This is the first test this year of how much growth the Arizona Cardinals have made since last year, in building a contender in the NFC West division. This weekend they get ready to battle a division foe the San Francisco 49ers, which they just have not had much success against over the last few seasons. The 49ers are 9-1 in their last 10 match-ups with the Cards and most of those were no contest. The Cardinals put up a good fight for three quarters last season in a road loss to the power house Niners, in which their threat to win was shot down by a crucial turn-over by an unexpected source in wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. 
Fitz caught a deep in route and was making his way to completing a big play that had the Cardinals gaining momentum, and suddenly that was snatched away with the reach around slap that caused a fumble. This year the Cardinals have the home field advantage in the first meeting this season which can be critical in the psyche of the two teams. If the Cards struggle at home and fall short to the Niners yet again, then facing them in the final game of the year will be all the more difficult to accomplish. If they overcome them much like they did in Seattle last year and handle that good defense and still move the ball and score regularly, then that will began to turn the tide of the power houses in this division. This game is ripe for the taking, as the Niners are having their struggles on offense, starting with their starting quarterback Colon Kaepernick. Kaepernick threw three interceptions and a fumble in his previous loss to the Chicago Bears, and that secondary is not half as good as the one he will face in the Cardinals. The only problem is that the Redbirds are not getting enough pressure on the passer so far this year and with John Abraham on the shelf for a while it will be difficult to generate pressure off the edge. That is simply the key to the game, pressure to make a struggling quarterback force the ball down field. Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles blitz scheme may be the answer to pressure, as the secondary and linebackers do a great job at disguising where the free man is coming from. There will have to be a spy on Kaepernick all day to neutralize his running ability. Veterans Larry Foote and the Calais Campbell will have to lead the Defense to stuff out the running attack of Frank Gore. 
The Cardinals also will be without quarterback Carson Palmer another week, so back-up Drew Stanton will have to be sharper than he was last week, and be more accurate with his passes. Look for this to be a defensive slug fest early, and as the game goes on the Cardinals will neutralize the running game forcing the Niners to be one dimensional late in the game. The Cardinals should be able to win this game, having the home field advantage and more weapons on offense. Key player in this game will be rookie slot receiver John Brown against the Niners secondary that is not as great as they were a year ago. 
Can the Cardinals also keep the tight end position under wraps with rookie Deone Buccanon and Tyrann Mathieu, this will be a critical part to victory. If those elements are taken from a team like the Niners, who thrive on running the ball to set up the seam routes to the tight end. Without it they become very mediocre and very beatable. Look for early three-and-outs from both teams in this one and the final by the kicker as the Cardinals should come away victorious at home with a 23-19 win.
