San Francisco 49ers: First-take regular-season schedule predictions for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions
After coming home from a tough, physical road loss to open up the season, the 49ers get to take out their frustrations against a fellow NFC North opponent, the Detroit Lions.
San Francisco’s home opener at Levi’s Stadium, kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 16, should play right into the Niners’ hands. And, unfortunately, against all those fans sitting on the eastern concourse at Levi’s.
It’s hot. Good for San Francisco, but not so much for Detroit.
OK, the weather is a minimal factor. But chew on this — the Lions weren’t particularly active in free agency this offseason. And while their offense put up the seventh most points in the NFL a year ago (410), their rush offense ranked dead last in the league.
Barring some breakout NFL Draftee Lions running back, San Francisco’s defensive game plan will be to shut down Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford.
A doable task.
Yet the more provocative storyline will be Jimmy Garoppolo taking on first-year head coach Matt Patricia, who served as the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator prior to taking over duties in Detroit this year.
What will Patricia’s game plan be for Jimmy G? Or, what Niners fans would like to hear, how will Garoppolo go about carving up a defense he knows all too well?