San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who need to bounce back in Week 2 vs. Lions
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers will look to these five players to bounce back from an ugly Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and perform well in the team’s home opener against the visiting Detroit Lions in Week 2.
Week 1 was about as sloppy and disjointed an effort the San Francisco 49ers could have had to open up the 2018 season.
And yet the Niners lost to the likely playoff-bound Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium by one score.
On the positive side of the equation, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad was in a position to win that game despite the numerous mistakes. And with last Sunday’s bout arguably the toughest matchup the 49ers will have this season, it’s good to know the Niners can hold their own against a possible Super Bowl contender on the road.
Yet on the other hand, good teams figure out how to win those kinds of games. Perhaps San Francisco isn’t quite there yet.
Fortunately, things should get a bit easier for Shanahan and Co. in Week 2 when the 49ers return home to take on the Detroit Lions, who were pummeled by rookie quarterback Sam Darnold and the New York Jets 48-17 on Monday Night Football. Detroit’s short week, westward travel and the slew of problems it experienced in Week 1 should play into San Francisco’s favor.
That said, however, a number of 49ers are going to have to perform much better against the Lions than what was seen on the road in Minnesota.
Let’s take a look at five such players on the Niners roster and why it’s important they bounce back in Week 2.