The San Francisco 49ers (5-7) beat down on the Arizona Cardinals (8-4) in their first matchup this season, but it was the first game of the season and the Cardinals are a much different team now.  They just beat Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings convincingly, where their offense and defense played great.  The 49ers are going to need a big game out of Alex Smith if they want a chance, but with the way the Cardinals handled the future hall-of-famer Favre, it doesn’t seem likely that Smith will have a big day.  Smith is coming of one of his best games though, so if he can get some help from Frank Gore and the running game, they may be able to keep up with Warner and the Cardinals’ potent offense.

Warner and the Cardinals’ offense has been looking very good the past few weeks.  Warner has been having no problem finding his receivers, and he has been finding them for some big plays.  The 49ers cannot let Warner make any of those big plays, but it will be difficult with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin both making great plays.  This matchup doesn’t look good for the 49ers, so I am going with the Cardinals in this one.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  San Francisco 49ers 24, Arizona Cardinals 34

The San Francisco 49ers (4-6) have been in a lot of close games in the past few weeks and have been coming out of them on the losing end more often than not.  They will be looking to end that trend as they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) Sunday.  Alex Smith needs to stop throwing interceptions, and if he can do that the 49ers will probably win.  The only problem is that Smith has thrown a pick in every game he has started this season, so it’s safe to say he will probably turn the ball over in this contest too.  Frank Gore will need to have one of his big games to negate Smith’s poor play, but it may not be enough as the Jaguars have been sticking to a successful conservative, turnover free game-plan of ball control.

The 49ers’ defense has not been very good against the pass, giving up 256 passing yards per game.  Jaguars’ quarterback David Garrard doesn’t put up a ton of yards, but he has been taking care of the ball and has been very accurate lately.  He also has Maurice Jones-Drew to rely on, who has been averaging 4.8 yards per carry this season.  Jones-Drew has a knee injury though, and it may very well limit what he can do.  Reports say he should be okay though, so I am going to pick the Jaguars in a close win.

FINAL SCORE PREDICITON:  San Francisco 49ers 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 24

The San Francisco 49ers (4-5) are clinging to life in the NFC playoff picture and will need a great effort on the road against the Green Bay Packers (5-4) Sunday.  Both teams are coming very strong defensive performances, but the 49ers were basically handed the game last week against the Bears where Jay Cutler threw 5 interceptions.  The Packers nearly shut out a very good offensive team in the Dallas Cowboys, so the 49ers offense better have a good game-plan ready against an aggressive Packers defense.  I don’t see Alex Smith having that a strong of a game in this one, as he has struggled the past three weeks and the Packers pass defense is ranked 6th in the league.  What Smith needs to do is not turn the ball over and let the running game attack.  If Smith can provide enough production without turning the ball over, it will open things up for Frank Gore and the 49ers will have a chance at winning.

Don’t expect another defensive game like last week, as the Bears offense played horrible.  The Packers are led by Aaron Rodgers who has proven he is one the top quarterbacks in the game.  Rodgers has already thrown for over 2,400 yards this season and has 17 touchdowns compared to only 5 interceptions.  Rodgers gets very little protection though, so the 49ers will be able to get some sacks on him.  If that can lead to some turnovers for the 49ers, they will have a great opportunity to win the game.  The 49ers need to be ready for Packers’ running back Ryan Grant too.  Grant hasn’t been great this year, but he is a strong and effective runner who is averaging 4.2 yards per carry.  The 49ers will have a chance but I think Rodgers is too good, and the 49ers don’t get enough out of Smith at quarterback, so I’m taking the Packers in this one.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Green Bay Packers 31, San Francisco 49ers 21

The San Francisco 49ers (3-5) are hosting the Chicago Bears (4-4) tomorrow night and the game will be shown on the NFL Network.  The 49ers have been playing well after starting 3-1 this season, losing their last four.  The Bears have been playing below expectations as well, losing their last three out of four games.  The 49ers will need a much better game from quarterback Alex Smith, who had three interceptions and two fumbles last game.  Smith needs to do a much better job of taking care of the ball.  Mike Singletary is facing his former team, where he was a hall of fame linebacker for the Bears.  Singletary may need to limit Smith, tell him not to gamble, and just manage the game.  If they do go the conservative route with Smith, then they will need another big game from Frank Gore.  Smith can hit Gore with a lot of short passes like he did last week, and let Gore make some plays with his legs.

The 49ers may need Smith to do a little bit more than that though, as Jay Cutler has the ability to put up some points for the Bears’ offense.  He hasn’t been doing enough lately, but the pressure is starting to build for the talented quarterback who forced his way out of Denver in the offseason and just signed an extension with the Bears.  The 49ers pass-defense is pretty weak though, so I think Cutler will be able to do some damage against a 49ers defense who gives up 241 passing yards per game.  Cutler has been sacked 19 already this season, so if the 49ers can get to Cutler often they can limit what he can do.  This should be a close game between two under-performing teams, but I think the 49ers pass defense is too weak and the Bears will win.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Chicago Bears 31, San Francisco 49ers 24

The San Francisco 49ers (3-4) have lost three in a row but will have a good opportunity at breaking that streak this weekend at home against the Tennessee Titans (1-6).  The Titans are coming off their first win of the season and are a different team when Vince Young is under center.  Young, made his first start of the season last week and he and Chris Johnson led the Titans to their first win.  The 49ers need to be ready for the Titans running game, as Johnson is coming off a 228 yard performance and Young has the athleticism to use his legs and not just his arm.  Alex Smith is doing a decent job at quarterback for the 49ers though, and Titans give up 282 passing yards per game so Smith could have a big game.  He has thrown two picks in the two games he has played in, so he needs to do a better job of not turning the ball over.

The 49ers should try and wear down the Titans with the run.  They give up 112 rushing yards per game and Frank Gore is due for a big game.  He had a solid effort against the Colts last week, getting 91 yards on 13 carries including a 64 yard touchdown run.  This should be a very close match-up and the Titans seem like a different team now that they got their first win and have a new quarterback.  I think they will continue their momentum from last week, with Young and Johnson’s legs leading the way in a close win for the Titans.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Tennessee Titans 28, San Francisco 49ers 24