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49ers vs. Cardinals: 5 key matchups to watch for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 27: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals runs enroute to scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown, dragging Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers with him at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. Cardinals won 47-7. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 27: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals runs enroute to scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown, dragging Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers with him at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. Cardinals won 47-7. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws during the first half of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws during the first half of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4, and Niner Noise takes a look at five critical matchups the Niners must exploit in this NFC West showdown.

The San Francisco 49ers are 0-3 and heading on the road to face the 1-2 Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. And it doesn’t seem likely the Niners pull off their first win of the season, considering Sportsbook Review lists head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad as six-point underdogs for the contest.

But San Francisco does have a few things in its favor.

First, the Niners should enjoy a mini bye week, of sorts, coming off a Thursday Night Football loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In contrast, the Cardinals battled the Dallas Cowboys to a 28-17 loss on Monday Night Football.

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Arizona has a short week, while San Francisco has added rest.

That’s a part of the equation. But the last we checked, the NFL is still a player’s league. Whoever wins or loses will largely be determined by which players execute better and come up with the big play at the right time.

For those factors to go the Niners’ way, the team will have to win a number of one-on-one matchups this Sunday.

In this slideshow, we’ll take a look at five of those key matchups in which the 49ers will have to emerge on the top end.

If it happens, there might be the possibility of an upset.