Pregame Expectation

Who would have thought former teammates on opposing sides would gee-up and ignite joint practice sessions in the runup to the showdown at Allegiant Stadium. Jimmy Garoppolo will once again face his former nemesis, the 49ers defense and Clelin Ferrell is a man on a mission for retribution. The basic requirement for the red and gold is to break live game rust using minimal snaps for the first team to ensure maximum opportunities for rookies and the undrafted. Preseason snaps are gold dust for individuals on the cusp therefore I’m hoping for a few fringe players to make their mark. The quarterback room, defensive back and offensive line groups will provide the most intrigue. Competition is fierce across the positional groups therefore individual players will need to show their hand against NFL opposition to force the managements hands.

Postgame Evaluation

Refreshingly no injuries on the day are the only positives to take away from the men against boy’s schoolyard offering. The Niners were bad, historically bad and painful to watch. The backups and the backup of the backups plied the backup trade to the letter. The lack of performance is on everyone from the coaching staff to the personnel. The lack of execution was embarrassingly inept across the board. The 49ers need to be better, Trey Lance in his own words must be better and play better. The internets self-proclaimed experts with stats and spreadsheets will feed each other’s subjective paranoia and emotional state of mind.

I believe on some level the well documented manifestation of the recent joint practice sessions bared fruit for the Raiders. Trey was a tad slow and missed a few plays in part to protect the ball with safety first mindset instead of trusting his arm and his legs even if his supporting cast disintegrated in the midst of a black hole. Trust your instincts, which he did to some extent once he settled down. Sam Darnold was Sam Darnold, in other words good, bad and ugly. Sam made a few good throws however by the time he entered the field the oppositions heatseeking momentum had shifted as well as some of the personnel. Preseason jitters or not, I have faith in the personnel, coaching staff and the quarterback room. Trust the process.

Pregame Expectation

Painful experiences can be hard to digest let alone forget. The 49ers will be facing familiar foe Russell Wilson at Levi’s Stadium. Kyle Shanahan has confirmed the first team will debut on a snap count against the Broncos for an initial series or two. Sam Darnold will take over to complete the half and Trey Lance will start and finish the second half. The Faithfull across the globe will be eagerly awaiting a complete rebound from the teamwide shambolic offering at Allegiant Stadium. The red and gold offensive line are under intense scrutiny to provide depth for the season ahead and the opposition will provide the latest opportunity for the group to figure it out. Denver Broncos on both sides of the ball should provide the same intensity as Las Vegas Raiders.

Postgame Evaluation

Any given Levi’s. ill-fated injuries, dancing with penalties, botched assignments, fan brawl in the stands and a comeback victory. The offensive line groups performed admirably and for the most part the backup unit managed to execute a night and day upswing. T. Y. McGill could be the missing rook piece to provide depth and substance for the defensive line. The quarterback room was efficient. Brock with his first live snaps post injury looked, moved and executed purdy well. Sam Darnold was Sam and efficient. The game came alive in the fourth quarter as Trey Lance and Ronnie Bell literally caught fire to snatch the victory with a field goal conversion on the last play of the game. The comeback will provide a momentary passage of redemption for Jake Moody and Cameron Latu.

Pregame Expectation

The starting squad with the exception of marquee veterans are expected to participate for the majority of the first half. The LA Chargers are anticipated to sit most if not all their starters. Mandated first team and practice squad roster finalisations are on the horizon therefore the third and final preseason game will be the last window of opportunity for individuals on the fringes to showcase for would-be employment opportunities across the league. The faithful will be eager to witness Trey Lance in action. Hopefully not for the last time in the red and gold of San Francisco 49ers. Please stay, Trey.

Postgame Evaluation

Lance out. The dream is dead. The quarterback room is not stronger without you. Good luck Trey Lance, you will be missed and see you soon. Sombre mood around the stadium translated to sombre play on the field. Hopefully the run stopping issues will not translate to the regular reason. It’s never dull in San Francisco, from quarterback tutelage to kicker controversy and the never-ending injury curse.

The Niners may have to sign an emergency kicker for week one. Brock Purdy moved the ball efficiently with his arms and his legs. Sam Darnold was Sam Darnold. The opposition will always fancy their chances and Sam will give them a chance or three. Kyle Shanahan can try as much but Sam Darnold may never separate the good, bad and the ugly.

