Steelers-49ers Preview & Prediction

Are yinz ready? Steelers football is finally back!! And we’re going to look at who’s in and who’s out, what to expect, and my prediction for Sunday’s game. Grab your beer and your game day snacks, Here We Go!

The biggest talk of this week was Nick Bosa’s availability. Bosa had been going back and forth with the organization in contract talks, and earlier in the week it was reported that he was unlikely to play by multiple outlets. If you haven’t heard by now, we do get the luxury of Bosa playing, which is a huge test for Dan Moore Jr. You might be concerned about Moore lining up against Bosa, but remember that Moore excels against Myles Garrett, so he should have a good game Sunday. That is a huge key to victory.

All-Pro tight end George Kittle is another name that has popped up on the 49ers’ injury report. He has had limited participation so far, so he will most likely suit up. He’s a big time threat for quarterback Brock Purdy, who is also making his first start since suffering a UCL tear in the NFC Championship game last season. Will Kyle Shanahan unleash him? To be determined.

On the Steelers side, Cam Heyward did not participate in practice Thursday and Larry Ogunjobi was limited with a foot injury. If either can’t go DeMarvin Leal should assume those snaps. But our best guess is the veterans were just precautionary pauses, and that we will see them suit up. 

Yinz should expect a tight defensive game. Don’t let the Steelers preseason success get in your heads, it’s real football against elite competition now, and the 49ers defense is the real deal. But so is the Steelers’ defense; and I predict that Brock Purdy is going to have a rude awakening. Purdy won all his starts last season, and Pittsburgh will give him his first regular season loss. 

The first week is always the sloppiest week of the NFL season, so mistakes are bound to happen. Minkah Fitzpatrick and Patrick Peterson should capitalize on some of these mistakes. Peterson predicted that he would get at least one interception, so I’m going to expect that. 

Offensively for the Steelers, I think one of either Diontae Johnson or George Pickens is going to have an All-Pro caliber game. The 49ers cornerback room doesn’t impress me, at least not right now. Diontae will most likely command the most targets and Pickens will make highlight reel catches. The run game might struggle against a stout run defense in Week 1 but will improve throughout the season. And when it’s all said and done, I see the Steelers shocking the world for the third straight year, beating the San Francisco 49ers 20-17.



What are your thoughts?

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