With a Monday Night Football game in Week 2, the 49ers were able to showcase their talented team that many predicted to win the division this season, early on in the year in front of a national crowd. But having to go up against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints would be no easy task. For the hosting 49ers, the game got ugly quick as they faced the same demons that haunted them in week 1 -- miscues. After winning the coin toss and choosing to receive the ball, San Francisco found themselves down two points and out of a possession in the games opening minutes when 49ers center David Baas sent the ball soaring over QB Alex Smith's head and into the endzone for a safety upon hiking the ball. Minutes later, Brees would work his magic, connecting for an early touchdown pass to RB Reggie Bush, who would be carted off the field with an injury later in the game.
49ers running back Frank Gore would bounce back from his disappointing week 1 performance by compiling 112 rushing yards and scoring two of the teams three offensive touchdowns. Proving to be the conductor on offense, Gore made it a 2-point deficit heading into the half after scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith. During half-time, the 49ers were given a bit of inspiration by honoring the greatest of all-time -- Jerry Rice. However, with one missed opportunity after another, that would not be enough. Turnovers via fumbles, interceptions, and muffed punts would be the demise of the 49ers as Alex Smith failed to find his rhythm until the late minutes of the 4th quarter which would unfortunately be too late.
Down by 8, Frank Gore did what he does best and ran it in for a 7-yard TD. Again, cutting the Saints lead to 2-points, the 49ers were forced to go for a 2-point conversion. Regardless of the aggressive play calling coach Singletary brings to the team, any coach in his position would have done the same. And at first, it looked like they failed to convert when a borderline pass to tight-end Vernon Davis was initially called no good. But after a SF challenge, the refs overturned the call on further review tying up the game at 22 with a little over a minute left on the clock. But with Drew Brees under control, that's all the Saints needed. Within the final minute, Brees carved the San Francisco defense that was one of the best in the league last season, when connecting with WR Marques Colston for a 30-yard pass and putting the Saints in field-goal range.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Saints kicker Garrett Hartley kicked a field-goal that seemed to be blocked at first when a defender got a hand on it. The ball eventually split the uprights, spoiling the 49ers' home opener, 25-22 and improving the Saints to a 2-0 record. Meanwhile, as the 49ers went out in convincing fashion, they remain win-less in their first two games to start the season. With an 0-2 record to begin the year that was projected to be San Francisco's breakout season, you've gotta think winning the division and making the playoffs is a long shot given only 13% of the teams that start off 0-2 have went on to make the postseason. But considering the division the 49ers are in, the division leader could very well finish with a record under .500. However, I don't think that'll be the case, given San Francisco is bound to go some sort of winning streak.
The 49ers who are yet to face a run oriented team, will have their hands full in Week 3 with Kansas City's tough tandem of running backs -- Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles. But that doesn't mean I don't think the red and gold will finally reach the win column. KC's duo of RB's should be a good test for the 49ers defense that ranked 3rd best in the league last season against the run. With that said, Go 9ers!
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