Niner Noise
FanSided

3 things 49ers flashed vs. Cardinals which will help 2019 playoff run

By Jeremy Wohlfart

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field following the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 28-25. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field following the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 28-25. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers eludes the tackle of safety Deionte Thompson #35 of the Arizona Cardinals on a touchdown catch and run during the first half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers eludes the tackle of safety Deionte Thompson #35 of the Arizona Cardinals on a touchdown catch and run during the first half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

No. 1: The 49ers can handle being the heavy favorites

Before this game, the only game where the 49ers came in as overwhelming favorites was against the lowly Washington Redskins.

The team came away with a 9-0 road shutout, but the ridiculously wet conditions meant the game itself was an anomaly and wasn’t very good for telling how good or bad a team is.

So this Week 9 game against the Cardinals was the first real test of being a favorite.

It reeked of a trap game. A divisional game on the road, while having only a few days to recover and prepare.

While the 49ers were not totally switched on, the team never gave up the lead once they wrested it off the Arizona Cardinals. Even though they were put under pressure, they did not break.

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1190074078159179777

If the Niners continue on the tangent they’re on, the road to the Super Bowl will go through Santa Clara in the NFC. At worst, you would expect them to win the NFC West and have a home playoff game.

And against a Wild Card team, you would expect San Francisco to be a heavy favorite.

It’s easy to be an underdog and have nothing to lose, but what if you’re the favorite and everyone expects you to get the win?

Well, the 49ers showed they can weather the expectation, expectation that can cripple a team which isn’t prepared to be crowned one of the best teams out there (just look at how the Cleveland Browns handled this expectation so far).

This’ll serve the Niners well in the future.