Panthers look like 1st real stress test for 49ers

Posted By on October 26, 2019

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (22) huddles with teammates before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

SANTA CLARA — For the first time this season, the 49ers seem stressed.

They’ve rushed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders into action, even though they traded for him less than a week ago. “He’s going to play a lot,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday.

They have rushed 35-year-old left tackle Joe Staley back to the practice field from a broken fibula he suffered less than six weeks ago. They list him as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, but won’t rule him out.

“Haven’t ruled him out because he does have a chance to play and I know how badly he wants to,” Shanahan said. “But we won’t make that decision until Sunday.”

It’s not clear how badly Staley wants to play. “Got to be smart,” he said Thursday in the locker room. “It’s a long season. We still have 10 games left.”

The 49ers also might rush their No. 2 tight end, Levine Toilolo, back from a groin injury because they need him to help the young, backup offensive tackles in pass protection. They list Toilolo as questionable.

“I know he’s going to give it his best,” Shanahan said of Toilolo on Friday. “Hopefully, he’ll heal up in the next day and a half.”

The 49ers haven’t acted like an undefeated team this week. They’ve acted threatened. Because they are threatened. The Panthers are good. They’ve won four games in a row with their backup quarterback, Kyle Allen, since starter Cam Newton injured his foot Week 2. The Panthers might be better without Newton. And they’re coming off a bye week. They’re the toughest opponent the 49ers have faced this season, and the 49ers are hurting.

The 49ers still should win, but not by much. The game will be close. The 49ers must do the following five things to beat the Panthers:

1. Establish the pass.

This article has 53 Comments

  1. I wish to cover all salient responses from trolls now so it is not affecting blog citizens on game day.
    .
    “Catfish!”
    .
    “What a MORON!”
    .
    Add as many as you need. Let’s just get them out of the way so we can focus on this undefeated 6-0 team!
    .
    I will also be unveiling my new avatar. A former 49er with a ring for each finger comes to mind.
    .
    GO NINERS!!!!!

  2. This is the first test the defense faced all year. Let’s see what they’re really made of cause let’s be real, they haven’t really faced any team that was capable of doing any damage to them. This is the first game from here on out that we will see exactly what they have. And me personally, I think our run defense will finally be exposed.

  3. I agree that this is a great test for the 49ers as they will finally face an opponent that has some momentum of there own. I do however disagree with your theory that the 49ers are threatened by the Panthers and have made rash decisions based on this one game. You do know that the Trade deadline is on Tuesday right? Getting a last minute trade before the deadline @ arguably our most needed position is not a rash decision! It’s a wise decision! Furthermore it is not insane to insert a savvy veteran receiver who plays for your best friends team and is 90% familiar with this offense. Now lets talk about Joe Staley. Joe is one of the leaders of this team and his health is of great concern to the organization and its fanbase. If anything, hearing that Staley is almost ready to compete is a great way to motivate players on the field and encourage fans that the new medical staff is paying off.
    Overall this was a great read. You didn’t need to add the “Threatened ” element to it because like most 49ers fans this season we are all happy to read any thing that is aimed towards our team. Let’s goooooo NINERS?

  5. Weather at game time could be interesting…winds in the 20+mph range, with higher gusts expected.

    1. Oh yeah, a road game against the defending NFC Champs who are 2nd in the division in scoring are without a doubt not a threat at all.

      Browns who just came off a dominant win against the 2nd best team in the AFC… them neither!

      Lol, little guy loves bashing the Niners, if he’s wrong we don’t hear about again, if he’s right we don’t stop hearing about it!

  8. And then after the 49ers turn in ANOTHER dominant performance, the Panthers “weren’t ready” yet and once again, the first real test of the season will be Seattle. Maybe even the Cardinals because it would be the first “trap” game.

  9. I thought the Rams game was their first “real test”. Because they won ,the Panthers game is now their first “real test”. If the Niners win today will the Seahawks be their first “real test?”

    They play who ever is on the schedule, give it a rest.

    The wind gusts are well over 30 MPH this morning, could impact the passing and kicking game this afternoon if it doesn’t die down by then.
    They will lose some time, hope it isn’t today; Niners Win 20-13.

    1. Winds in the Santa Clara area are forecast to remain strong through the afternoon. So says the forecast…

  10. Grant, you’re fishing.

    Players get injured. Coaches want to put their starters back on the field once they’re healed. No conspiracy here.

    And I disagree about Jimmy needing to carry the team in the passing game; especially the deep ball.

    As you pointed out, the team is without their starting tackles and FB. It’s harder for the backups to pass block for long periods of time than it is to run block. Furthermore, the Panthers have a stout pass rush and are strong in the secondary. They’re weakness is in defending the run game. Fortunately, that’s the Niner’s strength. Why wouldn’t a coach want to use his strength against an opponent’s weakness? Seems like forcing a passing attack would just be foolish and stubborn. Especially in gusty wind conditions.