Pregame Expectation

For better for worse, the establishment have made the news. The Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold era is underway, starting with a pulsating trip to a retooled Pittsburgh Steelers on the mend and on the rise. The faithful will be on-hand to mix plenty of the red and gold in-between the black and yellow. The home team are clear favourites on paper however the opening fixture could be the best time to face the wrath of steel city. Nick Bosa is back and reportedly hungry for action. The 49ers could possibly be without key individuals on offense and defense. George Kittle and Charvarius Ward are officially questionable for Sunday. Any version of Kittle on the field is night and day for the 49ers. I’m anticipating an evenly contested battle across the three positional units. Special teams and mistake free football may well be the only way to differentiate between the opposing teams.

Postgame Evaluation

Who saw this coming? No one expected total dismantling of steel city. Hello Drake Jackson. Nothing went right or worked for the yellow and black apart from the solitary points drive on the back of nauseatingly poor sequence of plays by the 49ers on cusp of halftime. Deommodore Lenoir’s flag for a late hit outside bounds was entirely avoidable, inexcusable and implicit for advancing Pittsburgh down the field. No shaking off the rust for the 49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy who was calm and composed in and out of the pocket. 

Pregame Expectation

San Francisco 49ers will be entertaining the LA Rams at Levi’s Stadium South. The red and gold will take over the stadium and the surrounding area leading up to gameday to force the home team to operate as the away team. The Rams will be out to silence the unrelenting crowd in the stands and standup to the might of the opposition on the field. Nick Bosa will be extremely fired up to make up for lost snaps and ignite his personal stat sheet. Samuel Womack will miss a minimum of four games through injury and injured reserve designation. The 49ers will need to be on form and mustn’t underestimate a divisional rival and an underdog Rams team with newly acquired skilled players at running back and wide receiver positions. The contest could come down to countering a fierce battle of the trenches byway of creative play-calling on the sidelines.

Postgame Evaluation

Levi’s Stadium South is the real deal and for the Rams it must now feel like a curse? How did the record-breaking rookie wide receiver, Puka Nacua fall to the fifth round in the draft and to LA of all teams? The Rams remained competitive for the most part however the Niners offense were able keep the scoreboard ticking along enough for the defense to force the pass happy Matthew Stafford to throw two late interceptions to seal the game for the red and gold. Brock Purdy looked shaky early on and left a few opportunities on the field. Thankfully Purdy steadily improved as the game progressed.

Pregame Expectation

The opening fixture in Santa Clara will bring the faithful out in droves, determined to witness a 3-0 start to the season. Elijah Mitchell and Nick Bosa are building up momentum to get the season rolling. The Niners will need to be careful on the day after the Giants orchestrated an historical comeback in week two to dethrone a surprisingly impressive Arizona Cardinals whom the red and gold will face in week four. New York will severely miss Saquon Barkley’s ball carrying and pass catching skills on the field. The responsibility could fall on Daniel Jones and former 49er Matt Breida’s shoulders to carry the load. 

Postgame Evaluation

The 49ers were businesslike and methodical on both the field and the sidelines. The New York Giants had zero answers for the Niners on any level. Miraculously Brock Purdy is not displaying any visible consequences of the gruesome injury he suffered in the NFC Championship Game. Brock is performing at a level seemingly ahead of the many projections and expectations bestowed on his behalf. Deebo Samuel carried the load in Brandon Aiyuk’s absence and if maximised the combination of Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell could be devastating for the National Football League. The powers that be must proactively focus and manage Christian McCaffrey usage from game to game.

Pregame Expectation

The Arizona Cardinals are defying the odds and the scripts. Joshua Dobbs and company are competing hard, fast and seemingly pressure free to dull down the Caleb Williams noise. The Cardinals have already dethroned the self-anointed best team in the world from Texas. The 49ers will have to respect the opponents and be wary of giving less for more. Joshua Dobbs legs more so than his arms could pose an issue for the Niners downhill attack at the snap defensive line. Please give Christian McCaffrey a break or three, the 49ers have a stable of backs who can deputise adequality.

Postgame Evaluation

Joshua Dobbs running with the ball did trouble the Niners defense throughout the contest and on another day Christian McCaffrey would be the standalone outlier between the teams. The sack numbers will materialise sooner rather than later for the 49ers because for the most part the difference is a milliammeter or a hold or two on Nick Bosa. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

Americas team in Dallas will renew the longstanding NFC rivalry with the red and gold of San Francisco. The gridiron world could see a high scoring masterclass or a defensive shootout. No one is anticipating a blowout and too many playmakers on the field can cancel each other out. This will be a hardnosed battle to the very last snap. The difference between the sides could be the unmissable hidden yardage or on the sidelines. Mistake free football is nigh on impossible but whoever manages the intangibles, and the penalties will find the path to greener grass in Santa Clara. Are we set to witness an instant classic, week five into the regular season?

