Niners look to build on Fran-tastic start
THE San Francisco 49ers showed they are the real deal in last weekend’s demolition of the Carolina Panthers and are out to do it all over again.
The undefeated Niners visit the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow with a 7-0 record and as one of only two unbeaten teams, along with the New England Patriots.
But they go there with new credibility after battering the high-flying Panthers 51-13, their biggest win in 26 years.
San Fran had an easy opening half-dozen games and critics thought their unbeaten start was a flash in the pan – but not now.
Defensive ace Richard Sherman said: “It doesn’t really matter what the outside world thinks.
“We know the talent we have. We just have to execute and focus on us and let the chips fall where they may.”
The Patriots have played an extra game and, at 8-0, are unbeaten at the season’s halfway mark.
That has prompted debate over whether they can go through the whole season invincible and makes Tom Brady’s visit to the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens all the more exciting on Sunday.
Unfancied Baltimore have been flying under the radar and will actually be involved in a prime night-time TV game for the first time this season on Sunday. Coach John Harbaugh said: “We haven’t had a night game yet.
“A lot of teams have but we haven’t been on in prime time so it’ll be new for us.
“The Patriots are obviously well-versed in that but we’ll just have to figure it out.”
Meanwhile, the struggling New York Jets visit the Miami Dolphins with their star safety Jamal Adams waging an ugly social media war with general manager Joe Douglas, who tried to trade him before this week’s transfer deadline.
Another interesting weekend encounter sees the in-form Green Bay Packers looking to move to 8-1 when they visit the LA Chargers.