49ers are keeping pace with Rams, Cardinals
How the NFC West teams fared in Week 2:
Los Angeles Rams (2-0) Next: Buy:
vs. Tampa Bay Quarterback Matt Stafford has quickly formed a bond with wide receiver Cooper Kupp and everyone in the division has taken notice. In a 27-24 win over Indianapolis, Stafford was 9 of 11 for 163 yards and two touchdowns to Kupp and 10 of 19 for 115 yards and no touchdowns to everyone else.
Sell: Special teams are taken for granted. A punt snap, no big deal, right? Not in this case, when the Rams’ long snap struck the personal protector lined up ahead of the punter and rolled free. It resulted in a gift touchdown for Ashton Dulin and the Colts and turned a game that shouldn’t have been close for the Rams into a 27-24 nailbiter against Indianapolis.
Wait and see: Another sub-par effort from the Rams on the ground (29 carries, 101 yards, 3.5 yards per carry, no gain longer than 13 yards) against the Colts. Part of the plan when bringing aboard Stafford was to provide him with the run-pass balance he never had in Detroit. So far, no good.
Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
Next: at Jacksonville
Buy: The occasional turnovers are a concern, but quarterback Kyler Murray through two weeks has been the NFL’s most dynamic two-way player. The latest? Murray was 27 of 36 for 400 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. And this week’s big target was Rondale Moore (7 receptions, 114 yards and a 77-yard touchdown). Murray also had a 12-yard touchdown run to bring Arizona within 20-14. Sell: The Cardinals weren’t nearly as stout in a 34-33 win over Minnesota as they were in a blowout win over Tennessee in Week 1. Playing in a division where foes such as the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks all seek balance, the Cardinals allowed 131 yards rushing from Dalvin Cook and an efficient performance from Kirk Cousins (22 of 32, 244, three TDs, no interceptions) after their defense was dominant in Week 1. Wait and see: Running back Chase Edmonds continues to play a bit part in the Arizona offense under Kliff Kingsbury. He’s been effective enough in terms of yards per carry (20 rushes, 109 yards in two games) but it remains to be seen whether Arizona’s lack of commitment to the run will have an adverse effect on Murray.
49ers (2-0)
Next: vs. Green Bay
Buy: The 49ers have proven through the first two weeks they can play different styles of games — a free and easy 41-33 win over Detroit and then a gritty, ugly 17-11 win over Philadelphia in Week 2. That bodes well for Kyle Shanahan’s team in that they can be confident about playing in any situation.
Sell: The 49ers’ ability to hold off Philadelphia near the goal line was all well and good, but the extent to which they were dominated until the final minutes of the first half was at least a cause for concern.
Wait and see: Nick Bosa is coming around. That’s a good sign after a serious knee injury. How he can get after Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will be a serious test as to how one of the NFL’s potentially premier pass rushers has recovered from a torn ACL.
Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Next: at Minnesota
Buy: No reason to doubt the Seahawks when it comes to quarterback play. Russell Wilson was 22 of 31 for 343 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions against Tennessee. Wilson, as he’s been for several years, remains a quarterback capable of leading a team to a Super Bowl.
Sell: The Seahawks gave up 347 yards passing to Ryan Tannehill, and were victimized for six receptions and 128 yards by Julio Jones. This isn’t a promising development for a team that will face the passing attacks of the Cardinals, Rams and 49ers in division games. Wait and see: Seattle has been pretty good against the run in recent years. Derrick Henry gouged their Seahawks defense for 35 carries, 182 yards and three touchdowns — including a 60-yard scoring run. Is this a weakness or a one-game aberration based on a quality opponent and a special running back?