49ers-Cardinals Game Could Prove Crucial to NFC West Hierarchy

It's only Week 3 in the NFL, but Sunday's game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers has a feel of extra importance to it.

Especially for San Francisco. 

The Cardinals are 2-0. They could take a two-game lead over the 49ers. They're 9-2 in their last 11 regular-season games. They're a major threat to the NFC West's status quo hierarchy. 

Which is why the 49ers (1-1) need a win. 

"We’re going to have to be at our absolute best in all phases," head coach Jim Harbaugh said, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com. "That’s my impression. They’re a very good football team and we know that. Played them twice last year and they’re off to a heck-of-a-good start this year."

I'm well aware the 49ers started 1-2 a year ago before rattling off wins in 11 of 13 games, including the final six, to finish 12-4. But this time, the 49ers don't have an easy five-game stretch starting in Week 4. 

This time, they could be chasing two NFC West teams, not one. 

The Cardinals are for real, just like they were last year. Only this year, they knew it going into training camp. They knocked off the Chargers, who whipped the Seahawks on Sunday, in Week 1. Arizona followed that with a 25-14 road win over the New York Giants, which was all the more impressive considering backup quarterback Drew Stanton started. 

	1st 3 Quarters	4th Quarter	Total +/-
San Francisco	+31	-28	+3
Arizona	-15	+27	+12

Defensive stars Daryl Washington (suspension) and Darnell Dockett (injury) were lost for the year during preseason. Despite that, the Cardinals have allowed just 2.6 yards per carry, second best in the NFL. It's more of the same from Arizona, which was second last season in the same category. 

The last time these two teams played in Week 17 of the 2013 season, Gore had 14 rushing yards on 13 carries. Colin Kaepernick picked up the slack with 310 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two great throws to set up San Francisco's game-winning field goal as time expired.

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Though the Cardinals' blueprint didn't yield the desired result, it's one that has to concern the Niners.

After all, the 49ers are 2-4 since 2012 (playoffs included) when Gore has run for fewer than 40 yards.

I suspect the Cardinals will take away Gore, which means the 49ers will have to win this game with a combination of great passing and defense. 

Kaepernick is coming off a four-turnover game. So is the Arizona defense. It's a bad combination for the Niners, who are vulnerable to mistakes when their passing play calls become predictable. Vernon Davis, who has a severe ankle injury that sidelined him for the end of the Week 2 game, would make things tougher on Kap if he misses the game.

Fortunately for the 49ers, Michael Crabtree tends to play big against the Cardinals. 

In eight career games against Arizona, Crabtree has 616 receiving yards and six touchdowns. In 2012, No. 15 had 244 receiving yards and four TDs against Arizona, burning Patrick Peterson several times in the process. 

	Targets	Catches	Yards	TDs
Week 17, 2013	8	3	29	0
Week 17, 2012	12	8	173	2
Week 8, 2012	5	5	72	2
Week 14, 2011	12	7	63	0
Week 11, 2011	10	7	120	0

In Week 17 of 2013, when the Cards focused on limiting Crabtree (three catches, 29 yards), Anquan Boldin went off for 149 yards and a touchdown. 

So, even if the 49ers don't run the ball well, they have enough aerial firepower to move the ball against Arizona. 

The big unknown casting its shadow over this game is the status of Carson Palmer. (Update: The Cardinals announced Stanton will start.)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 11th-year signal-caller has a nerve issue affecting his shoulder. The Cardinals will once again go with Stanton. 

Palmer threw for 407 yards the last time these two teams met, with 202 of them going to star receivers Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald. Stanton, on the other hand, has averaged 187.2 passing yards per game in his five career starts (with 252 as his career high). 

So yeah, it's a big loss. 

The injuries for both teams, in some ways, would make this game even more devastating for the loser. 

You see, the Cardinals have lost nine of 10 to the 49ers and the last four overall. This is their chance to solve the 49ers riddle with NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith and possibly Anthony Davis and Vernon Davis out.

The Cardinals can't afford to get swept by San Francisco again and expect to make the playoffs. They need to hold serve on their home field. 

The 49ers can't afford to lose to Arizona without Palmer. Not with road games in Denver, Seattle and New Orleans on the schedule. Not with Philadelphia, San Diego and home meetings with Arizona and Seattle on the schedule. 

No matter who the starting QB is, if the Niners lose this game, they're in trouble. But if they lose this game to Stanton, they're signaling to the rest of the NFL just how vulnerable they are. 

And they'd drop to No. 3 in the NFC West pecking order. 

Will the 49ers continue their dominance against Arizona, or will a new NFC West juggernaut establish its place?

A win Sunday would knock the Cardinals down a peg and keep the 49ers away from an early-season hole. It's an opportunity, one the 49ers need to take advantage of, to kill two birds with one stone.

Joseph Akeley is a San Francisco 49ers Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.