For once, the 49ers will be relieved to be facing Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
The Cardinals club that faced the 49ers in Week 3 will not be the same team that faces them in Week 15.
The Cardinals will have their franchise quarterback, Kyler Murray, on hand this time. It won’t be as easy as the last time they faced Josh Dobbs. Murray has been impressive in his return, so the 49ers defense will be tested. And it is a challenge the 49ers will gladly accept.
That is because facing Murray this week comes at a perfect time for the 49ers. By far, the most difficult game that the 49ers will play in the final four weeks of the season is against the Ravens. The difficulty stems from Lamar Jackson who is always a stressful handful. So, the 49ers needed to face a quarterback this week who is smooth in the pocket, can take off at any moment, and execute the scramble drill at a high-level.
Who better to replicate Jackson than Murray?
They’re basically getting a warm up for Jackson by facing Murray and the Cardinals this week. Now, it won’t be that similar to a replication. The Ravens have way better players on offense with explosive ability in both the run and pass game than the Cardinals. But when it comes to defending a fast, elusive, and excellent passer, the 49ers are in luck with replication there with Murray this week.
“I think when he gets outside the pocket, he can run, he can leave you, he can go by you,” said defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. “So, we’ve got to do a great job making sure we try to contain him.”
I bet Wilks is going to echo the same thing next week. The 49ers did a tremendous job with making Hurts look average, especially as an athletic playmaker. Murray will be a tougher challenge from that standpoint, but that tough challenge will go a long way for the 49ers defense when they have to prepare for Jackson and the Ravens on Christmas.
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