The San Francisco 49ers will host the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. The division matchup is the home opener for Kyle Shanahan and his team, and the head coach is looking forward to the fans making an impact after a disappointing Week 1 road outing against the Chicago Bears.
"[There's definitely a different energy] when you are at home," Shanahan said after Friday's practice, the last of the week before Sunday's game. "I think the advantage on the road, I always talk to our players, there's an advantage with concentration and stuff on the road. When you get on a plane, usually right now, you're there, you don't have family in town, things like that. So those are the only reasons you like being on the road."
Of course, there are typically more significant advantages to playing at home. San Francisco has lost its past two home openers (although, the 2020 game didn't have fans in the stadium), and hopes to end that streak on Sunday against the Seahawks. The 0-1 Niners are currently listed as nine-point favorites over their 1-0 opponents.
"But you always choose the crowd and being in your own stadium because that's such a big factor," Shanahan continued. "Crowd noise and football, not that I've majored in any other sports, but I don't just get how other sports can [have it] be as big of an advantage. I mean, every play starts with a snap count and cadence, and that's everything for O-line and D-linemen.
"So any time you get a chance to be back home, and know you don't have to worry about [being] on the road and the opposing team coming in, that pumps your guys up. That pumps your whole team up. That pumps our D-line up. And man, is our O-line glad we don't have to be on the silent [count]."
A loud Levi's Stadium crowd would go a long way toward the 49ers securing their first win of the season. It would also help second-year quarterback Trey Lance, who is making his second NFL start at home and fourth NFL start overall.
