The season finally starts Sunday!

[GORICO]

The closing 4 games is likely the more difficult stretch. 3 of 4 on the road against teams likely with something to play for.

@Buff
@Miami
Det
@Was

we have a tough schedule overrall....which will make us tougher ...we just got to win....Just win Baby

 

[GORICO]

The funniest thing is now I think we have a better overall team while the 49ers got better at QB .
In the words of Bryan Broaddus, football is a strange lady.

dang---your profile pic...Jerry needs some sunscreen

 

[viman96]

we have a tough schedule overrall....which will make us tougher ...we just got to win....Just win Baby

Agreed. IMO most of the remaining games will be challenging. Could be a really fun season if the team gets on a roll.

 

[GORICO]

Tampa was 7-5 in 2020 before winning the Super Bowl.

Our own Dallas Cowboys were 5-4 in 1970 and had just been embarrassed 38-0 at home to the Sant Louis Cardinals before going on to play in the Super Bowl.

only got 2 things to say...Go-Cowboys...... How Bout Dem Cowboys

 

[plasticman]

I'm excited about the game too because of who they are playing and what they are. It's going to be a great indicator of where the Cowboys really are in terms of contending.

Still, it's the 5th game of a 17 game season against a non-division rival. The actual value of the results won't give us that much of an advantage or disadvantage in the end.

The results of the Cowboys Eagles game will have far more significance.

Then again, if the Cowboys are that serious a contender, then they must consider the value of seeding and any loss is a serious blow to a favorable playoff seeding.

This is why I say that the Cardinals loss is more detrimental to the Cowboys than a 49ers win is advantageous. They just can't lose another game they are supposed to win, not that I'm saying this week's opponent is. This is going to be a tough one.

 

[noshame]

4 wins buy your SB tickets
3 wins the road to SB goes through SF
2 wins we're a Wild card
1 win McCarthy is qone
There are variations
If we get embarrassed buy SF and somehow lose to the defenseless Chargers MM will be gone at 3-3

 

[plymkr]

2022 49ers were 3-4 after Week 7___
behind 6-0 Eagles, 6-1 Giants, 5-1 Vikings, 5-2 Cowboys, 4-3 Seahawks.
Wound up 13-4, with a wildcard homegame berth.
2023...let it --- and watch it --- unfold and play out.

Bingo. Sunday is an important game but it doesn’t define the season. A lot of football is left to be played after Sunday. During the course of the season we have no idea who will emerge as a major contributor. The 49ers traded for an injury prone RB and then ran the table. At the time of the trade I didn’t think much of it cuz of his injury history.

As the season goes on past Sunday, and to my knowledge there are 12 games left to be played. We have no idea who may emerge on either side of the ball in those 12 weeks. Mazi, Odiggy, could get into form. Who would have known that a 5th round CB named Bland would lead the team in interceptions last year. In week 5 I didn’t see Bland as a threat. Things change.

No matter what happens Sunday(and I think we’ll win) we will not be the same team entering the playoffs. Some new faces and surprises will emerge. So I’m not going to crown us Super Bowl champions if we win or feel we can’t make a run if we lose.

One thing I am watching for Sunday is how Dak plays and handles their defense and his own personal demons with the 49ers. That will be interesting. I’m hoping he plays lights out because if he does then we’ll win. Personal feelings about Dak is irrelevant. I want to win and for us to win he’s got to bring it.

 

[GINeric]

The Citadel, Troy, McNeese State, and Rice are behind us. Still can't believe we lost to McNeese State.

Now come teams that actually matter. San Fran, then the two LA teams split by a bye, followed by the Eagles.

The litmus test is nigh upon us. Are we legit, or just the same annual wannabe fraud?

This will be a pretty clear glimpse of what this team really is. Really looking forward to finding out.

4-0 = we're Super Bowl contenders
3-1 = close to the same as long as that loss is competitive and close
2-2 = probably the same team as last year
1-3 = we're too flawed to matter
0-4 = get ready to tear this roster down in the offseason

How can we call it a true test with a injured offensive line??

If our line was healthy, we could get a real measurement of who we are, but we won't truly know that using backups and limping starters up front vs the 49ers and other tough defenses until we're healthy.

