Redemption time: 49ers defense needs better showing vs. Cardinals

Although the Seattle game is the only loss on the season, it may have been the defense’s best performance.

Although the Seattle game is the only loss of the season, it may have been the defense’s best performance. If it weren’t for the turnovers from the offense, the story would have been dominated by the 49ers’ defensive dominance.

Now they take on an Arizona team that gave them some fits and forced what may have been their worst performance just two weeks ago.

The defense will want to show they can hang against Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. Here are the six players to watch on that side of the ball:

LB Fred Warner

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Warner impressed against Seattle with the best game of his career. He finished with 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection, and was all over the field in general. The defense lost a leader in Kwon Alexander, but if Warner can continue his performance from Monday night, he can step into a new role as the heart of the defense.

6 players to watch on banged up 49ers offense vs. Cardinals

The 49ers offense needs a bounce-back game, but won’t have a couple key players.

The 49ers offense has been a ‘Jekyll and Hide’ tale the past two weeks. The offense was hitting on all cylinders two weeks ago against Arizona, putting up 28 points en route to a victory. Then the offense struggled and couldn’t get into a rhythm, leading to their first loss of the season against the Seahawks on Monday night.

The offense faces the same Arizona team it rolled over two weeks ago, and looks to bounce back with a repeat performance. Here are the six players to watch:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

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The biggest question entering Sunday is which Garoppolo will show up? The one who lit Arizona up to the tune of 317 yards and four touchdowns, or the one that looked skittish in the pocket all night against Seattle? If Garoppolo looks like he did against Seattle, the 49ers could head into their key game against Green Bay with back-to-back losses.