NFL power rankings: 49ers stay hot, Bears tumble in Week 10
By Peter Panacy
W, 28-25 @ Cardinals
How about that? The 49ers are the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team. Let that sink in for a second.
San Francisco 49ers
It wasn’t easy, particularly in the second half. But the 49ers avoided falling into the trap game on Thursday Night Football, beating a Cardinals team many thought would be much worse than they actually are this season.
San Francisco had some difficulty moving the ball on the ground, while the 49ers defense was unusually vulnerable against both the run and the pass, allowing Arizona to close the gap late.
Losing linebacker Kwon Alexander to a season-ending pectoral injury is a huge blow, and it will be a challenge for the 49ers to overcome that setback. But head coach Kyle Shanahan is also getting some notable reinforcements back soon, namely cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey — all of whom have missed significant time with injuries.
They’ll be coming back at a crucial time, as the 49ers schedule gets considerably tougher in coming weeks.
But when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo winds up tossing a career-high four touchdowns on a short week on the road, it’s a good sign.
Look for Garoppolo to continue his solid play down the stretch, as the 49ers look to pound their way into the postseason.