The second AFC West game of the season is coming this Sunday for the 49ers. After blowing a lead to the Rams, they'll look to get even against the visiting Arizona Cardinals, who seem to have brought the desert with them.
Here are three things to look for on Sunday:
The heat
There are a number of forecasts out there for Sunday, but there is a clear consensus: it's going to climb well north of 90 degrees. The National Weather Service predicts a high near 94 degrees. Others have it higher. Weather.com predicts a 94-degree temperature at kickoff, which will climb. So too, do others. WeatherUnderground predicts it getting to 100 degrees.
It's going to be hot. If you're sitting in the sun, please consider watching at home. If you are going to the game, hydrate, and I'm not talking about the fun kind of "hydration." This is going to be brutal for anyone outside.
From the perspective of this affecting the game, consider that both teams have bruising runners. If neither team pulls away, it could be a slog determined by which defense is forced to stay on the field longer. James Conner is a bull in a china shop and Jordan Mason is as physical as they come.
Both teams are going to need to substitute regularly, and while the Cardinals have a putrid defense, their offense has electric upside. Especially the 49ers are without Fred Warner, they could run into major trouble trying to slow down Conner and Kyler Murray in the head. Keep an eye on rotations, and if you want to get galaxy-brained about it, notice when the shade comes in. It'll start on the 49ers' sideline.
Can safeties hold it together?
The 49ers might not be weak at safety by the end of this season, but they have nothing but questions there right now. George Odum was benched, and with Talanoa Hufanga injured, rookie Malik Mustapha got his first chance last week. Aside from an ugly, early missed tackle, he looked good. But he was mostly in the box.
With the 49ers running a lot of Cover-3, there's a ton on Ji'Ayir Brown's shoulders. So far, he has not impressed. His ability to be a true center-fielding safety is in question at this point, and the task against a true spread offense in the Cardinals is a major one.
When the Cardinals gutted the Rams in Week 2, it came from Kyler Murray taking shots to Marvin Harrison against one-on-one looks connected to poor safety play. Safeties either cheated to the wrong side or got manipulated, and when Murray sees man coverage opportunities on deep shots, he will take them.
The question, first, is whether the 49ers will start Hufanga over Mustapha, and whether he — a player who has been questionable at best in coverage throughout his career — is up for that challenge himself. Regardless of who is in the box, Brown will have a ton on his shoulders in coverage. This is a team that will test him with their vertical scheme.
A breakout game for Aiyuk?
Without the heat, and without questions over Fred Warner or George Kittle, this would be an easy one to pencil in as a win for the 49ers. But it's not. Both Warner and Kittle are questionable, and even if they play, the Cardinals are a mercurial team.
One thing that is glaring, however, is that their defense is a mess. It is one of the most obviously talent-devoid units in the league. They have Budda Baker and then... Dennis Gardeck? Zaven Collins.
When Brock Purdy was talking about Arizona's defense, he seemed like he was going to start naming some of their talented players, then stopped short at Baker.
"Obviously, like Budda Baker, and you know," Purdy said. He paused just briefly, before continuing to praise Baker. "Just what he brings to the defense and his energy that definitely stands out on foot. So that's something that you have to account for."
Maybe that's reading too much into it, but it's pretty clear the only stud you can clearly single out on this defense is Baker. There are other competent players, and rookie corner Max Melton out of Rutgers could have an increased role in this game, but there's a lack of talent that leads to a lack of execution.
On tape, you see a defense that leaves gaping holes in coverage. There were a couple of plays against Washington when Jayden Daniels could have reasonably thrown to any of his five eligible receivers. Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy will see and take advantage of that.
And so, too, should Brandon Aiyuk. He's been held at bay, running routes well but failing to reel the ball in. I suspect that changes this week, unless the heat gets the better of the 49ers' offense. There's just too much space to exploit and a clear gap in talent. Aiyuk should (key word there is "should") get back on track this week.
Bonus: What is 49ers' plan if they're without Warner?
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how bleak the 49ers' linebacker situation looks behind Fred Warner. De'Vondre Campbell has just not impressed. He appears to have lost a step, and that's not surprising. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has made Campbell look great by comparison, and he's out this week. So, too, is Curtis Robinson, who's done for the season.
Then you have Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune and the just-re-signed Jalen Graham. The plan, it may seem, is having Bethune (who has worked at the backup backup MIKE) potentially play there next to Campbell.
We'll see. Or, as the 49ers' would hope, we won't. Either way, their linebacker depth is not inspiring, and some young players may be asked to step in for a player who is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year caliber. That's a tall order.