49ers vs Cardinals: Full Week 4 preview for San Francisco

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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Quarterback comparison

A shaky start to the season may have been stabilized after Hoyer’s game against the Rams.

Through two games, Hoyer was downright awful for the 49ers. The team failed to score a touchdown with eight quarters played, and Hoyer’s poor play was a catalyst for the team’s slow offensive start. It wasn’t entirely perfect in Week 3 versus the Rams, but it was a step in the right direction.

Hoyer finally found the deep ball, hitting both Garçon and Marquise Goodwin for gains over 50 yards. That figures to be a key element of the offense with Hyde playing so well. The yardage, 332 in total for Hoyer through the air against Los Angeles, was one of the most positive signs. It showed the team was actually moving the ball up the field.

At age 37, Carson Palmer is playing some of his best ball.

Even nearly 40 years old, Palmer is showing he still has some gas left in the tank. Palmer is 3rd in the league for passing yards (925) and passing yards a game (308.3). His play has warranted some lofty praise from his head coach Bruce Arians (via ESPN’S Josh Weinfuss):

"This is the best I’ve seen him in about two or three years, Arians said."

That came after Arians spoke highly of Palmer’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 where the 37-year-old quarterback threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns.