5. The 49ers Are Elite, Injuries and All
The 49ers took the field on Sunday looking like a shell of the Super Bowl-caliber roster they were just one season ago.
They were without their starting quarterback, without their best offensive player in George Kittle, without their best defensive player in Nick Bosa— and were missing key players at other spots across the field, from Raheem Mostert to Solomon Thomas and other key pieces.
But when the clock hit 0:00 at MetLife Stadium, and San Francisco walked off that suboptimal turf, they walked off as winners— 36-9 winners.
Fair enough, the 2020 New York Giants aren’t the best litmus test for how good a team is and can be. But even without the 49ers key contributors, they were able to blow New York out of the water.
As long as Kyle Shannahan stays calling plays and running the San Francisco offense, the 49ers are going to be able to survive this string of injuries.
Jimmy G and George Kittle should be coming back soon too, making Shannahan’s job easier. But the 49ers have proven they can survive life without them. But having them back in the lineup might be what it takes to make them a great team again.
