SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — A matchup with the offensively challenged New England Patriots was just what the San Francisco 49ers' defense needed to get back on track. A better test of whether those early season struggles were a temporary blip or a more concerning problem will come Sunday when the Niners (2-2) host Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals (1-3).
“He's hard,” San Francisco defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said about dealing with the dual threat from Murray. “Those guys are hard to deal with, because he does have the arm strength and he can escape like a freaking punt returner. He’s got elite quickness and doesn’t have to have his feet set to throw the ball.
So you have to be disciplined. ..
. It's one of those track shoe-type days.” San Francisco had six sacks and two takeaways last week when the Niners shut down the Patriots after allowing 6.
1 yards per play the first three games. Now they have to deal with Murray. Murray looks far more comfortable running Arizona's offense this year than he did a year ago, when he came back late in the season from a knee injury.
But the performance still has been a bit up and down. He showed flashes in the opener against Buffalo and then was at his best the following week in a victory over the Rams , in which he threw for three TDs and made big plays with his feet. Murray has been less productive the last two weeks with the Cardinals held to 27 points in losses to Detroit and Washington , adding urgency to this w.
