SF look like the play here. SF have been the more consistent team recently, while ARI have struggled to find their form.

Key matchups

Each unit ranked against all 32 teams on 2026 play-by-play through week 2. Longer bar is better; a gold rank marks the side with the edge.

When the Cardinals have the balloffence against defence, rank of 32 (1st is best)

ARI offence

SF defence

OverallEPA per play

20th

8th

PassingEPA per dropback

20th

8th

RushingEPA per carry

23rd

13th

Third downconversion rate

21st

13th

Pass protectionsack rate: allowed vs forced

7th

13th

Biggest gap: overall, where the 49ers defence has a 12-place edge.

When the 49ers have the balloffence against defence, rank of 32 (1st is best)

SF offence

ARI defence

OverallEPA per play

2nd

13th

PassingEPA per dropback

1st

21st

RushingEPA per carry

9th

9th

Third downconversion rate

2nd

14th

Pass protectionsack rate: allowed vs forced

1st

18th

Biggest gap: passing, where the 49ers offence has a 20-place edge.

Only 2 weeks of data so far: treat ranks as a direction, not a verdict.

Form and history

Cardinals this season

W26-14wk 1 at LACL7-31wk 2 vs SEA

49ers this season

W27-7wk 1 at LAW35-13wk 2 vs MIA

Last 5 meetingsARI 2 · SF 3

41-22SF at ARI
2025-11

15-16ARI at SF
2025-09

24-47SF at ARI
2025-01

24-23ARI at SF
2024-10

45-29SF at ARI
2023-12

Injury report

Cardinalsmodel impact 0.0

Will JohnsonDB · Neck	Out
Trey BensonRB · Knee	IR
James ConnerRB · Foot	IR
Tip ReimanTE · Ankle	PUP
Jameson GeersTE	IR
Kaleb ProctorDT · Knee - Meniscus	IR
Chase BisontisG · Knee - MCL	IR
Zach CarterDL · Knee	IR
Joey BlountDB	IR
Kitan CrawfordDB · Ankle	IR
Andrew BillingsDT · Knee	Questionable
Max MeltonDB · Toe	Questionable

49ersmodel impact 0.0

Demarcus RobinsonWR · Ankle	Out
Ricky PearsallWR · Knee - PCL	IR
De'Zhaun StriblingWR · Ankle	IR
Christian KirkWR · Calf	IR
Isaac GuerendoRB · Pectoral	PUP
Jake TongesTE · Knee	IR
Nate HobbsCB · Groin	IR
Mikail KamaraDE · Knee	IR
Sam OkuayinonuDE · Foot	IR
Andrew FarmerLB · Back	IR
Nick MartinLB	IR
Austen PleasantsOL · Knee	IR

Player props

Every posted line with the market's view and each player's last ten games against it.

Player props for this game haven't been posted by the books yet. They usually land Thursday to Saturday.

The betting view

Posted odds, the same odds with the bookmaker's margin removed, and where the model disagrees.

Read this before you bet: picking winners is not beating the price. At posted odds our 2025 flat-bet ROI was −6.9%. Use the model as one view of the game, not a tip.