If you’re a 49ers fan, there’s no need to panic just yet. San Francisco still looks the part of an elite team and should fare much better in Week 4 against the New York Jets.…
The 49ers were shocked by the Minnesota Vikings last week, losing 24-13 as favorites on the NFL odds board coming in. Alex Smith had 204 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Frank Gore rushed 12 times for 63 yards.San Francisco lost it for themselves though, as they were out-gained in total offense (344-280), had six penalties called against them (as opposed to one for Minnesota) and had three turnovers (two fumbles and one pick) in the defeat.
Maybe the 49ers will get things right this weekend on the road against the Jets, who despite a 2-1 record are looking extremely beatable at the moment.
New York just lost Darrelle Revis for the season, meaning San Francisco now has another avenue to rack up those first downs. The Jets have been brutal against the run, and Revis being out means the passing game will likely struggle more too. Obviously that's not a good recipe for the Jets.
Look for Smith to test the Jets' secondary early in this game to see how they handle the shakeup in personnel.
Also, be prepared for a heavy workload out of Gore, who's averaging 5.9 yards per carry so far through three games. The Jets have allowed 148.7 rushing yards per game, so clearly that's a favorable matchup for the back.
On the other side of the ball, you have to like San Francisco's chances of shutting down Mark Sanchez and company. Sanchez has accounted for a lot of yards so far, but he's still made his fair share of mistakes, and the 49ers will be ready to pounce this weekend.