Postgame Evaluation

Don’t call it a contest. The NFL world was not ready or expecting a routine win for the red and gold. The Faithfull outplayed the Texas team from start to finish and sideline to sideline. All the noise from the opposition’s circles in the leadup equates to a frankly underwhelming performance on the field. Some teams and fandoms talk and talk while others graft. The naysayers will define Brock Purdy as a product of the system. In reality, Brock is executing the Shanahan system on another level, and the scary fact is that he has plenty of room to grow.

Pregame Expectation

The Niners have to be smart going up against a banged-up Cleveland Browns team missing key pieces on offense. PJ Walker at quarterback can trouble the defense with his mobility and the Browns defense is performing at a ferocious level. The Browns defensive unit will provide a genuine test for the Niners offense however can the same unit makeup for a backup quarterback, injury along the offensive line and red-hot form the visitors bring to the table? Recent history will indicate a Kyle Shanahan offense has yet to unruffle the Browns defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz.

Postgame Evaluation

The anti Brock Purdy brigade will have a field day however Sunday’s loss is not entirely on the quarterback or the missed game winning field goal. The lack of production across the offense with mindboggling penalties on both sides of the ball and a trio of injures on offense to Deebo Samuael, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams contributed to the shocking defeat. The Browns surprisingly failed to utilise PJ Walker’s manoeuvrability especially when the passing game struggled for the entirety of the contest. I believe the loss to the Browns is a blip more than a wakeup call and going forward the experience and lessons learned in Cleavland will exponentially aid the team and the young quarterback.

Pregame Expectation

The Niners offense will need to swiftly rebound from the struggles against the Browns defense and potentially without the services of Trent Williams and Deebo Samuels. Kirk Cousins and company preferentially operate a high-octane pass happy offense therefore the 49ers offense will need to milk the time of possession to afford the defense the opportunity to slow down or eradicate a Vikings team missing star player, Justin Jefferson. You cannot replace Trent Williams and Deebo Samuels ergo the next man up will unquestionably need to stand up otherwise the trenches could get muddy and ugly against a blitz-happy opposition.

Postgame Evaluation

A Kirk Cousins and Jordan Addison one two sucker punch was enough to succumb the 49ers to a second defeat in consecutive weeks. The Viking’s pass rush resoundingly hurried and confused Brock Purdy and his cohorts. The red and gold counterparts completely failed to dislodge Kirk Cousins timing, rhythm and confidence. If the Niners pass rush fails to make plays the secondary unit struggles mightily. Brock Purdy has accumulated ample adversity in the past two weeks to fall back and improve upon. Trent Williams is a unicorn and Deebo Samuels sheer presence on the field cannot be underestimated, opposing nfl defenses line up and gameplan accordingly. Brandon Aiyuk’s usage or lack thereof throughout the contest was as surprising as the final scoreboard. 

Pregame Expectation

San Francisco will be under immense scrutiny and pressure from a maxed-out home crowd to avert the recent trend of lacklustre performances on both sides of the ball. The Bengals will look to the Vikings gameplan to dismantle the 49ers in Santa Clara. Going into the bye week with a victory is imperative and for this to materialise the red and gold have to play better football across the three phases and avoid nonsensical penalties. Trent Williams is doubtful and Deebo Samuels could be back after the bye week. 

Postgame Evaluation

Joe Burrow’s ghosted the 49ers vaunted pass rush with timely pocket management and scrambling ability to carve-up the secondary with panache and ease. The pass rush is creating pressure but routinely missing the final jigsaw piece. The linebacking crew are flat-out trying to plaster over the miscues on the front and backend and it’s taking its toll. Credit to Dre Greenlaw for his commitment to the cause however Dre has been playing hurt for far too long. Missed tackles across the team are cause for concern and need to be buttoned up, swiftly. The whole team needs to step-up and quickly.

