Daily Madden: The 49ers Pass One Test, Prepare For Another
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The 8-1 49ers face the 3-6 Arizona Cardinals Sunday. John Madden told the KCBS morning crew the match-up presents another test for the surprising 49ers.
"It's easier to get up for the teams that are supposed to beat you," Madden said. "The teams that you know are kind of struggling, those are the ones that can sometimes jump up and surprise you."
Madden said last Sunday's victory over the New York Giants was a big step forward.
"I think the Giants, being a very good team and a solid team, was a big test (for the 49ers)," John said. "The Giants have been Super Bowl winners lately, come from that tough NFC East, (are) always competitive. And it was kind of 'let's see how you do against the big guys.' And they did very well against the big guys."
The Green Bay Packers, last year's Super Bowl champions, are the only undefeated team in the NFL. But Madden said Green Bay weather could affect their success in the playoffs.
"I watch the Packers and I see what they do offensively... It's all about passing and all about pass protection," Madden said. "If anything is going to jump up and bite them, it could be that, having to play where you think it's an advantage...in Green Bay in January. I mean they could run into one of those blizzards, and all the stuff that they've been able to do that got them there, they're not going to be able to do. As the season goes on, I think they're going to have to develop more of a running game, (and) their defense is going to have to improve. Because when they get into the playoffs, they could very well have that kind of game, that 9-6 type of game." (8:30)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
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