Coming off a disastrous 6-11 campaign, the San Francisco 49ers are obviously hoping for a much better outcome to the 2025 season and will attempt to get things rolling on Sunday afternoon in a Week 1 divisional battle with the rival Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks, of course, will have a different look under center this season, as they shipped Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and replaced him with none other than former Niners backup Sam Darnold, who had a career year with the Minnesota Vikings a season ago and turned that into a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle.
Darnold, who spent the 2023 season in San Francisco, is set for his second start against the 49ers since leaving the Bay, and Niners fans are undoubtedly hoping for a better result than the first. In Week 2 of the 2024 campaign, the USC alum led the Vikes to a 23-17 home win over his former club, completing 17 of 26 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns en route to a 109.1 passer rating.
But we see things going a little differently for Darnold this Sunday, and that's where we'll kick things off as we make a few predictions for the 49ers' Week 1 rivalry matchup with the Seahawks.
The 49ers will spoil Sam Darnold's Seahawks debut by forcing him into at least two turnovers
In addition to the two touchdown passes Darnold threw against the 49ers last September, he did also throw one interception, the recipient of that errant pass being none other than all-world linebacker Fred Warner, who also recorded nine total tackles, a pair of passes defended, and a sack that day.
And we're calling for Warner, who I've actually predicted to win Defensive Player of the Year, to once again make life a little more challenging for Darnold by notching yet another interception.
But that will account for just one of at least two turnovers we're predicting Darnold to commit. A second pick is certainly a possibility, perhaps the first as a pro from rookie Upton Stout. If it's not a second interception, though, we like Nick Bosa getting him to fumble the football.
We're sure Niners fans won't mind all three things happening here.
Brian Robinson Jr. will record at least 100 total yards from scrimmage
With Christian McCaffrey's status up in the air with his latest injury, Brian Robinson Jr. may have to serve a bigger role than initially expected in this Week 1 matchup.
Even if CMC does suit up, he's clearly won't be at 100 percent with that calf injury. But that's why the trade for Robinson was made in the first place, and we're calling for the former Commanders RB1 to step up with a strong performance.
Like McCaffrey, Robinson is a dual-threat kind of a back, and we're calling for him to tally at least 100 total yards from scrimmage, going for 80-plus on the ground and 20-plus as a receiver.
Ricky Pearsall will lead the 49ers in receiving with 100-plus yards
With Deebo Samuel now in Washington and Brandon Aiyuk out for at least the first month of the season, Ricky Pearsall will be expected to step up and take on a bigger role this season, and we're calling for the second-year stud to get off to a hot start against Seattle.
The Seahawks' secondary is the strongest part of their defense, but we're still calling for Pearsall and Brock Purdy to hook up early and often, with Pearsall ultimately recording the second 100-yard game of his young career.
Jake Moody won't miss a single kick in the 49ers' double-digit victory
We'll give you a little two-for-one special to close.
The first part may be the boldest prediction we've got here, as we're calling for Jake Moody, who missed a whopping 10 field goals and an extra point a season ago and also missed one of each during the preseason, to be absolutely perfect for the 49ers on Sunday.
And to cap things off, we'll go ahead and predict a double-digit win for San Francisco to kick off the 2025 season, with Moody making four of four extra-point attempts and a field goal in a 31-21 victory.