Pregame Expectation

A combination of a bye week, health on the injury front, Steve Wilks on the sidelines and the blockbuster addition of Chase Young should propel the 49ers out of a three-game funk. The Jaguars will mimic the Bengals, Browns and Vikings gameplan to nullify the ferocious and ferociously underperforming pass rush in order to pick apart the secondary. Things could get ugly if San Franciso fail to turnup on both fronts because Trevor Lawrence has similar traits to Joe Burrow. Deebo Samules should be on the field, Javon Hargrave and Trent Willliam will be questionable right up to kick-off. 

Postgame Evaluation

Three players can make a difference. Trent Willliams, Deebo Samules and Chase Young combined to galvanise the Niners back into NFC contention and national media frenzy. The pass rush was a constant menace, the run game was on fire and collectively the defense was lights-out. It’s not rocket science: defense is more than an attitude or an expression, defense is an artform. Brock Prudy was back on form in a purdy way with pocket movement, efficiency and taking care of the ball. Trent Williams is not just a superlative or a unicorn, he’s a blessing.

Pregame Expectation

San Francisco must ride the crest of momentum to lockup the division and maintain the quest for top seed in the NFC. The formula to attain both objectives was on full display in last week’s win in Jacksonville or any of the previous five victories. The perceived weakness (on paper) in the 49ers armour: the secondary need to just play complimentary football because the defensive line and the linebacking crew will make the explosive plays. Nick Bosa and Chase Young will be greatly anticipating the opportunity to tee-up against old collegiate rival, Baker Mayfield.

Postgame Evaluation

An excellent team victory compiled across the three platoons. Brock Purdy commandeered a perfect qbr rating with precise pocket management mixed with vertical passing execution. Brock was particularly relentless against constant in your face pressure. The entire defense, including rotational personnel operated with cohesion from the front to the back. Christian McCaffrey’s record equalling 16 game consecutive touchdown record was sapped but not for a lack of trying. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

Niners will be on the road to face a divisional opponent and former rival sans Russell Wilson. You’d think form and squad pedigree would be a defining factor however Thanksgiving football can shock form, fashion and rationale. The 49ers will be missing standout starting safety, Talanoa Hufanga to an acl injury and the niners will be hoping Ji’Ayir Brown can step up to the mantle set by the stricken all-pro. On the other side, the Seahawks will be missing the incredibly gifted and ascending Kenneth Walker.

Postgame Evaluation

Don’t call it a rivalry. San Francisco 49ers completely dismantled the Seattle Seahawks and nullified the 12th man brigade. The defensive line was astute as advertised and the secondary pairing of Charvarius Ward and the ascending Ambry Thomas was lights out so much so you could imagine the duo repeating the performance in the dark. Brock Purdy marshalled the offense efficiently for the defense to take over the game. Going forward, the decision to allow Charvarius Ward to roam with DK Metcalf should be the default strategy against the opposition’s top playmaker.

Pregame Expectation

Do call it a rivalry. The time has arrived for the never-ending trash talk off the field to translate on the field. The Niners have the opportunity to right all the wrongs including the divine hand that was delt in last year’s NFC Championship Game. NFC number one seed is in play; the red and gold need to open the window and in turn the green and black could firmly close the door. Tensions will be bubbling on the surface and could easily boil over from sideline to sideline.

Postgame Evaluation

Magnifique. Nobody sane was expecting a blowout. During pregame looker room entrance, some of the red and gold playmakers were dressed in all black ensembles. Statement of intent or random coincidence? (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

Niners continue to ascend in hot pursuit of the number one seed and must take care of business against a very familiar face. Seattle could be welcoming (thunder and lightning) running back, Kenneth Walker back and loosing starting quarterback Geno Smith for the trip to San Francisco. Ray-Ray McCloud has been designated for injured reserve and veteran safety (serial winner) Logan Ryan has been signed to bolster the positional group.

Postgame Evaluation

Lunch is on Deebo and the 49ers must continue to feed the beast. As expected, a charged-up Seattle with the inclusion of Drew Lock gave the Niners a few scares thought the game but thankfully the Secondary stepped-up in a big way to stop an emotional DK Metcalf and company. Drew Lock’s ability on the move provided another timely test for the 49ers on the field and sidelines. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

San Francisco have temporarily secured the top seed in the NFC and must continue to perform at the highest levels to nail down home field advantage in playoff football. The Cardinal’s play has improved drastically with the return of Kyler Murray who traditionally revels against the Niners. The red and gold defense will need to be ready for Kyler’s tenacious tendencies without the injured Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave and possibly Charvarius Ward. The onus is on the offense to control the time of possession in order to take the pressure of a defence missing a few all-pro calibre players.

