4 bold 49ers predictions for NFC West showdown vs. Cardinals

Niner Noise looks at some bold predictions for Week 4, as the 49ers look to start the season 4-0 as they host a surprisingly decent Cardinals outfit in a NFC West showdown.

The San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed a nice start to a 2023 season that's already thrown up some curveballs across the league, as the team is one of only three to start the season with a perfect 3-0 record (alongside the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins).

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San Francisco is looking to get to 4-0 as it takes on a 1-2 Arizona Cardinals team that looks significantly better than those (myself included) who assumed it'd be the worst in football. Instead, quarterback Joshua Dobbs looks very solid, the running game is surprisingly well set up and the defense has been punching above its weight.

If nothing else, it might be a blessing in disguise for the 49ers that the Cardinals defeated a team some thought was better than San Francisco, upsetting the Dallas Cowboys 28-16 last week.

This means the Niners were given a big reality check not to look ahead to the showdown against the Cowboys in Week 5, and instead keep both eyes firmly in front of them in this divisional showdown.

Let's take a quick look at some big predictions for this 49ers versus Cardinals game.

Bold 49ers prediction No. 1: Christian McCaffrey breaks franchise record for most consecutive games with a touchdown

This one is technically cheating, if for no other reason than it isn't exactly a bold prediction. But let's get this one out of the way quickly.

Running back Christian McCaffrey has 12 straight games for the 49ers where he's hit the end zone, and he's tied the legendary receiver Jerry Rice in doing so after barrelling through for a touchdown last week on Thursday Night Football.

I'm not going to bet against him. McCaffrey will make the record his own on Sunday and go into the end zone for his 13th straight game with a touchdown to his name.

Let's go with two, in fact, with 150 yards rushing and receiving, and a touchdown running and catching the ball.