# Cardinals vs 49ers predictions, graded Week 3, 2026: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Sep 27, 2026 · final: Cardinals 30, 49ers 36 · 10 calls on record · updated Oct 1, 9:07 AM ET Who do pundits pick in Cardinals vs 49ers? Of 9 pundits with a call on record, all 9 take the 49ers. 6 named a score; the median has the 49ers by 12. The 49ers won 36-30, so 9 of 9 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 92 out of 100. Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked. - [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 3 49ers - [The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-richard-sherman-podcast-podcast): all 2 49ers The other 4 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 4 49ers. Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-3-cardinals-at-49ers Picks: - [Richie Bradshaw](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richie-bradshaw) took the 49ers, 49ers 27–Cardinals 14; said Sep 27, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 83.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 86.83) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/56e0c2a3-ddff-46f8-8359-2a546546a29c - [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the 49ers, 49ers 31–Cardinals 20; said Sep 25, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 88.1 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 87.8) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd - [Big Cat](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/big-cat) took the 49ers; said Sep 25, 2026; on Pardon My Take (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9a569a60-9da7-494a-8aff-c366d6575d18 - [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the 49ers; said Sep 24, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ccbceaa-54ca-4a2e-ad90-006f1ded0ad2 - [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the 49ers, 49ers 30–Cardinals 17; said Sep 24, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 83.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 86.83) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 - [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the 49ers, 49ers 33–Cardinals 23; said Sep 23, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 90.48 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 86.83) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4b11b44-d359-4027-a72c-87833f5ff6e3 - [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the 49ers, 49ers 30–Cardinals 17; said Sep 23, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 83.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 86.83) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb02dfa-79dd-43a1-87d8-db7e5140af6c - [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the 49ers, 49ers 24–Cardinals 16; said Sep 22, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 95.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 86.83) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c21157cd-927c-43dc-98a2-60f4224ba22e - [Nick Winkler](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-winkler) took the 49ers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Locked On 49ers (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b72b3856-bff5-45a8-9698-19c2f6480d44 - [Nick Winkler](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-winkler) took the 49ers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Locked On 49ers (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b72b3856-bff5-45a8-9698-19c2f6480d44 ## How they came in The Cardinals are 1-1; the 49ers are 2-0 and have won 2 straight. It is a division game. On win totals, 8 pundits put the Cardinals at 4.8 wins on average, and 13 pundits put the 49ers at 10.1 wins on average. Venue: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California - Arizona Cardinals: 1-1 (33 scored, 45 allowed) - Last games: L 7-31 vs Seahawks; W 26-14 at Chargers - Unit ranks this season: offense 26th, defense 30th of 32 - Last season: 3-14 - Win-total calls: 8 pundits, average 4.8, 1 to 9 wins - The side most pundits took won 1 of 2 Cardinals games - San Francisco 49ers: 2-0, won 2 straight (62 scored, 20 allowed) - Last games: W 35-13 vs Dolphins; W 27-7 at Rams - Unit ranks this season: offense 2nd, defense 9th of 32 - Last season: 12-5 - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 10.1, 3 to 14 wins - The side most pundits took won 1 of 2 49ers games ## Players to watch Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard - [Gardner Minshew](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gardner-minshew) (Starting QB, QB): 354 passing yards · 3 TD, 0 INT · 71.7% completions · 2 games; 41st in the NFL in passing yards - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 1, 2026: Gardner Minshew to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet) - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 13, 2026: Gardner Minshew to stay put (not settled yet) - [Tyler Allgeier](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-allgeier) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 89 carries · 3 TD · 23 catches for 128 · 9 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Sep 6, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet) - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to finish top 49 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet) - [Michael Wilson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-wilson) (WR1, WR): 51 catches for 546 yards · 2 TD · 9 games; 18th in the NFL in receiving yards - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet) - No. 12 Derek Brown, Oct 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet) - [Trey McBride](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-mcbride) (TE1, TE): 73 catches for 598 yards · 5 TD · 9 games; 16th in the NFL in receiving yards - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 4, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (a top-20 ADP) (not settled yet) - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Jul 30, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the second round of non-TE Premium drafts) (not settled yet) - [Budda Baker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/budda-baker) (Sack leader, Tackle leader, S): 3.5 sacks · 29 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 42nd in the NFL in sacks; 56th in the NFL in solo tackles - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 4, 2026: Budda Baker to move — “next on the trade block” (not settled yet) - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 20, 2026: Budda Baker to move to Buffalo Bills (not settled yet) - [Brock Purdy](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy) (Starting QB, QB): 1,980 passing yards · 17 TD, 5 INT · 69.1% completions · 201 rushing yards · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in passing yards - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Brock Purdy to stay with San Francisco 49ers (not settled yet) - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 6, 2026: Brock Purdy to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet) - [Christian McCaffrey](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-mccaffrey) (RB1, RB): 457 rushing yards on 102 carries · 10 TD · 36 catches for 270 · 8 games; 19th in the NFL in rushing yards - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Jun 26, 2026: Christian McCaffrey to outplay his draft cost (that mid first round pick) (not settled yet) - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: Christian McCaffrey to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100) - [Mike Evans](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-evans) (WR1, WR): 27 catches for 420 yards · 3 TD · 6 games; 33rd in the NFL in receiving yards - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Nov 13, 2026: Evans figures to be back by Week 11 at the latest (not settled yet) - No. 12 Derek Brown, Jun 27, 2026: Mike Evans to outplay his draft cost (a locked and loaded top twenty four guy) (not settled yet) - [George Kittle](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/george-kittle) (TE1, TE): 38 catches for 483 yards · 5 TD · 8 games; 25th in the NFL in receiving yards - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: George Kittle to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100) - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 29, 2026: George Kittle to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet) - [DeForest Buckner](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deforest-buckner) (Sack leader, DT): 4 sacks · 12 solo tackles · 8 games; 30th in the NFL in sacks - No. 27 Tyler Sullivan, Oct 27, 2026: DeForest Buckner to move — “may ship out before the deadline” (not settled yet) - No. 54 Colin Cowherd, Oct 27, 2026: DeForest Buckner to move to San Francisco 49ers (not settled yet) - [Fred Warner](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fred-warner) (Tackle leader, LB): 0.5 sacks · 36 solo tackles · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in solo tackles - No. 26 Bucky Brooks, Sep 3, 2026: Fred Warner to make All-Pro (not settled yet) - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: Fred Warner to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100) --- The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team. The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-3 Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology