected more from the Chargers. If our OL continue to play well I think we win this game by a good margin. If their DL causes problems for us it may be an ugly close game that I hope we win.

I do tent to over worry earlier in the year until the team shows more of what it is or what it isn't but Arizona is at the very minimum a step up from the Dolphins. In the end I hope we take care of business so we can get a real test from Denver and then of course the defending champs

Running game on both sides of the ball is a big concern.

I think you're overstating things we have a top 12 run D by yards/ carry and have had a few goal line stops as well not to mention we have yet to allow an explosive run play

Don't jinx it. I also think it's pretty clear our run D has been an issue regardless of those things you mentioned. We've been lucky enough to pull away to the point where the other team becomes limited in their playcalling and stops at the goal line everything gets congested.

Also YPC gets skewed when you compare how top guys run vs the backups. You get additions from QB sneaks and things like that. We have what look like a pretty good group of pass rushing DTs in Osa and Halton but we are getting pushed back in the run when our guys aren't shooting gaps or getting quick wins. We need those big boys who can just hold their ground. Getting Mykel back will be huge cuz he's terrific at collapsing the pocket even if he's not making the play himself. Kid rarely got pushed back off the ball. Unfortunately we'll need guys to step up for this game since he won't be ready.

I expect a win, but our division games are always tough, so it'll have to be well earned. AZ always shows up to play.

Yeah we gashed them on the ground last week. Should be an easy win if you can run the ball. I'll go 24-17 Niners

I think Raheem brings a different philosophy to the run defense, and it might take a while for the defense as a whole to get it down. When you slant your DL on a run play, gaps get squashed and murky as the OL gets washed down, but it also takes DL out of their lanes, and LBs and even DBs have to be quick to anticipate where the new running lanes are going to appear and fill those quickly. It should get better with more experience in the defense.

At the same time, the DL seems to struggle the most with straight DUO runs where the DTs get double teamed and blown out easily and the OL push let's them get into the 2nd level quicker. When this happens it looks like Raheem goes to 3 interior DL to hold-up better.

In limited reps, Halton looks like a better pass rusher and run defender than West. Maybe with a week of practice McKinney takes over for West?? as the big bodied interior role.

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

Mike Evans (hip) won't practice today.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 23, 2026

That's not a surprise. I feel like even without the hip injury they'd give him the day off today.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

Mike Evans (hip) won't practice today.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 23, 2026

That's not a surprise. I feel like even without the hip injury they'd give him the day off today.

Will only get worried if he misses Friday's Practice.

Originally posted by HearstFan:
I think Raheem brings a different philosophy to the run defense, and it might take a while for the defense as a whole to get it down. When you slant your DL on a run play, gaps get squashed and murky as the OL gets washed down, but it also takes DL out of their lanes, and LBs and even DBs have to be quick to anticipate where the new running lanes are going to appear and fill those quickly. It should get better with more experience in the defense.

At the same time, the DL seems to struggle the most with straight DUO runs where the DTs get double teamed and blown out easily and the OL push let's them get into the 2nd level quicker. When this happens it looks like Raheem goes to 3 interior DL to hold-up better.

In limited reps, Halton looks like a better pass rusher and run defender than West. Maybe with a week of practice McKinney takes over for West?? as the big bodied interior role.

From a run defense perspective, I think Raheem likes to basically run blitz. At least that the impression is have these last two games. I don't think he's as dependent on having two gapping defensive tackles as the Saleh Wide 9 defense is - to stop the opposing run game.

What i mean is that Raheem will have a guy like Upton Stout roam the linebacker and DLine positons and be used as a guy that changes a seven man box into an 8 man box, depending on how he lines up (LOS or at the nickel coverage position). So he'll use a guy like Upton to run blitz while using a 5 man front to fit the run gaps.

What i think needs to happen next year is that in the next draft, Raheem gets his Nick Emmanwori/John Lynch hybrid safety/linebacker to replace Upton - who i think is a bit undersized to be setting the edge at the LOS. Now if that happens, he can really mess with opposing QB's reads and confuse the hell out of them - in addition to being more Stout against the run. pun intended.