A rollback to yesteryears, week seven would have been circled must-see for NFL fans as two of the league’s pantheons, the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, clash.
Feels more like empty mansions now with only the glory of times past left to tell their stories. The Patriots no longer have legend Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick is working short-armed, while the 49ers are losing faith in Jimmy Garoppolo. While sportsbooks have the Patriots in +2000 – +2400 range to win the SuperBowl, their path to that outsider spot is looking fraught with a stacked AFC conference that is headlined by the Chiefs, Bills, a perfect 4-0 Titans, and a rejuvenated Cleveland Browns. At 2-2, .500 win percentage, the Patriots sit ninth in the conference, and second behind the Bills in the division. Still adjusting to the departure of Brady and the Cam Newton era, the Patriots and Belichick know they are stalling a rebuilding process that was due for the team that has won three championships in the last decade. It is a working progress, but the Patriots will have to thread a very tightrope if they have plans to make it into the postseason and beyond. That all starts with Cam Newton, who before being hit by the coronavirus, was doing a solid job. If the fans can take the Brady-like expectations off his back, then some would say he’s been fantastic.
For the 49ers, a 2-3 start to the season and an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo have their season on the brink of collapse. While the faith in their starting quarterback wavers, there is no doubt he is their best hand and still commands some respect. Starting out at +4000 on the us-bookies.com sportsbooks, the 49ers have an easier conference to manoeuvre than the Patriots, but going the distance will mean going through Tom Brady (if the Buccaneers click), Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, and an MVP contestant in Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Injuries have been unkind to the 49ers, taking out key players Raheem Mostert, Richard Sherman, and Emmanuel Moseley. This string of injuries does not also absolve the 49ers from poor play, which is what should keep coach Stranahan up at night.
It may not be the clash of titans from before, but any Patriots vs. 49ers match-up in any form should bring in some hype and deserves attention.
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