The reeling 49ers desperately needed a win last week, and they got just what the doctor ordered with a 33-22 victory over the Bears in Chicago.

Now, San Francisco returns home still looking for their first win at Levi’s Stadium in over a year when they host the 7-1 Cardinals. After the win over the Bears, the mood around this team has shifted quickly from “tear it all down” to “playoffs?!” with the 49ers potentially moving into the newly added third wild card spot.

With a 49ers victory on Sunday, coupled with a Panthers loss to the Patriots and a Vikings loss to the Ravens, San Francisco will take over the final position in the NFC playoffs at the mid-point of the season.

Here are my five questions to watch out for on Sunday.

1. Can Jimmy Garoppolo back up his performance against Chicago?

In the 49ers first matchup with the Cardinals this season, it was rookie Trey Lance making his first start of his career.

In the rematch, it will be Jimmy Garoppolo running the offense.

Coming off one of his best starts since 2019 in Chicago last week, Jimmy Garoppolo will face a team that he has been very successful against so far in his career.

Garoppolo has won three of his four starts against the Arizona Cardinals and thrown the for the most yards and touchdowns against them of opponent he has faced. In four games, Garoppolo has completed 105 of 148 pass attempts for 1,264 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.

2. Can the 49ers take advantage of the Arizona run defense?

The Arizona defense comes into the game on Sunday ranked second worst in the NFL against the run, allowing 4.9 yards per rushing attempt.

When these two teams last faced off, the 49ers were able to gain 152 yards rushing on 28 attempts. However, 16 of those carries came from 49ers quarterback Trey Lance and the offense struggled to get into sync.

With Garoppolo behind center this week, look for the 49ers to go back to their conventional run game. Last week, they were able to run through a better Chicago Bears defense for 145 yards and three touchdowns on only 26 attempts.

Arizona will be without veteran defensive lineman J.J. Watt on Sunday. In the first matchup, Watt dominated against Mike McGlinchey, shutting several plays down with solid penetration.

For the 49ers, running back Elijah Mitchell is listed as questionable with a rib injury suffered last week. Mitchell currently leads the 49ers in rushing with 433 yards. If he is unable to go, the team may turn to veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. Wilson returned to practice this week for the first time this season and Kyle Shanahan hinted on Friday that his status could depend on where or not Mitchell would be able to go.

3. How will the return of George Kittle impact the 49ers offense?

After missing the last three games with an injury, George Kittle will return to the field on Sunday.

This is a familiar situation for Kittle who last season returned from missing six games to face Arizona. In that week 16 contest a year ago, Kittle made his presence felt with 92 receiving yards on four catches. With Deebo Samuel nursing a calf injury, which is worse this week than last according to Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers could use a similar impact from Kittle on Sunday.

While Kittles’ last touchdown reception came more than a year ago, he is the best run blocking tight end in the NFL, and his presence on the field should provide a boost for the 49ers running game.

4. Who will be the quarterback for Arizona?

Kyler Murray has yet to practice this week for Arizona due to an ankle injury suffered against the Green Bay Packers. The Cardinals have listed Murray as questionable for Sunday.

If Murray is unable to go, Arizona will turn to veteran Colt McCoy.

While not having to face Murray would provide a big advantage for the 49ers defense, they need to be careful.
Replacing the starting quarterback is nothing new for McCoy. Last season as a member of the New York Giants, McCoy led the Giants to a 17-12 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.

5. Can the 49ers offense hold onto the football?

The Cardinal’s defense has been among the best in the NFL this season at creating turnovers and the 49ers offense is among the worst at avoiding them.

Arizona has forced a turnover in all but two of their eight games so far this season. Those two games have been their tightest contests, a one-point victory over Minnesota in week two and their loss last week to Green Bay.

On the flip side, the 49ers have not turned the ball over in only two games, victories at Philadelphia and Chicago.

Prediction:

49ers 23 Cardinals 16

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Coming off their bye week, the San Francisco 49ers will look to end their three-game losing streak when they host the India

napolis Colts on Sunday night. This marks the return of former 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to Santa Clara for the first time since he was traded following the 2019 season.

Here are the five questions I am looking for answers to during this game.

1. Can the 49ers’ offensive line spoil the homecoming of DeForest Buckner?

When San Francisco decided to trade Buckner to Indianapolis they lost a lot more than just his on-field production. Jimmie Ward was asked earlier this week about his feelings on the trade, “You know what Buckner brought to this team. He was the heart and soul when he was here,” said Ward. “We ended up getting Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk, but we lost a leader on this defense, on this team, in this building.”

Buckner is ready to face his former teammates, “It’s a little personal if you want to say that,” Buckner said when asked about his emotions heading into Sunday night.

On the field, Buckner has been a force on the Colts’ defense. In 2020 he was named first-team All-Pro, and Buckner this season he again ranks among the league’s best. He’s fifth among defensive tackles with 28 stops and has two sacks.

