*(same intro every day) Right before the new preseason starts, I like to go back and re-read our Week 1 reports from the prior season...just for fun and for seeing what our first reactions to the new season were--what did we see that we would soon regret, what was revealed that we were wrong about all preseason (last preseason), and where we were on the money for the season about to unfold...were we more right than wrong about the first reactions to 2025 going into it.
So, I'm going to post one a day for 16 days leading right up to the 2026 HOF game that kicks off the preseason. I'm not adding any notes or trying to explain or make excuses or let you know we figured it out the next week. It's just here to read...open source, not behind the paywall. Judge it how you like to judge it if you're a nonsubscriber--I'm not going to try to whitewash anything or give extra explanations. This just some reading material from what is the single most important thing we do each year--watch and scout the games each week and report out our findings and make FF reactions to them. Every week, it's a new week to make adjustments to. This is just every team's Week 1 as we wrote it. Enjoy...or don't.
What I like is some of the memories of Week 1 that comes rushing back when I'm reading these a year later...on top of seeing what we were seeing right off the bat.
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This was the battle of the defenses...possibly also a battle of not great offenses, but maybe the defenses were just too overwhelming.
Seattle was driving to win late and had a fluky end to a drive in the red zone, but the 49ers were the better team/played better because Brock Purdy and CMC are too good...and they overcame mass injuries (again) and a terrible kicker (they finally cut). Seattle may be the better team weeks from now, but they might have a mild Sam Darnold problem on their hands and never get there. Again, the defenses in this game were quite good, so I am not ready to make a full declaration about Darnold.
The 49ers will be without Purdy for a while, so the narratives and outlooks on SF are already in flux...but this is a scrappy 49ers team that got the win here, but they are taking on so many injuries I don’t know that they can sustain a good season in 2025.
Seattle makes me scratch my head...they cannot lose this game at home (great homefield advantage), in a home opener, against a team that was losing all their best players (even Trent Williams was banged up a bit). Bad loss for Seattle.
Player Notes...
-- All Sam Darnold (16-23 for 150 yards, 0 TD/0 INT) did was throw passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba (9-124-0/13). That’s their passing game plan.
57% of all targets went to JSN.
75% of all completions went to JSN.
Other guys were open, but Darnold’s head was already locked on JSN.
Not a good sign. The ‘old Darnold’ may be back.
Cooper Kupp (2-15-0/3) might as well not have even existed. If you were counting/hoping on Kupp for FF 2025...you’re in big trouble.
Tory Horton played 54% of the snaps and didn’t see one target.
The TEs combined for 3 targets, 2 catches, 7 yards.
The play at the end of the game where Darnold’s arm hit his OL when he was rearing back to throw (and fumbled and blew the game because of it)...he was locked on JSN to his left, with Kupp wide open right in front of him on a simple route/pass.
I got a bad feeling about this/Darnold and the things connected (except JSN)...but it’s only one week. They could flip the script next week.
-- Seahawks backfield report...
UPHEAVAL!!!
Zach Charbonnet (12-47-1) was in a full split role/committee/hot hand mode with Kenneth Walker (10-20-0, 3-4-0/3)...and Charbonnet felt like the RB they trusted most now, but they still like/use Walker. But this wasn’t situational, nor was Walker dinged up...this was a first...a staff committed to seeing Charbonnet as at least the 50/50 RB, but really he is the better back like I have screeched about for years. I think they now see it.
If you drafted Walker highly, as I did in some spots, because Seattle ALWAYS praises Walker and talks about their offense built around him -- we’re in trouble here. You got a split role back with KWalker like Isiah Pacheco is a split role back (with Hunt), like Mason-A. Jones.
I don’t think Seattle lied to us this summer. I think Walker was constantly hurt in camp. Charbonnet worked all summer...and then it finally dawned on them.
-- If Seattle’s passing game is ALL Jaxon Smith-Njigba, then by comparison the 49ers offense is ALL Christian McCaffrey (22-69-0, 9-73-0/10). The 49ers know no other way. Everything is on CMC. A guy with bad legs and was questionable the week going into the game...they got him the ball 31 times total. CMC is going to be the top RB in PPR/Fantasy...until his legs give out.
-- A nice tally for Ricky Pearsall (4-108-0/7) but it didn’t look/feel like some kind of greatness emerging, per se. Just a guy open a couple of times...sporadically catching passes and got a big, kinda lucky throw on a 45 yarder late that should’ve been covered/knocked away...if it had, Pearsall would’ve had a 3-63-0/7 game, and no one would really be moved by his Week 1. But he had a HUNDRED+ yards in a game in Week 1, so he’s magical.
He's in a good spot with all other 49ers WRs hurt, so I wouldn’t bet against him...even with Mac Jones.
-- George Kittle (4-25-1/4) was on his way to a massive game but hurt his hamstring and was gone...that helped Pearsall’s numbers out as well. Kittle is out for at least 4 games.
Jake Tonges (3-15-1/3) emerged from the shadows and had the game winning catch...all three of his catches came on the final drive, finished it off with the TD. He doesn’t look bad at all. Kind of athletic...super tall with reach/catch radius. He might be in the mix for having a TE1 week any given week while Kittle is out...but now has to work with Mac, BUT he would have a connection with Mac more than Mac does with Pearsall and other starters potentially.
-- In the battle of who has the better defense among two suspected or notoriously respected defenses...the winner is: the 49ers defense.
Which is a shocking statement given how much the 49ers turned over their personnel and how many rookies they are starting. Massive credit to the 49ers personnel department and thanks to the Jets for firing Robert Saleh.
This is a top 10 NFL defense, if healthy...and they face @NO, ARI, JAX the next 3 games...which should be three good FF-starts.
-- If the 49ers built this great defense in one offseason, then what does that say about the Seattle defense/what does it really say about supposed defensive guru Mike Macdonald? Seattle’s defense is good, but Macdonald has had two seasons to rebuild, craft this defense...and then the 49ers blow right by them in 6 months work with more rookies playing more snaps than probably and defense in the league.
Seattle has the schedule opportunity ahead, like SF, only it starts Week 3 when they get a stretch of NO, @ARI, TB, @JAX, HOU from Weeks 3-7. All but TB is a favorable DST start. Seattle's D has hope to be a top unit ahead...maybe.
AHEAD:
SF: @NO, ARI, JAX, @LAR, @TB, ATL
SEA: @PIT, NO, @ARI, TB, @JAX, HOU
Snap Counts of Interest:
46 = Kupp
40 = JSN
28 = Horton
30 = Charbonnet
21 = Walker
44 = Barner
16 = Arroyo
58 = CMC
18 = BRob
64 = Pearsall
50 = Jauan
28 = Gage
27 = MVS
Defensive rookies for SF:
52 = M Sigle
39 = Mykel W
29 = Stout
09 = Collins
07 = West
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