The San Francisco 49ers held on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20 in the home opener at Levi's Stadium. It also marks the first time since 1998 that the Niners have gotten off to a 3-0 start. Here are some rapid reactions to a very difficult and sometimes very ugly game.
1) Turnovers and Self-Inflicted Wounds
The 49ers looked very good on offense the entire game...except when they turned the ball over.
San Francisco made things harder than they had to be with bad bounces, errant throws, bad snaps, and not hanging onto the ball, but in the end, it overcame them.
That said, the 49ers cannot afford to have that amount of sloppiness going forward. Hopefully, they got it out of their system.
2) Jimmy Garoppolo is a Tough Quarterback
Garoppolo was getting hammered, but he hung in the pocket and made great throw after great throw, especially in the second half.
Pittsburgh is no slouch on defense and Garoppolo consistently moved the offense into scoring position and was able to make the game-winning throw at the end.
It is safe to say the 49ers have the quarterback they need to win games and he is tougher than some people think.
3) This Defense is Outstanding
While there were some hiccups, overall, the defense is doing its thing. Despite the number of turnovers, the Steelers only converted them into six points.
The defense can be leaned on during difficult times and it can also close games.
It was great to see Dee Ford and Nick Bosa meeting at the quarterback on the final drive, which is precisely what they were brought in to do.
4) The 49ers Know How to Handle Adversity
Since Kyle Shanahan arrived, the 49ers have endured tremendous frustration and adversity in close losses and injuries. It never phased them.
Instead, the 49ers learned how to fight through difficult situations and it has paid off. They do not panic. They never stop believing. They keep fighting and know they can overcome mistakes and adverse circumstances.
That is a sign of a team that has turned the corner as it probably does not win this game last year or the year before.