    Not worried about Gould either. He’ll get back on track now that his long snapper is back.

    I think they need to just do what they do best: run the ball—a lot—to set up play action. Own the time of possession battle. Shut down McCaffery. Get after the QB.

    It’ll be a defensive slugfest with the difference of a turnover deciding the game.

    Niners 17, Panthers 14.

    2. The 49ers are 6-0 and are 31st in pass attempt. We don’t need to pass.

      You certainly don’t want to pass this game with Carolina leading the league in sacks. We need to run it about 40 times this game.

  11. The championship defense of the 49ers will throw a wrench in Allen’s plans for leaving Levi’s stadium victorious.

  12. Wow, the Carolina Panthers season is over. After all they lost their main signal caller, oh wait….

    Last year that was an excuse. Certainly somewhat viable but the team was terrible and not for just the reasons of losing Jimmy and that the very replaceable McKinnon.

    This year, the team is playing very good football (on the defensive side especially). Panthers match up well with 49ers. It will depend on who makes the most mistakes.

    24-20 Niners.

      1. Break glass and open Mullens. No need for 2 back up qbs especially since QB3 is not good.

  14. All this talk of weather…

    Given Grant’s hyperbolic style of imparting information and pushing hot takes, I’d almost pay $$ to watch him as a TV weather reporter in a major market. Wouldn’t be dull.

    1. “This front here is really doing something special. Much better than last week’s storm.”

      “I don’t think that the rain on this front will cut it from a meteorological stand point. Probably a bust of a storm.”

  15. What happened to if we best the Steelers we are a good team? Well we have won four straight starting with that game that you dubbed our future.

    I can picture it now, we win the SB and beat the Pats and all Grant will right is how fortunate we are to win the SB with Jimmy G and how we better trade him if we want to keep winning. Meanwhile Jimmy G is 26 and 22 as a starter.

    Who wants to borrow my crystal ball?

  16. If the Niners win, what will the next excuse be? The Panthers are playing a backup? The Panthers are not good and their coach should be fired? The Redskins were the first test because that’s the kind of game good teams need to win. Before that, the Rams were the first real test. Before that, the Browns were the first legit test the Niners faced. Before that the Steelers were the first test as they’re a successful franchise desperate for a win. Before that the Bengals were an actual test because it was a back-to-back away game and they had played Seattle close. And before that the Bucs were a proper test because it was an Eastern game and Niners never win those.

    In short, we’ve heard this same narrative all season long, and every single week it’s just pushed back once the Niners pass with flying colours. Niners might well lose today. Doesn’t mean they’re not for real.

    24-10 Niners. Jimmy has a great game and people start talking about him potentially being an MVP.

  17. This team still has not played its best game on offense and the defense is still growing. JG for the most part has been restrained (game manager). The gloves come off today and the game isn’t as close as the score will indicate. This team is fired up and will win their 7th in a row.

  18. Tough weather ahead today……this is going to be a nail biter but we will pull it off….3 sacks 2 int’s Breida balls out…..same recipe same result=win

      1. Hope so, and they’re wearing those ugly white on white unis today. The red version of that was so much better.

  21. Gotta love how grant shiats all over the 9ers then says they should probably still win to cover his ass.

  22. Meh. After this, next “test “ will be improving Cards. Test after that, Seahawks. Then Packers, then Saints…. more “tests” than a SAT facility.

    Listen up, teams don’t test Niners, Niners test them.

    Last time Panthers were in Levi’s? 24-10 Niners.

  24. Hope everyone is safe who is in evacuation areas. Thoughts and prayers to your families. We’re safe in the East Bay, along with half the kids and grandkids, horses, dogs and cats! Godspeed to all of you on here. Again, like two years ago, this puts football/sports and the playful jiving on this site in perspective. Be safe all!

    As for today, the game will be close, by Niner standards this year. Threatened and stressed. Isn’t that every week in the NFL? Silly stuff. This is their toughest opponent so far. Doesn’t take an expert to figure that out. Duh! The final decision to play is always the players. Rushed? Nonsense. Where does Coach get this crap? Is it just lack of knowledge or lack of “actual “ experience? Both, but who knows or cares? The bottom line is his piece provided the usual laugh.

    I’m taking the Niners -5.5 and the over (41 1/2)

    SF 27 CAR 17

  26. Ooh Brees just tossed a pick. I wonder if Inside The Saints they will be batting this around ad nauseum for the next week?

  28. Grant, are you eating crow! It must be raw.

    As always talking $hit as always! This team will be 3 – 13, Bosa was not a good pick , blah blah blah ?

    Go Ninersssssssssssszzzzzzzzz

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