49ers NFL schedule: Ranking 5 toughest games in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers @ Saints, Week 10
There are some who’d argue Week 10 on the road (again) against the New Orleans Saints should be the No. 1 most-difficult game on San Francisco’s 2020 schedule.
Perhaps. But there are a few bonuses for the Niners’ sake here.
For starters, the 49ers get a mini bye week ahead of the game after hosting the Packers on Thursday Night Football. That’ll afford some much-needed rest and preparation time. Then, to help matters a bit, the Niners can enter their Week 10 bout at Mercedes Benz Superdome with the knowledge they’ll have a Week 11 bye to accrue some additional rest and recovery.
Still, those two elements don’t change the fact this bout between two Super Bowl contenders could be exceptionally difficult.
The Saints got better during the offseason, particularly after adding former 49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in free agency.
With Sanders aboard, quarterback Drew Brees now has two prolific pass-catching targets at his disposal, the other being the two-time first-team All-Pro, Michael Thomas. And while the Niners benefit from the mini break ahead of this road game, being asked to pull off yet another crucial victory in what could be a game with massive playoff implications, on the road in New Orleans, is a tall task.
Just like last year, it won’t be easy at all and may require more miraculous play from someone like, let’s say, tight end George Kittle.