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Cardinals vs. 49ers: 5 Week 9 matchups to watch for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 28: Kerwynn Williams #33 of the Arizona Cardinals advances the ball against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 28: Kerwynn Williams #33 of the Arizona Cardinals advances the ball against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers’ Reuben Foster vs. Cardinals’ Adrian Peterson

With the long-term injury to running back David Johnson, the Cardinals’ ground game quickly fell to the worst in the league.

It still is, averaging 63.4 yards per game, even after trading for veteran tailback Adrian Peterson earlier this season.

Peterson, 32 years old, is averaging 4.2 yards per carry. And it wouldn’t be a shock to see head coach Bruce Arians try to incorporate more of the rushing attack to take pressure off his less-than-stellar quarterback, Drew Stanton.

This likely means a lot of work for rookie linebacker Reuben Foster, who returned to action from an ankle sprain against the Dallas Cowboys but was subsequently lost to a ribs injury ahead of Week 8.

Foster’s second game against Dallas wasn’t particularly great compared to the 11 snaps to open up the season.

Still, the ability for the rookie to converge on the veteran tailback and force Arizona’s rushing abilities out of the offensive equation will be a crucial factor in San Francisco pulling off a win.