NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
The talk and guessing is almost over the San Francisco 49ers are set to kick off the 2023 season. It has already been a great week with Nick Bosa becoming the top-paid defensive player in the NFL and back in the fold. Now their focus moves to the Pittsburgh Steelers a team that a lot of people think will be playoff-bound this season. The Niners want to get off to a better start than the last two seasons and it’s never too early to make a statement. The 3-4 start of 2022 is still fresh in everyone’s mind and a motivator moving forward. So how do we get the win and the start we want?
Here are my 5 keys to the game for the San Francisco 49ers.
Bag secured ??? the @49ers and all world edge rusher Nick Bosa agree to a contract extension. The details are 5-years, $170 million dollars. With $122.5 guaranteed. The NEW highest paid defensive player in @NFL history. #FTTB #NBSMedia #NFL pic.twitter.com/C9WaJs4GcO
— TEAM NBS Media (@TeamNBSMedia) September 6, 2023
- George Kittle versus Minkah Fitzpatrick is the type of matchup that makes football great. Two ballers who will find each other early and often. Kittle coming off a double-digit touchdown season and is the go-to player for Purdy when things break down. You best believe Fitzpatrick knows that and will be lurking for a chance to do what he does best. The Niners will depend on Kittle for those clutch 3rd down grabs and be a serious threat in the red zone.
- Welcome back, Christian McCaffrey!! With a full offseason in the Bay what type of wrinkles and looks has Kyle drawn up for one of the most versatile players in the league. Can they force Pittsburgh to adjust its game plan and open up opportunities for Run CMC and others. If they choose to load the box the screen game and quick slants should be wide open. Brock Prudy is good this is true but this offense starts with 23 and all eyes are on him on offense.
- Do NOT let T.J. Watt have his way and be the headache we all know he can be. Trent Williams will be busy with Alex Highsmith. The rest of the crew won’t shut him down, but they can certainly limit how effective he is which is a win every day. We’ve seen how an impact pass rusher can make for a long day for the offense.
- It’s only one game but I want to know if Brock Purdy is “HIM”? Coming off an injury and playing for a team with clear-cut Super Bowl goals the pressure is on to show last year was just the start to a great career. With weapons at his disposal and one of the best playcallers in the game as his head coach things are lined up for him to shine. The Steelers are a gritty tough team and won’t make things easy for him, which is the perfect test to see where he is at as QB1.
- The young baller Deebo Samuel versus the Vet Patrick Peterson. Coming off a down year Deebo will want to come out the gates HOT and set the tone for 2023. Peterson still has some gas in the tank and can be highly effective when opportunity strikes. This is a fun matchup I will have an eye on and so should you.
Everywhere you look on the field you see juicy matchups and that doesn’t include the chess match of Tomlin vs. Shanahan. Nick Bosa even with missing all of training camp and Preseason will have at least 2-3 impact plays at some point. With new free agents making team debuts and the overall juice that comes with NFL kickoff, I see the San Francisco 49ers making enough plays on both sides of the ball to win this game 28-17. This will be old-school football that you can sit back and just enjoy it both teams will bring it. For more NFL coverage swing by our site and get ready for the season and support us by visiting our friends at the NFL Shop. Until next time Niner Gang.
