4 reasons why SF 49ers have no chance vs. Cardinals in Week 16
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers run game takes a big hit with Raheem Mostert out
The SF 49ers are going to have a tough time defending the Cardinals’ top offensive weapons, including quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
One of the best ways to prevent this, of course, would be to keep Arizona’s offense off the field. And to do that, as well as take pressure off C.J. Beathard, would be to maintain a strong ground game.
But that won’t be easy at all in Week 16, particularly in the wake of top running back Raheem Mostert being shut down for the season with an ankle injury.
The Niners ground game is significantly more effective with Mostert in the lineup. In Weeks 7 through 10, when Mostert was already out with injury, San Francisco had just one game with significant rushing totals: Week 7 versus the New England Patriots when running back Jeff Wilson Jr. took over the game.
Yet after Wilson’s own injury, the SF 49ers managed no more than 60 rush yards in the three games afterwards before Mostert returned.
Unless Wilson somehow goes off in Arizona, the Niners won’t get much from their ground game either.