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Cardinals vs. 49ers: 5 matchups to watch in Week 11 for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals scores a two point conversion during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. 49ers won 28-25. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals scores a two point conversion during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. 49ers won 28-25. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers Run Defense vs. Kenyan Drake

The Niners don’t have many defensive weaknesses this season. But if there is one area of concern so far in 2019, it’s been against the run.

Through nine games, the 49ers are allowing an average of 4.6 yards per carry to opponents — good for 24th — and more than a handful of teams have used this to their advantage over the course of the season.

The situation won’t be made any easier, thanks to the season-ending pectoral injury suffered by linebacker Kwon Alexander. True, rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw stepped in nicely during the loss to Seattle last week. But San Francisco will be facing yet another tough ground challenge Arizona will likely feature.

Running back Kenyan Drake.

Drake was a monster back in Week 9, rushing for a whopping 110 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown, also adding 52 more yards on four catches through the air.

Perhaps the 49ers focus on shutting Drake down in this contest by stacking the box, too. Yet that opens up another problem San Francisco will have to deal with as a result, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.