The defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2020 season next Sunday afternoon at home against the division rival Arizona Cardinals. These pesky assholes gave the Niners a scare in both games last season, but clutch fourth quarter play from Jimmy Garoppolo beat them both times.
The 49er offense had no trouble scoring in these games, ringing up 28 points in the first game and 36 in the second. Unfortunately, the vaunted Niner defense was riddled pretty good by the Cardinals in both games, too.
The Cardinals’ offense could be even more dangerous this year with the addition of big time WR DeAndre Hopkins to pair with the venerable all-timer Larry Fitzgerald. I was not able to discern, after a rigorous fifteen second investigation, whether their defense had made any significant improvements, so I’ll put them down in the nothing-to-brag-about category again this year.
For the 49ers, the defense seems reasonably healthy and should be able to put enough heat on Kyler Murray to make his day miserable, unless he gets loose on a rollout where he is as dangerous as Russell Wilson in Seattle and that fellow in the SB. These jitterbug QBs gave the Niners lots of trouble last year. Hopefully, they’ve figured out how to do a better job this year.
Fred Warner might be missing this week, which would hurt both against the pass and the run. Arizona was very successful running the ball last year, but I think it will be harder for them this year with Javon Kinlaw and DJ Jones plugging up the middle of the LOS.
On offense, we don’t know who the starting WRs are going to be, but Trent Taylor and Jerick McKinnon are back from IR and both will be tough to contain. As will Jordan Reed at TE, opposite the irrepressible George Kittle. This should be a win for the Niners and if it isn’t, the sky will surely fall. But at least we’ll be agonizing about a football game and, for a short time at least, not the grim affairs of planet America.
As usual, the final week before the season starts means it’s time for everyone to make their prognostications for the 49ers’ record this year. Entries are open until midnight Saturday.
I stretch it to 12-4 and another Super Bowl victory for this season. GO NINERS!!!
11-5
Excellent team, but two very good teams in our division we have to play twice each. I’ll also say 12-4. But we have to keep Garoppolo healthy. So a lot depends on the line holding up, and Weston coming back for the second half.
Interesting: “The four practice squad players the 49ers are protecting this week are:”
C Hroniss Grasu
CB Dontae Johnson
DE Dion Jordan
WR Kevin White
Skeebs I’m leaning 11-5 also.
And if 2020 couldn’t get any more ridiculous …
We had an eff’n earthquake tonight, thought a truck hit the house.
https://tinyurl.com/y6ct66ky
Some contracts in the NFC West
Deandre Hopkins signs a two year extension that the Cards will pay him $24 mil a year
Jalen Ramsey signs a 5 year deal that will pay him $21 mil a year. Rams will need to cut more talent because they carry bloated contracts.
Good news: “Fred Warner has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, making him eligible to play in 49ers opener against Cardinals.”
Not good news: “Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are not likely to practice today. As well as Ben Garland and Jason Verrett.”
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDUVYdIJaqQ
Hey, Winder. Are you having to evacuate?
No, the fires are still a ways away they are bringing in the evacuees to our fairgrounds though. It has been smokey as hell the last 4/5 days. Thanks for asking.
I just read where our game might be canceled due to smoke. This year has just been unF—ingbelievable.
The deteriorating air quality in Santa Clara, California could force the 49ers to postpone Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
California’s climate apocalypse has wreaked havoc on the air quality around Levi Stadium, prompting the Niners to communicate with the NFL about contingency plans for Sunday’s season opener. The air quality index threshold for the league to cancel practices or postpone games is 200. On Friday, the index stood at 194. “If it gets to 200, that would be a huge deal,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “I know when it’s above 150 that does affect a certain group of people that happen to be higher risk, pre-existing conditions, if it got above 150 you could lose a few players, but 200 is the mark where you can’t go out there.” Fantasy players should be prepared to find replacements for their Cardinals and 49ers if the game is postponed.
Winder
Today is a bad day but things should start improving tomorrow and if this report is to be believed there will be a sea breeze that clears it all out on Sunday. The chart says Santa Clara Moderate for Sunday.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/heres-bay-area-air-quality-175533853.html
Even if they had to move a game it’s just the two teams and the support people. Without fans makes it easier but it shouldn’t get to this stage.
bullit= I sure that’s the case. I was thinking maybe Reno or someplace the winds aren’t blowing the smoke to.
hope
NFL will have to make the call today. Any delays or movement of the game to Ariz will really screw up the Niners as they have to travel cross country next week to play the New York teams.
Hoping the wind kicks in and clears out the smoke not just for football but for everyone’s lungs and health.
Maiocco: “Air quality is still a concern in the Bay Area, but I’m hearing the plan — as of now — still calls for 49ers and AZCardinals to kick off at 1:25PM on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, as scheduled.”
Deebo Samuel and Jason Verrett have been ruled out for this game.
Tevon Coleman might not even be at the game because he has an underlying condition that would be compromised by the less than ideal air unless it changes dramatically.
If it means anything the sun is out on a hazy day now.
“The 49ers place Deebo Samuel on IR. He’s out for at least three games. Hroniss Grasu and Dontae Johnson promoted to active roster.”
Latest reading at Levis is 171. Game will go on if under 200 at kickoff
Yesterday’s readings per Barrows
11 am – 186
12 pm – 187
1 pm – 184
2 pm – 181
3 pm – 180
4 pm – 176
5 pm – 176
6 pm – 174
Not a dramatic improvement over yesterday but that number has trended down and it looks like the game is on in about 6 hours. If the wind shifts than who knows if a cloud of new smoke blows in?
49ers inactives:
QB C.J. Beathard
WR Brandon Aiyuk
OL Ben Garland
CB Jason Verrett
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
DL Kentavius Street
Seriously hurting today. At WR, C, CB. The Cardinals have an opportunity to steal a road win.
Well that sucked.
Garoppolo was late with too many passes today. Maybe just rust and effect of no pre-season games. We’d better hope so.
Agree Winder, Jimmy did not look sharp at all, several sloppy decisions as well.
Nor did the pass D for that matter.
Not a good start for a SB contender.
One of those games. 3 things happened in first half that made winning tough.
1) The blocked punt switched momentum and gave Cards life
2) Not scoring on 4th and goal with inches
3) When Kittle was hurt he was never the same in second half although he played. Kittle was shut out and Niners needed him to be a factor.
One thing thing the Cards did was share water bottles which is a sure way to spread the virus
New post is up.