Granted, this match up doesn’t have the implications that the 49ers were hoping it would have (a few weeks ago it looked as if this game could decide the division) but this is still a winnable game and an opportunity for a young team to grow. The number one thing that the Niners need to avoid doing is being intimidated by the way in which the Cardinals beat the Vikings last week, this is still the team that the Niners beat at the beginning of the season, and this is still the team that allowed over 500 yards of offense from the Tennessee Titans the week before facing the Vikings.

In other words the Cardinals are beatable and the Niners are playing at home so they need to look at this as a game they should win. That is the mentality that a winning team needs to have, not only are they playing at home but they already beat this team this year, many coaches would call that a must win game.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this home stretch of the season is where we will see what Mike Singletary can really do, this is a young team that he needs to teach to be aggressive and take all that they can. Norv Turner put it well to his team, the San Diego Chargers, right before their win streak started. Right now you are playing like you are protecting something, he told them, I want you to go out there and take it. And there is an opportunity to take, or steal depending on how you look at it, one from the Cardinals tonight.

The key to the game for the 49ers is going to be their offense. Most people have been saying that it is going to come down to their defense but considering the injuries the Niners have in their defensive secondary that seems unlikely and unfair for the Niners to expect them to shut down the Arizona receivers much less do as well as a fully healthy secondary did in week 1. In this game I expect the Niners to have the mentality that the best defense is a good offense. If the Niners can have sustained drives that end in points they will have a good chance at this game because they will be forcing Arizona’s best players to watch the game from the bench.

Arizona’s defense has been getting better, but a mere two weeks ago they allowed 369 passing yards from the second least productive passing attack in the league (the Titans). That means there is a chance for the 49ers to get first downs with their passing game, the trick is going to be doing a better job of sprinkling in the running game. Even the least pro-style college spread offenses run the ball at least one third of the time and that is something the Niners failed to do against Seattle last week. If a team fails to run at least one third of the time then they are being very one dimensional making it that much easier for the opposing defense to stop them as the game goes on.

Team/Player Photos: San Francisco 49ers Team / Player Photos on Jul 23, 2010

The other thing that long sustained drives from the 49er offense will accomplish is keeping their defenses’ pass rushers well rested. Thanks to the depleted secondary I mentioned earlier the 49ers pass rushers such as Ahmad Brooks, Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, and Justin Smith and Ray McDonald need to be as fresh as they can because the Niners need them in the Arizona backfield as much as possible to help out the defensive backs, namely Tarell Brown (who will mostly cover Steve Breaston) and Dre’ Bly (who will mostly cover Anquan Boldin). In the Niners last game against Arizona Shawntae Spencer was matched up on Larry Fitzgerald a bit and did a solid job so hopefully he can do so again this time around.

This 49ers team may not be as talent ridden as the Arizona Cardinals, but that didn’t stop them from beating them once already this year. If the Niners are going to win however, they will need a solid game plan from their coaches as well as solid execution from their players. If they fail to do so the Niners might be looking at another 7-9 season, and another season that many will say saw little growth.