SF 49ers: Revisiting win/loss predictions in light of Week 2 injuries
SF 49ers’ Weeks 3-4
Week 3 @ NY Giants
Next up for the Niners is a second trip to MetLife Stadium and it’s less-than-great turf situation to take on the struggling New York Giants.
The other New York team has lost both of its games so far by a combined two touchdowns, including ending last week’s loss to the Bears in Chicago on their opponents’ 10-yard line only to end the game on an incomplete pass from second-year quarterback Daniel Jones (there was also offensive pass interference called on the play to add insult to injury).
And despite being in the game with Chicago until the end, their offense has scored just 14.5 points per game through two weeks, while the defense is average a touchdown more per game allowed.
Not exactly a recipe for success in the NFL.
Add to that the loss of running back Saquon Barkley for the season with an ACL tear and wide receiver Sterling Shepard listed as questionable with turf toe, there’s little reason to think their offensive woes will improve.
Even with Jimmy Garoppolo likely missing this game, backup quarterback Nick Mullens is capable enough to get the job done against this defense which, according to Pro Football Focus, has been one of the worst tackling teams in the league through two weeks (45.7, sixth worst), a bottom-half of the league pass rush (61.7, 20th), and about the same in coverage (55.0, 18th).
It may not be a blowout like last week, but the 49ers should be able to head home above .500 to start a nice long homestand.
Result: Win
Record: 2-1
Week 4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday Night Football)
On paper, this looked like a better game before the season started, but given how the two teams have started, there’s actually a good chance it’s not close at all.
The Philadelphia Eagles have started off wretchedly, not just the 0-2 record, but the way they’ve lost the games.
After jumping out to a 17-0 lead over Washington in Week 1, the Eagles defense proceeded to allow 27 unanswered points while the offense sputtered and failed to score after the 6:54 mark in the second quarter. Washington is thought by many to be among the worst teams in the NFL.
Then in Week 2, Philly got blitzed by the Rams 37-19 at home in a game that was probably not even as close as that score indicated.
PFF has the Eagles among the worst teams in the NFL so far, with an overall grade in the bottom five of the league (59.2, fourth worst), with offensive (57.5, last) and defensive (58.9, 18th) telling a lot of the story.
Quarterback Carson Wentz isn’t playing well (59-percent completions, 512 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions), but his lack of weapons and the porous nature of his mangled offensive line doesn’t help.
If Garoppolo is actually able to come back for this game and players like George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, and Deebo Samuel are in the fold, too, this could be a long night on the West Coast for the Eagles.