The 49ers rank second-worst in the league with just two interceptions. They play the Raiders in Week 9.

Analysis: QB Derek Carr has thrown eight picks this season but none over the last two weeks. The offense runs through him now since Marshawn Lynch (groin) is on injured reserve and Amari Cooper is in Dallas. The 49ers likely don't fear RB Doug Martin, who averaged 5.5 YPC in Week 8 but coughed up a fumble, and TE Jared Cook may be the Raiders' top passing option. The 49ers have been strong against tight ends, too, allowing just two to catch more than two passes in a game through six weeks. The matchup…read more

The 49ers allowed 28 points and didn't force a turnover in their game against the Cardinals three weeks ago. The two sides will meet again Sunday.

Analysis: Since the two teams last played each other, the Cardinals have fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and replaced him with Byron Leftwich. It's tough to tell how that offensive dynamic will shift with Leftwich calling the plays, but it's likely he opens up the field for RB David Johnson and makes life easier on QB Josh Rosen. Still, it's fair to expect growing pains with the new offense, which has proven turnover prone with Rosen at the helm. The Cardinals aren't prepared to light anyone up,…read more

The 49ers have allowed at least 24 points in each game this season and forced just three total turnovers. They'll play the Rams in Week 7.

Analysis: The Rams have one of the highest-powered offenses in the league, ranking first in the league with 464.3 total yards per game and third with 32.7 points per game. They leave little for opposing defenses to harvest from, either, turning the ball over just six times (five interceptions, one fumble) this season. That leaves a low floor for a 49ers squad that hasn't performed well defensively this season. The potential isn't here this week for San Francisco D/ST, and it may not be for a while.

The 49ers have allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 63.2 percent of their red-zone trips, ranking 22nd in the league in that category. They'll take on the Packers in Green Bay in Week 6.

Analysis: Green Bay, meanwhile, has found paydirt on 50 percent of its trips. This shouldn't be a surprise for a team led by QB Aaron Rodgers, and if Randall Cobb (hamstring) and Geronimo Allison (concussion) both return to the lineup, it could spell trouble for the 49ers. It's no secret that Rodgers can rack up major points on a good day and is masterful at avoiding turnovers, but he's been dropped 16 times in five games this season and is hobbled by a knee injury. Still, it's a general rule of thumb to…read more

CB Richard Sherman (calf) is unlikely to play Week 5 against the Cardinals.

Analysis: The Cardinals will give rookie QB Josh Rosen his second start after he held his own with 180 passing yards, one touchdowns and zero interceptions in Week 4 against Seattle. Missing Sherman will hurt the 49ers' abilities to contain a pass attack that still features wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, not to mention dual-threat RB David Johnson, who is just starting to get the touches he deserves. Even though there's plenty of question marks for Arizona's offense, the 49ers simply…read more

The 49ers lost 38-27 to the Chiefs in Week 3. They'll play the Chargers in Week 4.

Analysis: The 49ers had more answers for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes than either of the previous teams, but that still means getting carved up for 314 yards and three touchdowns. The Chargers are currently the fifth-ranked offense with 415.3 yards per game and have plenty of targets for the passing game, including RB Melvin Gordon, who has two rushing and two receiving touchdowns so far. The 49ers will be hard-pressed to stop this threatening pass attack since CB Richard Sherman (calf) is out 2-to-3 weeks.…read more

The 49ers beat the Lions 30-27 in Week 2. They'll play the Chiefs in Week 3.

Analysis: The 49ers have allowed quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford to combine for 591 passing yards, five touchdowns and zero picks over the first two games. Life won't get easier against Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who sparked his career with 10 touchdown passes his first two games. The Chiefs have racked up 80 points in their first two games and turned the ball over just once. The 49ers simply don't have the man power in the secondary to keep up with wideouts Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins,…read more

FS Adrian Colbert is dealing with a shoulder injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams.

Analysis: The Rams lit up the 49ers in Week 3 for 41 points, but that was back when Colbert was just a special teams player. Also, that was when RB Todd Gurley and QB Jared Goff were playing, and both will sit out for rest Sunday. That gives the 49ers some compelling upside, even if their defense has struggled lately. Still, it's hard to project what will come out of the Rams' backups on Sunday, so consider the 49ers D/ST a risky start Sunday.

FS Adrian Colbert (concussion) will play Sunday against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Colbert has averaged just 3.7 tackles per game through six weeks as a starter, and he'll likely have his hands full against a hot Jaguars squad. Surprisingly enough, Jaguars QB Blake Bortles has been the best signal caller in the NFL during December, making for a very difficult matchup ahead Sunday. The Jags have always had a powerful running attack, but this new emergence of a pass game makes them a truly frightening offensive unit. Even though the 49ers haven't allowed more than 25 points in…read more

SS Eric Reid is battling a knee and rib injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans.

Analysis: The 49ers get a bad rap based on namesake, but their last five outings haven't been all bad. In that span, they've forced five turnovers and haven't allowed an opponent to surpass 24 points or 400 yards. Not outstanding, but not awful either. The Titans struggled severely against the Cardinals last week, accruing just 204 total yards of offense, seven points and yielding two interceptions. Tennessee has coughed the ball up nine times in the last four games, and that trend could continue if the…read more

FS Albert Colbert is dealing with a thumb injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.

Analysis: Colbert was able to play through this injury in Week 13, so it shouldn't be an issue in Week 14. It's a good thing too, as he'll have plenty of opportunities to make some plays on the ball, since the Texans have given it up 10 times in the last four games. The 49ers defense has been keeping its team in games, and the Texans still haven't found consistent production without Deshaun Watson. However, the ceiling is low for the 49ers as they rarely force turnovers, so although they could be a…read more

FS Adrian Colbert (thumb) was limited in Wednesday's practice and it's uncertain if he will play Sunday against the Bears.

Analysis: Colbert slots into the top free safety role because FS Jimmie Ward (forearm) is on injured reserve, so his presence isn't instrumental to the 49ers defense. The Bears aren't a threatening Week 13 matchup, as they've only scored over 20 points once in the last five weeks, including putting up just three points against the Eagles in Week 12. Still, the 49ers have the 30th-ranked run defense in the league and are vulnerable to be exposed by dual-threat running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen…read more

General manager John Lynch said FS Adrian Colbert (thumb) is a long shot to play Sunday against the Seahawks.

Analysis: The one game Colbert has missed this season, the 49ers allowed a season-high 366 passing yards to the Colts, who aren't considered a threatening pass offense. With a highly-skilled Seahawks' receiving corps -- ranked fourth in the league -- on the horizon, San Fran could struggle even worse without their rookie safety. They were able to hold the Seahawks to just 12 points in Week 2, but Seattle has made major improvements since that game, scoring over 20 points in all but two games. The 49ers…read more

DE Solomon Thomas (knee) won't play Sunday against the Giants.

Analysis: Thomas has been averaging under four tackles per game, with only two sacks on the season. Still, his pass rush could be used heavily against a brutal Giants' offensive line. The 49ers defense is ranked 27th in the league, but this matchup is favorable against QB Eli Manning who has completed under 55 percent of his passes over the last four games. The Giants' offense as a whole is a bit of a mess, and their defense continues to keep them in games. However, the upside here for the 49ers isn't…read more