49er fan here just to give an opponent’s perspective on the game this Sunday Night. I will be brutally honest when I say that all the realistic 49er fans in the Bay Area know that this will NOT be a cakewalk for the 49ers in Foxboro, in any way, shape or form. However, I think the 49ers will definitely put up one of the best fights, if not the best, the Patriots have seen ALL season (yes, even the Ravens and Steelers). Here are my reasons why:
1) The Patriots do not have a lot of experience playing the 49ers. This can go both ways as well but I think this presents the factor of the unknown. The Patriots have had tough battles against the Steelers and Ravens every year, but you guys know those teams VERY well which is why the match-up is always very close. You can reference the battles that the 49ers have had with the Rams this season in comparison. The Rams are not among the best teams in the NFL, HOWEVER, they match up very well with the 49ers and also are very familiar with each other (we play each other twice a year). I think this means that anything is really up for grabs this game and I wouldn’t be surprised if the 49ers defense holds Tom Brady and the office to under 20 points. To assume this game will be a blow-out in the Pats favor would be idiotic…
2) Physicality is the name of our game. Ever since Harbaugh took over the reins in SF, he and his coaching staff has taken this defense to beastly level. Every game we have played this year, our defense has left the other team dazed and confused (you can argue the game against the Giants was the only one where our defense was flat). It will take PERFECT execution by the Patriots offense to avoid at least a few turnovers due to big hits by Goldson/Whitner/Bowman/Willis or sacks by Aldon. Also, look out for one of the most underrated LB’s on our team not named Willis, Bowman, or Aldon. I of course would be referring to Ahmad Brooks. I don’t doubt that the Patriots can’t deliver that perfect game but our defense is on a mission to prove a point… I also would not be surprised if we shut down Ridley/Vereen/Woodhead to under 100 yards rushing leaving the game in Brady’s hands…
3) The tempo of the game by the Patriots and how the 49ers defense adjust will be key. The good thing about our defense is we have VERY good depth on defense so it wouldn’t be a difficult to give our players a breather between plays. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Harbaugh also came out with a “No Huddle” of his own with Kaepernick running this offense. Along with Gore and Lamichael James, I can see big plays coming out of a ‘No Huddle’ while the Patriots defense tries to decipher what is going on with all the shifts/motions/formations/read-option/flea flicker/etc. The 49ers biggest problem (quite literally) will be dealing with Wilfork. We have had problems in the past dealing with “huge” NT’s like Ngata so the match-up between Wilfork and Goodwin/Iupati/Boone will be interesting. However, our OL is chalk full of 1st rounders that actually play and look like 1st rounders so I don’t have too much trouble sleeping at night.
4) I also expect Special Teams to play a HUGE role. We will need to make sure we contain Wes Welker in the return game and we need to hope David Akers shows signs of his old All-Pro and Pro-bowl self and not what he has shown the last couple weeks… ehhh
At the end of the day, I think the score will be extremely close and “low” for the Patriots standards and will be the hardest hitting football game on Sunday Night this season… 49ers 20 – Patriots 17
