Brutal Reality Check: 49ers' Stunning Loss to Cardinals Sets Off Alarm Bells in San Francisco

The 49ers are 2-3 after losing to the Cardinals at home, and now they have to turn around and play the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday. The short turnaround only adds to the sense of urgency and concern that is spreading throughout the organization. After being touted as Super Bowl contenders in the offseason, the team has been unable to live up to expectations so far.

The loss to the Cardinals was particularly galling, as it came at home and against a team that wasn t expected to be a major threat in the NFC West. The 49ers were favored by 10 points and were expected to win handily. Instead, they came out flat and struggled to move the ball against a stout Cardinals defense.

We didn t execute well enough to win, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. I think we had some chances to make some plays, but we didn t capitalize on them. That s what it comes down to.

The 49ers offense has been a major concern all season, and it was again against the Cardinals. Quarterback Brock Purdy struggled to find his rhythm and was sacked several times by the Cardinals pass rush. The running game, which was expected to be a strength, has been nonexistent so far.

We re not running the ball well enough, Shanahan said. We re not throwing the ball well enough. We re not playing well enough on offense.

The defense, which was expected to be a strength, has also been inconsistent. The 49ers have given up big plays and struggled to contain opposing offenses. Against the Cardinals, they allowed quarterback Kyler Murray to make several big plays with his legs and arm.

We had some missed tackles and some poor coverage, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. We have to do a better job of containing the quarterback.

The 49ers now have to turn their attention to the Seahawks, who are coming off a big win against the Giants. The Seahawks are always tough to beat at home, and the 49ers will have to be at their best if they want to come away with a win.

We know it s going to be a tough game, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said. We have to be ready to go.

The 49ers have their work cut out for them if they want to turn their season around. They ll have to start by beating the Seahawks on Thursday night.