49ers vs. Saints: 3 Keys to Victory in Week 2

The 1-0 San Francisco 49ers head to the Big Easy to take on the 0-1 New Orleans Saints in their Week 2 matchup. Quarterback Mac Jones will get the start with Brock Purdy recovering from a shoulder and toe injury. If the 49ers plan to improve to 2-0, they must stick to the keys to victory.

Establish the Run

The Saints' defense allowed 146 yards on the ground against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, ranking them 25th against the run. The 49ers rushed for 119 yards against a stingy Seattle defense in Week 1. Expect the 49ers to utilize the outside zone more against the Saints' front seven.

The team welcomes back rookie running back Jordan James, but expect a heavy workload for Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson Jr. to help get the offense flowing. If the 49ers can successfully run the ball on the road in Week 2, they will be victorious.

Stop the Run

The 49ers must target the Saints' best player, Alvin Kamara. The 49ers have done well in managing Kamara, allowing him 17.7 yards per game with only two rushing touchdowns. The Saints will try to change the pace at running back with Kendre Miller. In Week 1, Miller rushed the ball for 24 yards on five attempts against the Cardinals. Fred Warner and company must eliminate the rushing attack of the Saints if they want to be victorious.

Pressure the QB

Robert Saleh's defense will face off against a second-year quarterback, Spencer Rattler. Rattler was 27-of-46 in passing attempts, and threw for 214 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. Expect defensive end Nick Bosa and company to generate and apply pressure throughout the game to shake and rattle Spencer Rattler.

Saleh has the utmost respect for Rattler and won't take him for granted.

"This quarterback, I'm telling you, he's going to be a household name by the end of the year," Saleh said on Thursday. "This kid's pretty good. He's a twitchy athlete. He's got a hell of an arm. He's very decisive in his decision-making as he goes through his progression, and he's accurate with the football."

Look for the 49ers' defense to speed up his timing and force him to make less accurate throws. If the 49ers' defense gets to the quarterback consistently, their chances of winning improve.

In conclusion, the 49ers are banged up heading into their Week 2 matchup. Being on the road and having key players injured, such as Purdy and tight end George Kittle, will be challenging for the team. If the 49ers want to be successful and win, they must stick to these three keys to victory.

Written By:

Wayne "Breezie" Brown

Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
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