Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: First-take regular-season schedule predictions for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals is hit by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals is hit by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Week 5 vs. Arizona Cardinals

They won’t admit it, but the Arizona Cardinals are entering the early phases of what looks to be a long rebuild.

Quarterback Carson Palmer? Gone to retirement. Head coach Bruce Arians? Same. The only true weapons left on offense are running back David Johnson and veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford has to engineer something behind an offensive line that ranked 25th in pass protection last year, according to Football Outsiders.

Yikes!

While there are some defensive pieces Arizona can work around, this unit just won’t look the same without safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was released and subsequently signed with the already defensively stout Houston Texans.

Yeah, this should be a laugher for the 49ers.

Prediction: 49ers 35, Cardinals 14