Arizona Cardinals double-digit pick

The Cardinals are favored to beat the 49ers handily for their third straight win.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — This is highly unfamiliar territory for the Arizona Cardinals. They’re not only favored to beat somebody, but they’re supposed to do it comfortably.

No one can remember when odds-makers made the Cardinals a double-digit favorite, but Arizona is a 10 1/2-point pick to win its third straight by beating the reeling San Francisco 49ers today.

A win would improve the Cardinals to 6-5, something they haven’t been since 1998, the only season they’ve had a winning record or made the playoffs since moving to Arizona 19 years ago.

The franchise’s history suggests no opponent should be taken for granted, though, and the Cardinals insist they have plenty of motivation for this one because of their season-opening loss at San Francisco.

“I don’t think anybody cares what happened to them since that game we played,” Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith said. “This game is personal. The reality is they beat us. Ain’t gonna be no letdown.”

While the Cardinals, under first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt, have regrouped from a three-game losing streak and survived the loss of starting quarterback Matt Leinart, San Francisco has lost eight in a row and brings a gasping, wheezing offense to Glendale.

The 49ers (2-8) haven’t scored a touchdown in 11 straight quarters and are last in the league with 113 points.

They also rank at the bottom in yards per game (218.6), plays from scrimmage (503), yards per play (3.9), third-down percentage (28 percent) and time of possession (25:58).

“I can’t remember a situation like this,” said Trent Dilfer, who took over for injured Alex Smith at quarterback. “I’ve been on offenses that struggled before, but never as consistently as this one.”

Coach Mike Nolan brought in veteran coach Ted Tollner this week to help embattled offensive coordinator Jim Hostler.

“Ted has an awful lot of NFL and college experience,” Nolan said. “He’s got experience as a coordinator as well as a head coach. I believe along those lines utilizing his experience he can help Jim, whose a guy that’s in his first year as coordinator and going through some difficult times.”

Smith returned from a separated right shoulder to play in three games, but sat out last week’s 18-11 loss to St. Louis and is questionable for Sunday, even though a 49ers spokesman said Tuesday the quarterback would miss the next two games.