The San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals in NFL Week 18 on Sunday amidst some of the rainiest weather the Bay Area has ever seen. But the 49ers-Cardinals weather report for Sunday calls for a break in the rainfall before it begins again after the game.
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49ers-Cardinals Weather Report
Per the Weather Channel, the game day forecast for the 1:25 p.m. PT start calls for “showers early with overcast skies later” and a 45 percent chance of rain with winds of 10-15 mph.
That is a clear break from recent conditions, when the area was hit 10.33 inches of rain in 10 days, according to the Washington Post. This was caused by atmospheric rivers of tropical moisture, which are expected to continue, but not until after the game Sunday night into Monday morning.
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The 49ers have been practicing in the rain all week.
“There’s no lightning and stuff, so as long as you don’t mind getting wet, it’s a distraction test,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan told SFGate.com on Wednesday. “… I mean you never want it to rain on game day, but if you’re going to practice in it all week, or if you know it’s going to rain on Sunday, you might as well practice in it, so that’s the way it’s looking right now.”
The Post says “signs point to a continued active pattern that will keep the moisture fire hose aimed at the state through at least mid- to late-January.” This could have an impact on any NFC playoff games the 49ers might play at home this month.
San Francisco (12-4), as the NFC West winner, is guaranteed to open the playoffs at home, either next week in the Wild Card Round or the week after in the Divisional Round.
The 49ers could earn a bye and next week off if they defeat the Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles lose to the New York Giants. If the Eagles win, the 49ers would play in a Wild Card Round game regardless of their outcome Sunday.
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San Francisco is as much as a 14.5-point favorite (Caesars) on Sunday, using our OddsShopper tools to find the best NFL odds. The total is 39.5. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 38-10 in Week 11, in a game played at Mexico City.
San Francisco has won nine in a row, the past five with Brock Purdy starting at quarterback in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (foot). Wide back Deebo Samuel (ankle/knee) has been cleared to play after missing three games, and running backs Christian McCaffrey (ankle/knee) and Elijah Mitchell (knee) will be available, the 49ers said.