Postgame Evaluation

The missing pieces on the defensive interior has highlighted an issue with missed tackles across the board. A bruising style of play on defense may be a contributing factor. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

Battle of the number one seeds and for many a potential Super Bowl rehearsal. This could be high scoring affair or a defensive masterclass as both sides need the win to cement home field advantage for the playoffs. The national media is reporting the visitors feel severely disrespected with the odds favouring the home team and are taking the numerical hit personally. Regardless of the result, the formidable Ravens will provide a unique battle test heading into the postseason. The Niners will be hoping for a clean slate on the injury front.

Postgame Evaluation

A timely rude awakening? Turns out the disrespect was real and not paper talk. The Ravens defense took it out on Brock Purdy like no opponent before. The visitors completely dismantled the offense by accumulating five interceptions and feasted on a 49ers defense faced with scoreboard pressure and a handicapped offense. The offensive line work in progress status continues however the Niners could have significant issues in the postseason if injuries and bad form persist outside the unicorn at left tackle. Going forward the red and gold will need to look at the draft to pursue stability, consistency and longevity.

Pregame Expectation

The 49ers are squarely in control of securing home field advantage for the playoffs. The Niners must win both remaining fixtures to guarantee postseason eligibility at Levis Stadium. The great unknown factor at play with the Commanders will provide plenty of intrigue on gameday alongside the return of Chase Young. San Francisco needs to win on the field along with a semblance of victory on the injury front and to iron out self-inflicted penalties. At the pivotal juncture of the regular season, squad availability is gold dust. 

Postgame Evaluation

The 49ers have officially obtained the number one seed by taking care of business against the Commanders and a surprise comeback victory for Arizona over Philidelphia. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

A result on the scoreboard is not mandatory for the 49ers, instead a clean game in term of health on and off the field will be a major boon for the post season. The LA Rams have come on strong at the tail end of the season to secure playoff football with the evergreen Matthew Stafford at the helm in conjunction with a boat load of youngsters. Two individuals on the offensive side in particular (Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams) will be a problem for the long-term. 

Postgame Evaluation

The difference in a supposedly nothing game was Jake Moody leaving four points on the field and Puka Nacua deservedly making history. (More Coming Soon).

Pregame Expectation

The NFC Divisional Round brings the inform Packers to Santa Clara. The odds are favourably favouring the well-rested San Francisco, however I believe this will be a close game with defense going up against red hot offense. The Niners will welcome back the incredibly underrated Arik Armstead to bolster the interior defensive line. Brock Purdy will be on a mission to hush the naysayers doing the rounds on national media and the opposition clamouring to undermine the inexperienced quarterback.

Postgame Evaluation

Green Bay came to play and on another day the Packers would be worthy victors. The Niners had to fight tooth and nail to secure representation in the NFC Conference Championship. Brock Purdy under duress and nerves early on but settled down eventually to produce his best football on the critical drive at the end of the fourth quarter for the Niners defense to secure the comeback victory.

Pregame Expectation

On the balance of regular season play, the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers are worthy adversaries competing for the NFC Conference Championship and eventual Super Bowl LVIII representation. Levis Stadium could once again witness a nail-biting close game with two high powered offenses on paper set to outscore each other. The defense’s will be under pressure from start to finish. Time of possession and the turnover ratio could be the defining stats to separate the two teams. 

Postgame Evaluation

Super Bowl LVIII. As predicted, the NFL world witnessed a nauseating back and forth battle on offense. The margin of victory was too close for my liking however the playoffs have shown the 49ers can win in non-49ers fashion ala get a lead and control the game. The Lions have to be acknowledged for pushing the Niners to untested limits. More Coming Soon.

Pregame Expectation

Heros, villains and legacies. The script is unwritten unless you’re in company of the football Gods. The 49ers may need to conduct the perfect game on the field and the sideline to dethrone the perceived darling of the National Football League. Statewide media’s opinions, Bill Vinovich’s officiating history and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell confirming the Niners practise turf was not great nor world class but simply playable will surely provide additional ammunition for the Niners to kickstart talk of a new dynasty. We could be in for a close nit game be it high scoring or a defensive masterclass.

Postgame Evaluation

Heartbreaking. Three winnable Super Bowl losses is too much. (More evaluation if and when I can stomach the pain).

Evaluation

A wonderful season regardless of the slip-up before the summit. Brock Purdy is the real deal. More Coming Soon.