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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 under pressure from outside linebacker Eli Harold #58 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL football game 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 under pressure from outside linebacker Eli Harold #58 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL football game 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) /

No. 1: 49ers Pass Defense vs. Quarterback Carson Palmer

The Cardinals are going to throw the ball a lot this season. That’s what happens when teams lose their No. 1 running back, in Arizona’s case, David Johnson.

Through three weeks, the Cardinals are ranked 31st in rushing yards (177). That figure probably won’t change against the 49ers, so at least San Francisco won’t have to face off against the types of carries seen by Rams tailback Todd Gurley a week ago.

But that means more of veteran quarterback Carson Palmer.

Give Palmer enough time, and he can pick apart a secondary with ease. Even with those six sacks in Week 3, Palmer managed to complete over 60 percent of his passes against Dallas.

Like the 49ers, the Cowboys have a revamped secondary and a lot of question marks there, especially at cornerback. We’ve already established how important it will be for the Niners to win one-on-one matchups between players like K’Waun Williams and Larry Fitzgerald. And it’s going to carry over into the pass rush as well.

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Palmer is 3-3 against the 49ers over his career with a 86.0 passer rating. He hasn’t exactly dominated the Niners, but an entirely new crop of players all but puts these splits to rest.

San Francisco doesn’t exactly have experienced cornerbacks to match up with Palmer’s targets either. On the outside, Rashard Robinson and Dontae Johnson haven’t exactly solidified themselves as lockdown-type defensive backs.

And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Palmer try to exploit this.

Next: NFl power rankings: Lots of top-10 shakeups in Week 4

If he can’t, though, the 49ers have a shot at making Arizona’s offense one-dimensional and, possibly, stealing a road victory in Week 4.