The new-look 49ers didn’t get to a good start. Their Week 1 featured new head coach Kyle Shanahan’s much-hyped offense failing to put a touchdown against Carolina Panthers, which got them blown out at home, 23-3.
Shanahan and his men are in danger of experiencing yet another embarrassing defeat on Sunday, as they have looked almost helpless whenever matched-up opposite division rivals Seattle Seahawks. It’s an opponent that they have lost to in eight out of the last nine meetings (SU and ATS), and in those losses, their average margin of defeat is 16.8 points.
Looking to help the team defy the huge odds is Brian Hoyer, who will remain as the man under center for the Niners. He looked serviceable versus Carolina, completing 24 of his 35 passes for 193 yards and one interception.
Pierre Garcon and Carlos Hyde are reliable weapons that Hoyer will use the most – both got six catches in Week 1, with the former gaining a game-high 81 yards, and the latter catching all passes thrown at him. Considering Seattle’s suffocating defense, Hyde may again see several check downs, as he is likely to be transformed to be a pass-catching back under Shanahan’s fast-paced, pass-happy attack.
As for the defense, it’ll simply have to be more active. The unit only got two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss against a suspect offensive line, so it’s anyone guess how worse they might be lining up versus a QB that’s as elusive as Russell Wilson, who arguably has a better set of protectors.
The Seahawks tried hard limiting the Green Bay Packers offense – and did well early – going as far as holding them scoreless in the first half. They just couldn’t continue doing as such after the break, and eventually lost in a hard-nosed type of encounter, 17-9.
A rough day on offense is to blame for the defeat, which is evident with Russell Wilson only throwing for 158 yards and becoming the team’s leading rusher despite only gaining 40 yards on the ground.
Week 2 should be way, way better for the Seahawks. The Niners are a team they have lots of success with in the past couple of seasons, and it’s one opponent that still appears to be inferior offensively and defensively.
The Russell Wilson-Doug Baldwin passing combination, which connected for 63 yards on a bad day, should be able to double or comfortably edge that production this coming Sunday. Someone from the backfield committee of Eddie Lacy, Chris Carson, and CJ Prosise is also bound to have a prolific week.
The vaunted Seahawks defense will be in for task that’s easier than most weeks, both in the front and on the secondary. They will be going up against one of the lowest-rated offensive lines in the NFL, who just allowed 12 QB hits this past week.
