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The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their 2021 campaign 1-0 after a 41-33 win over the Detroit Lions in the season opener on Sunday. San Francisco got off to a good start, taking a 28-point lead before Detroit scored its last two touchdowns with less than a minute to go.
Beyond a failed transfer in the first practice, the San Francisco offense managed several impressive first-half practices, all with points. Meanwhile, the defense managed to keep Detroit to just 10 points in the first two quarters.
After the biting end of Week 1, several pundits assessed the 49ers’ position ahead of Week 2 of the season, with San Francisco placing in the league’s top 3 teams and as low as 14 in some rankings. Here’s where several national media sites have the 49ers standing in the wake of Week 1.
Think of the 49ers this way: They barely used “Trey Lance,” who is their most talented quarterback. Trey Sermon, a rear that everyone expected very much, was surprisingly inactive. Raheem Mostert was injured early in the match. Brandon Aiyuk, perhaps because he’s just come back from a hamstring injury, hasn’t scored a goal after playing so well last season. And the 49ers still accumulated 41 points on the road. All of these aforementioned players are very good and will be factors as we go along. The 49ers are going to be really good.
They jumped on the Lions, but had to hang on to win for life. The defense must be better than what it showed against Detroit.
Too high? Just wait for the Trey Lance package to start growing. I can’t stress this enough: the teams struggled as it slowed down Kyle Shanahan’s attack as everyone was healthy and Jimmy Garoppolo was under cross. Now they are preparing for two versions of the same offense each week.
It’s early, but Lenoir looks like part of the Niners’ upcoming fifth-round diamond in the rough. With Emmanuel Moseley out due to a knee injury, Deommodore Lenoir started in the outside corner opposite Jason Verrett. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Lenoir played 55 cover shots and was targeted four times, allowing for a three-yard achievement. Lenoir had a pass interference penalty, but it was a solid start for a player who is likely to step into an integral role on a more permanent basis following Verrett’s right knee injury.
San Francisco had a 41-17 advantage over Detroit when cornerback Jason Verrett limped on the sidelines with what was later diagnosed as a season-ending ACL injury. It’s no coincidence that the Lions started eating this trail as soon as the man on the cover stepped out of the photo. The 49ers survived Detroit’s furious comeback attempt, and now they’ll have to find a way to survive without a much-needed figure in their high school. We know this team is capable of scoring points, but a healthy and effective defense will be needed to meet Super Bowl expectations. With Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray looming on the schedule, San Francisco must adapt quickly.
Think what you want from Jimmy Garoppolo as a QB, but the 49ers consistently win with him in the lineup. Rookie Trey Lance also had his moment. The 49ers dominated most of the game in Detroit, but seemed to lose interest and edge to give the Lions an opportunity in the end.
Are they the team that led Detroit 38-10 in 2.5 quarters, or the one that held on for a 41-33 win… and is already facing another series of injuries after losing CB Jason Verrett against a torn ACL hoping RB Raheem Mostert (knee) can return by mid-season?
For most of Sunday’s victory, the San Francisco 49ers outscored the Detroit Lions in every way imaginable.
Jimmy Garoppolo threw the ball with precision, passing 300 yards. Rookie “Elijah Mitchell” had 104 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in his first game in the NFL. The defense also made a number of big plays, including linebacker Dr. Greenlaw’s six-pick.
However, Greenlaw injured his groin on that intercept return. Mitchell was there because veteran fullback Raheem Mostert injured his knee after two races. And cornerback Jason Verrett also suffered an ACL tear at the end of the season.
Those holes in the roster didn’t matter in Week 1. They also couldn’t against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. But as of Week 3, the Niners play four games. in five weeks against teams that made the playoffs in 2020. The One Who Didn’t (Arizona) demolished the Titans on Sunday.
It’s a pretty intimidating stretch at full power. Shorthanded, the Niners’ season could quickly change.
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