49ers vs. Cardinals: 3 crucial X-factors to watch in Week 9 bout
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers vs. Cardinals vs. third downs
If there’s been one glaring weakness the Niners have dealt with this season, it’s been converting on third downs.
Even with the 4-of-10 third-down conversion rate San Francisco had in the Week 8 road win over the Chicago Bears, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad is still converting only 32.5 percent of third-down attempts this season.
That’s third worst in the NFL entering Week 9.
Consequently, things might not get much easier for the 49ers offense on Sunday, as Arizona actually boasts the NFL’s best third-down defense this season with opponents successfully converting just 30.9 percent of the time here.
It’s possible a Colt McCoy-led offense struggles to move the ball, though, meaning the Cardinals defense winds up having to be on the field a lot during the game, thereby increasing the chances for a higher Niners conversion rate.
In order for that to happen, though, McCoy and the Cardinals will have to drop from their current 44.0 third-down success rate this season, albeit those numbers were strongly influenced by Kyler Murray being at the helm.