1-0 and the fans are rejoicing. Sort of. Guardedly optimistic? Depends on who you talk to. To me, the team looks a lot more coherent and solid that last year’s version. The lines look a lot better as well. and, speaking of last year, this season started just like last year. A strong Monday night victory against a supposed up-and-coming team followed by an East Coast trip through 3 time zones against a very strong team on a short week and the early game to boot. Hopefully the outcome of this game will be a little better than last year’s debacle at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 48-18 thrashing.
This time around we only get the defending NFC champs, the Carolina Panthers. They of course were a field goal away from beating their Super Bowl conquerors, the Denver Broncos. So, how does this work out for us? Well, it is very hard to say. Our offense looks fairly similar to the one trotted out by the Broncos. Short passes, misdirection runs, runs from 3 WR sets, and some read-option. Gabbert had a fair-to-middling game, one where he missed wide open guys, but he also kept drives alive with his legs, and by buying time on the run. Still and all 22-35 for 170 and 1 TD isn’t going to stop any clocks, or even get the fantasy crowd excited, but a decent enough game. Will that fly tomorrow? I don’t think so. He left too many passes in the danger zone and should have been picked off a couple times, and missed an easy TD early on. The run game, namely Carlos Hyde needs to have a big game for this to work. I like the idea of getting a lot of WRs in the patterns to unload the box.
Amazingly, the 49ers last week were 4-4 in the red zone against what was supposed to be a top-tier defense. But they pretty much laid down by the end of the 3rd quarter, and their offense was flat to say the least. Carolina? Well, Denver has the blueprint for beating Carolina down pat. Pressure pressure pressure. Get people in his grille and make him rush his throws. Contain is also important, but the biggest thing is pressure. The DBs did well last week, and in the preseason. They again will be key to slowing down the Carolina offense. Keep the ball in Newton’s hands give the pas rush a better shot of getting to him.
Still and all, I think we lose, but we play well in the cause. 24-20 Panthers.
Forty Niners Forever 
Chuck – we will know a lot more after tomorrow’s game. I just want us to play tough, not make to many mistakes and at least look like were having some fun. I would like a win also but I doubt that will really happen.
Tough to see this one being anything but a loss.
I’ll be happy to see our D hold them under 30.
Panthers – 28
9ers – 17
I concur.
And, why the fuck not? This twitter site has some of the funniest shit on the intertubes . . .
LaRussa should stick with ARF! He’s another A-hole that’s advanced in sports.
He’s spending his golden years in a Nevada prison. Man how the mighty fall hard.
I agree with NOFEAR
Bring back DENNIS.
Is Dennis drunk as a skunk?
I can see us winning today but I give it only about a 10% or 15% chance. I think we lose by at least 10 points.
Agree.
What an opportunity missed
He OB.
fuck Ginn
OB.
No pressure on Newton
So much for error free
that is gonna get us killed
looks like it might be a long day
This is what you get when you run the ball consistently, the chance for a fumble is huge! The Niners still don’t throw the ball consistently down the field! Sure there is a chance of an interception, but less so due to the rules that protect the QB and the receivers. With a running game defenders are always trying to rip that ball out of the running backs hands.
Nice
Gotta keep Tory involved
Gabbert has to make that throw.
Missed chance.