*Yes, the Cardinals (8-2) are taking the 49ers (3-7) seriously.
*No, they don’t think is a “trap” game. Don’t even believe in the theory of a “trap” game.
*Anyone can lose on a given Sunday, Monday and Thursday, and as far as the Cardinals know, no one has granted them an exemption from that fact.
“It’s the Niners. It’s the Niners,” coach Bruce Arians said when asked about the challenge of recreating the intensity with which the team played in consecutive Sunday night games. “We haven’t beaten the Niners very often, so they’re still the Niners.”
Arians pounded that message so often this week players regurgitated the words to reporters.
Unprompted, several pointed out the Cardinals hadn’t beaten the 49ers on the road since 2008.
“You can get your butt whipped any single week,” receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. “If we don’t get in there and play good, they’ll put a loss on us. We understand that and we want to make sure we’re doing everything to go out there and play a game that’s clean and error free.”
The Cardinals likely are sincere in professing their respect for the 49ers. But words don’t always lead to action, and human nature suggests a letdown might be coming.
It happened to the Cardinals against the Browns on Nov. 1. The Cardinals trailed by 10 points at halftime, prompting Arians to deliver his impromptu “Are you pretenders or contenders?” speech.