No. 5: The 49ers will quickly go back to their winning ways
So yes, the 49ers lost their first game of the season. It was a game that had a lot of twists and turns, while sadly turning away from the 49ers at the literal last second.
Realistically, it took a ridiculous amount of in-game injuries and drops to hinder the 49ers, who still managed to find a way to get the win if a kick hadn’t sailed wide.
San Francisco has injuries, of course, but it’s planned with injuries all season. Arizona is a tough outfit, better than the record suggests, but the Cardinals are not Seattle.
This is a revenge spot for the 49ers defense, too, which got close to embarrassed by the Arizona offense. Cornerback and team captain Richard Sherman said himself how badly the defense played despite the win.
Offensively, the team is struggling with injuries, but it’s much easier to game plan around these when they happen before the game being played and not during.
Finally, Shanahan will be eager to avoid the loss and stay ahead of the rest of the NFC.
The Cardinals won’t just roll over, and I expect it to be a tough game throughout with a little bit more emphasis on the defense for San Francisco.
Prediction-wise, 24-14 to San Francisco.