With the NFL season kicking off this week, there’s several question marks surrounding multiple teams entering week one. One of the big questions surrounds the San Francisco 49ers after finishing last season with a surprising 6-11 record.
This past offseason, San Francisco lost Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, and traded Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Washington Commanders. However, they were able to extend Brock Purdy and Fred Warner to big contracts and acquire Brian Robinson Jr. via trade. A full healthy season with Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey will be crucial for the 49ers to get a tough week one win on the road and a potential playoff push.
The San Francisco 49ers go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7. The Seahawks improved their roster this offseason by signing veterans Sam Darnold, and Cooper Kupp. The Seahawks win total is set to 8.5 games. Therefore, the 49ers going on the road and getting a win week one would be a huge confidence boost for the rest of the season.
The 49ers are led by Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, who’s entering his ninth season leading the team. Their defense was ranked top eight in yards allowed per game and a top three run defense in 2023, so the talent on the defensive side of the ball seems to definitely still be there. On offense, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey are the main playmakers – creating explosive plays. In McCaffrey’s last fully healthy season he put up 1,459 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns alongside 564 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
The San Francisco 49ers go into the season with one of the easiest schedules in the NFL and several returning players. They are due a bounce-back season. In a recent interview, McCaffrey noted that the team has had great energy on the field, in the weight room, and in meetings. The odds are pretty much even between the 49ers and the Seahawks according to ESPN Analytics, but considering the home field advantage for Seattle in one of the toughest environments to play, the game could really be tough for San Francisco if they do not come out and set the tone. Despite everything that went wrong for San Francisco last season, they have a golden opportunity to bounce back in a big way week one.