Buckner will provide quite a challenge for a 49ers offensive line that has struggled along with the interior, especially center Alex Mack and right guard Daniel Brunskill. Both Mack and Brunskill struggle to generate movement in the run game and get beat often in pass protection. If those two don’t step up on Sunday night, Buckner could make it a long night for the 49er’s offense.

2. Will Jimmy Garoppolo make a strong return?

After missing the second half of the 49er’s loss to Seattle and the Arizona game with an injured calf, Jimmy Garoppolo will return to the starting lineup on Sunday night.

The forecast calls for rain throughout the game on Sunday night, marking the first game in the rain at Levi’s Stadium since the 49ers hosted the Seattle Seahawks in week 12 of the 2017 season. What’s notable about that game is it marked the debut of Garoppolo with the 49ers. In an otherwise dreary game, Garoppolo would thrill the home crowd with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy on his second throw in a 49ers uniform.

San Francisco’s most recent game in conditions similar to what is expected on Sunday night came in 2019 when they faced Washington in a downpour. The 49ers would come out on top 9-0 and Garoppolo would go 12-21, 151 yards and an interception. Garoppolo will need to improve on that performance to come out on top against Indianapolis.

3. Can the 49ers’ offense generate explosive plays?

When fullback Kyle Juszczyk was asked Thursday about the issues facing the 49ers run game, his response actually could help explain why the entire offense has struggled to generate points in 2021.

“I feel like that’s what defines this league and makes great offenses is when you see these explosive plays. It’s tough in this league to go up and down the field, 10-12 play drives, and consistently do that and go score touchdowns,” said Juszczyk.

The San Francisco offense currently ranks 28th in the NFL in explosive plays. Explosive plays are defined as runs that gain 10 or more yards or passes that gain 15 or more yards. Only 8% of the 49ers’ 315 plays meet that criterion. A far cry from 2019 when the offense ranked second in this category at 13%. This drop represents three explosive plays per game less in 2021.

While the running game has seen a drop of approximately one per game from the 2019 level, it’s the passing game that has been most impacted. In 2019, 12% of 49ers’ pass plays went for 15 yards or more. That number has dropped to only 7% this season.

To bridge the gap the 49ers don’t necessarily need to push the ball down the field more in the passing game. Rather, they need to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers by any means possible. Finding ways to get more touches for an explosive player like Brandon Aiyuk should be the primary focus of the 49er’s offense over the next 12 weeks.

4. Can the 49ers defense contain Jonathan Taylor?

Speaking of explosive plays, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is one of the best in the NFL. Through the first six weeks of the season 19.5% of Taylor’s rushing attempts have gained 10 or more yards, the second-year player is averaging just under three per game.

San Francisco’s run defense has been a little hot and cold this season, however, they’ve done a better job in recent weeks of limiting the big plays on the ground. With the weather conditions calling for rain, the 49ers’ defense could face a steady dose of Taylor throughout the game and will need to limit the big runs.

5. Will the 49ers defense get to Carson Wentz?

For the second season in a row, the 49ers will face Wentz at Levi’s Stadium. Last year Wentz led the Philadelphia Eagles a 28-18 victory over San Francisco. In that Sunday night contest, Wentz opened the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run and later hit Travis Fulgham with a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a lead which they would not relinquish.

Wentz was traded to Indianapolis this offseason, and after a slow start to the season has begun to turn things around. Over the last four weeks,

Wentz has gone 79-124, 1,047 yards, and six touchdowns with no interceptions while leading the Colts to a 2-2 record.

The top target for Wentz has been Michael Pittman Jr. The second-year receiver from USC already has nearly the same numbers as he did during his rookie season and should draw plenty of attention from the 49ers secondary.

Prediction:

49ers 17 Colts 16

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This is the live blog for the 49ers Week 7 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. I will provide updates and analysis throughout the game.

3:42 The rain isn’t that bad at the moment, however the wind is really whipping out of the South. Rain is expected to pick up right around game time. 

3:46 Carson Wentz just wrapped up his pregame warmup. He was throwing for the last 20 minutes. No sign yet of Jimmy Garoppolo. 

3:54 The last time San Francisco beat Indianapolis was 2001. Following the game Colts coach Jim Mora was asked about his teams’ playoff chances. The response still lives on. 

3:58 49ers inactives: QB Trey Lance, WR Travis Benjamin, CB Ambry Thomas, CB Deommodore Lenoir, LT Trent Williams, DT Maurice Hurst, DT Javon Kinlaw

4:01 Colts inactives: QB Sam Ehlinger, G/T Will Fries, WR T.Y. Hilton, T Braden Smith, DE Kemoko Turay, RB Jordan Wilkins, CB Rock Ya-Sin

4:07 Jaylon Moore will start at left tackle in place of Trent Williams, and Aaron Banks is active for the first time this season. 

5:06 While the flags at the top of the stadium are really blowing, the wind is not bad down on the field. Rain has begun to pick up in the last 10 minutes. 

