49ers vs. Cardinals: 3 stats that should scare San Francisco

No. 1: An MVP-like Kyler Murray already gives 49ers problems

Mobile quarterbacks aren’t fun for any defense, especially San Francisco’s, and Kyler Murray has been notorious for making the 49ers’ crop of pass-rushers and linebackers look bad since he was selected No. 1 overall back in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Three years into his pro career, however, Murray is no longer the up-and-coming signal-caller. He’s playing at an MVP level, and the numbers show it.

Pick a quarterbacking category, and there’s a good chance he’s close to the top if not at No. 1:

• Completion percentage: 76.1 (1st)
• Passing yards: 1,273 (3rd)
• Passing touchdowns: 9 (5th)
• Pass yards per game: 318.3 (3rd)
• Passer rating: 115.0 (5th)

Murray has also scrambled for 109 yards and three touchdowns this season, too, so the Niners are likely to face contain issues again, much as they did in Week 2 against the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts.

Only Murray has a much better arm than Hurts, opening up Pandora’s box of problems for San Francisco’s defense.

True, mobile quarterbacks often open themselves up for more sacks, simply because they’re trying to keep plays along longer than non-mobile QBs would. But Murray’s eight sacks taken this year is more of a middle-of-the-pack number, suggesting getting pressure on him won’t necessarily be all the difference.

The 49ers and Cardinals kick off their Week 5 matchup on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 4:25 p.m. ET from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.