The San Francisco 49ers have won only a single game this season, and the fan base has moved on to thinking about what the team might do with its first-round pick, which will be a high one. But for Chip Kelly, Colin Kaepernick, and just about every player on the roster, they still want to play their hardest and earn jobs next year.
49ers vs. Cardinals 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Can Kaepernick succeed where Gabbert failed vs. the Cardinals?
Kaepernick hasn't played well thus far, but he's coming off his best game yet and will try to notch a significant win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. It's meaningful because they're NFC West rivals, even if neither team is really in the running for the division lead. There's also the small matter of the fact that the Cardinals demolished the 49ers earlier in the season in Week 5.
Sunday’s game will be in the afternoon slate, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. A live stream will be available online via FOX Sports GO and via an online Sunday Ticket subscription.
Blaine Gabbert was the starting quarterback for the first meeting, and he looked awful. He completed 18 passes for just 162 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers allowed him to be sacked seven times, and they lost a fumble on top of that. The next week, the 49ers started Kaepernick and haven't gone back to Gabbert.
The Cardinals won 33-21, with running back David Johnson rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Stanton was the starting quarterback for the Cardinals in that game while Carson Palmer was in concussion protocol, and the backup threw a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions. The 49ers simply committed a ton of mistakes, and that's been a huge problem this season. They have looked undisciplined.
For all the talk about Gabbert, Kaepernick, and the offense, the 49ers' defense has been abysmal this season. Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil has been unable to get the 49ers ready for any opponent save for the Los Angeles Rams back in Week 1, when the 49ers notched their only win of the season.
The 49ers rank dead last in the league in both total yardage allowed per game (428) and points allowed per game (32.5).
It's a shame that Kaepernick had his best game of the season against the New Orleans Saints in their last outing. Drew Brees annihilated the 49ers' defense, as did running backs Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower. Kaepernick completed 24 of 39 passes for 398 yards with two touchdowns, and rushed for 23 yards. Not only did the defense do him no favors, but he also had very little help from running back DuJuan Harris with Carlos Hyde out for the game.
Palmer will be under center for the Cardinals this time around. He had one of his best games of the season the last time out, with 363 yards and three touchdowns with one interception against the Carolina Panthers.
Below is all you need to know for Sunday’s game.
How to Watch 49ers vs. Cardinals on Sunday
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: U of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: FOX
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, FOX Sports GO
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