Week 2 is in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers remain first in the NFC West. Hopefully, this doesn’t change anytime soon.
Unfortunately, their three rivals also won, so any hopes of separation this week will have to wait.
The good news is, the 49ers have yet to play a home game. Both of their wins are on the road, which is encouraging. The other good news is this time last year, you knew something was very, very wrong, because Week 2 in 2024 was the Minnesota Vikings game where Sam Darnold threw that ridiculous touchdown pass that never should have happened.
It took a bit until we labeled the 49ers a frustrating disappointment, but Week 2 in 2024 was where we could at least say, “Work in progress…kinda.”
The 49ers still have the more manageable schedule, and things should get tougher for the others unless the chaos that happened today continues. Then who knows?
Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
The Cardinals started the game against the Carolina Panthers with a disaster of a fumble by Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. The ball came out of Young’s hands and bounced towards the Panthers’ end zone. The Cardinals rolled on top of it and kept rolling into the end zone, getting spotted 7 points.
From there, it was some nice Bryce Young plays mixed in with a mistake. You’d think the Cardinals are running away with this thing, then the fourth quarter comes. It starts with the score 27-9, Cardinals. The Panthers manage a score in there and succeed their two-point try to make it 27-15, Cardinals. Then, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws a ball up in the air that gets picked, letting the Panthers get another touchdown. Now it’s 27-22, Cardinals.
The Panthers got the ensuing onside kick with a short field. Cue the Bryce Young fumble, only for the Panthers to get bailed out with a holding penalty against the Cardinals. From here, it was penalty after penalty with these two teams, with the only thing moving being the clock. It felt like they stayed midfield for the entire final two minutes. Eventually, the Panthers ran out of downs and penalties, and the game ended when Young took a sack on fourth down.
Not a pretty game. It’s hard to figure out what the Cardinals are. They are 2-0, but they don’t feel like a 2-0 team (and yes, I know the 49ers are somewhat on the same boat).
Los Angeles Rams (2-0)
Of all the NFC West games this week, the Rams’ win was the least bizarre. There were mistakes, sure, but the chaos meter wasn’t nearly as high as what we saw in Seattle or Arizona. The Tennessee Titans even managed to grab the lead a couple of times, but a massive brain fart late sealed it for Los Angeles.
The Tennessee Titans certainly tried; they even managed to get the lead a couple of times. This, despite the game starting with this:
Unfortunately, the Titans had to remember they were the Titans. After the Rams took the lead and made it 20-16 in the fourth quarter, this costly mistake happened:
Blink just once after this, and the game is 33-16 Rams. The game finished 33-19.
Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (you know him from his days as a 49er) left the game early due to a shoulder injury, but it didn’t seem to matter much.
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams’ stats of 106 yards receiving and a touchdown seem nice until you realize he was targeted 13 times and hauled in only six of them. Still impressive, but the Rams were going to him a lot.
Regardless, the Rams are 2-0, but that very, very well could change this week.
Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
The Pittsburgh Steelers do all this offseason retooling—or they just went and got Aaron Rodgers—and they can’t beat the Seattle Seahawks when they come to town. The game opened with a quick Seattle touchdown, followed by the Steelers kicking two field goals, keeping the score at 7-6 until around three minutes remained in the half. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did Aaron Rodgers things, in this case, getting a free play after the Seahawks jumped. The interesting thing about this half was that on the free play, Rodgers hit DK Metcalf. You might remember him from his time playing for the Seahawks.
From there, the game was pretty even. The Seahawks came back to make it 14-14 and then in the fourth quarter got another three points. Still even. Then the most Seattle thing ever happened:
That is just disgusting. Why is it a Seattle thing? Look at it. That whole thing is just a bizarre brain fart. Don’t make a play on the ball, whatever you do, Pittsburgh. Don’t study a rule book to know what the rules are, Pittsburgh.
That was the turning point of the game, and the Steelers never quite recovered. Final Score 31-17. Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions. Both throws that even I (one of his bigger critics) could say Rodgers would make in his sleep a few years ago.
The Seahawks remain a game behind everyone else, but they still have a lethal defense. A defense, an unhealthy 49ers team managed to get juuuust enough points on to win. Had the Steelers beaten the Seahawks, it would have been a 0-2 start and a hole they would have had to dig out of.
Onto Week 3
The Seahawks return home to host the New Orleans Saints, the same team the 49ers pulled off a road win against in Week 2. The Seahawks defense is no joke, and they aren’t as banged up as the 49ers. This one should get ugly quick. Expect to hear about how much better Seattle did against the Saints than the 49ers.
The 49ers will host the Cardinals. This will be the 49ers’ second divisional game, while it is the Cardinals’ first. If the 49ers can manage a win here, that would give them a lead in the NFC West. The Cardinals have been playing well, so it’s going to be a matter of what the lineup entails due to injuries.
The Rams will be traveling to play the Philadelphia Eagles. This game will help us learn a bit about the NFC. The Eagles managed to go into Kansas City on Sunday and beat the Chiefs 20-17, handing Patrick Mahomes and company the dreaded 0-2 start. The Chiefs had the lead for a hot minute, but it was mostly the Eagles all day. The Chiefs managed to come within three in the final minutes, but an Eagles tush-push put an end to that.
1st: San Francisco 49ers; Next: vs Arizona Cardinals
2nd (tie): Los Angeles Rams; Next: at Philadelphia Eagles
2nd (tie): Arizona Cardinals; Next: at San Francisco 49ers
4th: Seattle Seahawks; Next: vs New Orleans Saints
About the Author: Insidethe49