5:20 Colts win the toss and defer. 49ers will have the ball to open the game. 

5:28 Talk about explosive plays. Elijah Mitchell with three in a row, 20 yards, 14 yards and then another from 14 yards out a touchdown. Joey Slye misses the extra point though. 49ers 6 Colts 0

5:31 The two 14 yard rushes for Mitchell came with Indianapolis putting eight men in the box. 

5:33 On the Colts first play, Josh Norman knocks the ball out of his hands and Fred Warner recovers the fumble. 

5:38 Mitchell opens up the 49ers possession with a 12 yard run, but it stalls with back to back incompletions from Garoppolo. Joey Slye comes on to kick the field goal to put the 49ers up 9-0. The most first quarter points for the 49ers since week one in Detroit.

5:47 Why is Josh Norman playing and both rookie draft picks inactive tonight? The veteran gives up a 57 yard completion and then chases play action, vacating his zone, and Carson Wentz hits tight end Mo Alie-Cox who was wide open for an easy touchdown. 

5:53 49ers get another FG from Slye, this one from 56 yards out. The wind was at his back. 49ers ran the ball three times, all to the left side. The rookie left tackle Jaylon Moore looks pretty good so far. 

6:01 Jonathan Taylor came into the game averaging a run of 10 or more yards once in every five attempts, hits a 33 yard run down to the 49ers 2 yard line on his fourth attempt of the game. First quarter comes to a close with the Colts on the 49ers four yard line. 49ers 12 Colts 7

6:04 Carson Wentz gets pressured by Nick Bosa and tosses the ball directly to 49ers lineback Azeez Al-Shaair. 

6:07 On third and four, center Alex Mack gets beat and Jimmy Garoppolo throws incomplete to JaMycal Hasty. Mack has been mediocre in pass protection this year. 

6:13 Carson Wentz has thrown four passes to 49ers defenders so far tonight. Tried to throw two to Emmanuel Moseley on the last Colts possession but the cornerback dropped them both. Dee Ford put good pressure on Wentz on third down to force the last throw to Moseley. 

6:19 After a strong opening drive, the 49ers offense has stalled out with back-to-back three and outs. Didn’t even attempt a pass on that last possession. 

6:28 Deebo Samuel drops his seventh pass of the season, and the 49ers offense goes three and out for the third time in a row. 

6:38 Next possession, Jimmy Garoppolo completes the third down pass to Deebo Samuel who then fumbles. Indianapolis recovers the ball deep in San Francisco territory. 

6:41 The achilles heel of the 49ers defense this season has been the pass interference penalty. Emmanuel Moseley commits one in the end zone to set the Colts up with first and goal at the one. Carson Wentz makes them pay with a touchdown run two plays later. Wentz ran a touchdown in against the 49ers last year as well.

49ers have given up 59 yards on pass interference penalties in the first half. Colts 13 49ers 12 

6:49 49ers run out the clock to end the half. 

7:16 Third and four, San Francisco 40. 49ers defense stops Marlon Mack for no gain. Long drive for Indianapolis to open the second half results in no points, but the San Francisco offense will be backed up for their first possession of the half. 

7:23 49ers get a first down for the first time since the opening quarter, but Garoppolo gets hit and fumbles the ball. The San Francisco offense looks like it’s running in quicksand. 

7:28 49ers defense commits yet another pass interference penalty, this one on Jaquiski Tartt, and Jonathan Taylor makes them pay with a five yard touchdown run. Colts 20 49ers 12

That’s now 97 yards in pass interference penalties tonight. No wonder this defense is ranked so high in yards allowed.

7:38 The 49ers are such a sloppy football team. Get a completion for a first down, but it’s called back due to an illegal man downfield. Next play is a hold. That’s followed by a drop from Jauan Jennings. Then they finally throw a pass to Brandon Aiyuk for six yards before Kyle Shanahan gives up by calling a screen pass on third and nineteen. 

7:47 After the 49ers defense holds, Kyle Shanahan calls three straight play action passes and Jimmy Garoppolo hits on all of them for a 3 play, 70 yard touchdown drive. Garoppolo finished it off by finding Deebo Samuel over the middle. The two-point conversion fails. Colts 20 49ers 18

7:59 Colts offense responds by driving down to the 49ers 24 yard line before settling for a field goal.  Carson Wentz picked up 17 yards on a scramble. Colts 23 49ers 18

8:05 Garoppolo’s pass bounces off Deebo Samuel’s chest and is intercepted by Xavier Rhodes. 

8:14 The 49ers drafted two cornerbacks this season. Neither are active tonight. Instead the journeyman replacements get beat for touchdowns. Dre Kirkpatrick allowing the 28 yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Pittman.  Colts 30 49ers 18

8:18 Garoppolo throws another interception. Ballgame. 49ers will fall to 2-4 on the season. Colts 30 49ers 18

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