 

[Whirlwin]

Every single game. For every single team. Is a different challenge. it’s as much about coaching, as it is the players the scheme of it all as long as we make the playoffs. It’s a brand new season. Just enjoy it.

 

[Diehardblues]

I don't view the LA teams as any better than what we have faced.

Well you should . They are.

Most of all they have legit QB’s to better test our defense .

 

[Diehardblues]

I think a loss for us on Sunday night and self doubt starts creeping in. I think if SF loses and they just shrug it off. In other words its a bigger game and measuring stick for the Cowboys than SF.

I’d agree with this from SF perspective.

But I think as long as we make a game of it on the road the self doubts shouldn’t be too strong. Afterall we aren’t expected to win.

A blowout loss could present the self doubting.

My bigger concern is a Cowboys win might provide a greater SB hype and cause us to become over confident against lesser opponents which we appeared to be after our first two games.

 

[Diehardblues]

The closing 4 games is likely the more difficult stretch. 3 of 4 on the road against teams likely with something to play for.

@Buff
@Miami
Det
@Was

Right.. we have a couple a tough stretches in this very difficult schedule this year. This upcoming stretch is just our first and at the moment most important especially against our top conference foes which could provide us a good barometer of where we are .

 

[Diehardblues]

Nothing really matters for fans like you. You are just looking at any loss to prop up your agenda. If we win it will be some excuse. If we lose it will be the ammo for you to push your agenda. Which is probably all you are really doing at the moment.

Even if the Cowboys pull it out, its means little in the overall scheme of things.

To be fair there are those who use wins and losses to prop up their narratives and agendas depending on their perspective.

This stretch with our two top NFC opponents upcoming is a good test and measurement in first half of season.

And I wouldn't say it means little as divisional and conference tiebreakers could be in play. Besides these tiebreaker implications they all tally up the same .

But how we fare in these key matchups does provide ammo for both sides of the argument. Which is all part of the discussion . Afterall this is what these forums and social media is mostly based on.

It’s why our owner is already out in front stating he thinks we can stay on the field with SF meaning a strong performance even in a loss could be some type of moral victory which punctuates how games like these do drive the vibe on both sides of the argument.

Some fans don’t like that vibe as it can be too negative or and if we win the other side will say it’s too early to be too positive . Again, this is all part of the debate and discussion. Promoting moral victories is an attempt to control or at least buffer the narrative. So these agendas are on both sides of the argument .

 

[CTcowboy203]

It’s a big game and an early season test but if they lost a close game again everything we want is still ahead of us. If we win a close game everything 49ers want is ahead of them. Curious to see how we do but not giving up if we lose unless it’s an embarrassment

 

[Diehardblues]

You shouldnt need records to see how good a team is. Injuries between now and the end of the season for both teams will probably have more to do with things more than anything.

True, we won’t know until the end of the season where we are and injuries are a vital component.

Unfortunately though our record will also impact and dictate opponents whether we play at home and how many games we have which can be critical factors as well.

 

[Risen Star]

The Cowboys can't change their narrative without making a deeper postseason run. No regular season win will do it.

Having said that, 49ers to cover.

 

[Diehardblues]

The SF game, I'll give you. That's a true litmus test.

But this "4-game stretch" nonsense is a joke. The Chargers and Rams games don't carry any more weight than the Giants, Jets or Patriots games. Those teams are all capable of laying an egg or playing great.

SF is a different animal. They look like the most complete team in football (again).

What about the Egirls game which is part of this stretch. You don’t view as similar importance to SF?

And I didn’t interpret meaning of OP to state wins against LA teams were more valuable wins than our early opponents except they are better teams so a more valuable measure.

 

[Ring6]

Troy is no cupcake. That's a quality win. They won the Sun Belt West last year. But yeah, those first few games do feel like preseason, with all previous games being blowouts allowing limited playbook usage.

 

[Diehardblues]

Usually when certain other teams play us I’ve said, “ this is their Super Bowl ”, referring to whom we play.

But in this case I’d say it’s ours…….

I’m not sure it’s our SB but if we can’t beat SF or Phi and even later in season the Buf and Mia for example then it’s going to be difficult to take the Cowboys as serious for true SB contenders if all we can do is dominate below .500 teams.

 

[erod]

Troy is no cupcake. That's a quality win.

Not if you're supposed to be a contender for a national championship.