Week 2 is giving 49ers fans plenty to keep an eye on, and the early returns are already lining up nicely. Buffalo took care of Detroit on Thursday night, which is exactly the kind of result San Francisco wanted. With the Lions viewed as an NFC playoff contender, that loss helps the 49ers’ positioning in the conference.
Of course, the main event is still the 49ers themselves. But if you’re building out a full Sunday rooting guide, there are a few games worth tracking closely.
Minnesota is one of them, though the quarterback picture is murky enough to make everything feel a little unsettled. Will it be Kyler Murray when the 49ers face the Vikings in Mexico City?
Carson Wentz? That question can wait.
For now, Chicago is the bigger NFC threat climbing toward the top seed, and that’s the team 49ers fans should want to see stumble.
Philadelphia also belongs on the list, even if this one looks like a tough ask. It’s a longshot for Robert Saleh, a friend of the Faithful, but if you’re picking the result, the Eagles are the safer bet. A 2-0 start feels likely, yet their schedule gets difficult fast, so taking a loss here in a game they should win would matter later.
The NFC West is loaded into the conversation too, with Arizona and Seattle both sitting at 1-0. Even with Sam Darnold banged up, Seattle looks like the bigger long-term concern for San Francisco. This is the same kind of early-season spot the 49ers took advantage of last year, and the hope is that the Cardinals can do the same.
There’s also the simple reality that one of those two teams will leave the week at 2-0. If it’s Arizona, the 49ers still get their shot at the Cardinals in Week 3.
Then there’s the Rams, who already have Myles Garrett on IR after an offseason full of hype. Nothing would sit better with 49ers fans than seeing Los Angeles drop to 0-2.
And for one more angle, 49ers fan Cam Skattebo would look a whole lot better sitting at 2-0 than watching the Rams add another win.
So outside of the 49ers game itself, the Week 2 cheer card for San Francisco fans is clear: the Vikings, Titans, Cardinals, and Giants.
In Other News...
Brock Purdy Gets A Meaningful Reminder Against Miami This Week
Before Brock Purdy became the 49ers answer at quarterback, Miami offered one of the first real reminders of what he could handle. In Week 7 of the 2022 season, he came off the bench for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and helped San Francisco beat the Dolphins 33-17, taking on a defense that kept coming after him and still finding ways to stay poised.
Purdy finished that afternoon with a calm, efficient performance that helped reinforce why the 49ers trusted him so quickly. He kept making quick decisions against the blitz and carried that momentum into the rest of his rookie season, long before injuries in the NFC Championship Game finally ended it. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Dangerous Home Opener Letdown Against New-Look Miami
After opening the season with a win in Melbourne, the 49ers are back home for a three-game stretch at Levis Stadium, and the immediate challenge is making sure the first game back does not turn into a flat spot. Miami brings a different kind of test than the opener, with a new coach, a new quarterback in Malik Willis and the sort of unfamiliarity that can make a September game feel tricky if San Francisco treats it lightly.
The 49ers have spent their buildup stressing that the Dolphins deserve real attention, especially up front where pressure on Willis can shape the afternoon. They also know DeVon Achane is the kind of back who can punish any lapse, while Brock Purdys play remains a key part of how smoothly this homestand starts. It is the sort of early-season game that can look manageable on paper and still carry plenty of danger if the 49ers are not sharp from the opening series. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Voice Greg Papa Faces A Serious Fight Fans Didn't Expect
Greg Papa, the longtime voice of 49ers radio broadcasts, is in the middle of a far more serious battle than anything that has played out on the field. He is hospitalized with advanced heart failure, another major health setback after already going through B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a bone marrow transplant, and the situation has forced him to weigh several treatment paths as he confronts the next stage of his recovery.
For listeners who have come to rely on Papas presence over the years, the news lands hard because it comes with the uncertainty of what happens next. He is considering medication, an LVAD pump or a heart transplant, but even amid that difficult backdrop, Papa has made clear he wants to fight through it and get back behind the microphone. [Read more 🡒]