Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers can’t assist it.
Every time they go to New Orleans, they find yourself in a shootout.
Sunday’s Week 2 matchup between the 49ers and Saints was extra entertaining than it had any proper to be, and the Niners have a 2-0 file that exhibits that guts matter a heck of quite a bit within the NFL.
Listed below are the studs and duds (in no specific order) from the Niners’ 26-21 win.
💪 STUDS
San Francisco 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey, proper, catches a move in opposition to New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) through the second half of an NFL soccer sport in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Gerald Herbert)
Christian McCaffrey • RBIs he an ideal offensive soccer participant? Sunday’s efficiency was good proof to substantiate that suspicion. For a big portion of the sport, it was McCaffrey or nothing for the Niners. That’s apparently adequate to be a purposeful offense. My goodness, was he good.
San Francisco 49ers huge receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a reception as New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom (27) defends throughout an NFL soccer sport, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photograph/Tyler Kaufman)
Ricky Pearsall • WRFolks, the one Niners receiver who might constantly separate on Sunday was Pearsall. He’s a star.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, backside, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) through the second half of an NFL soccer sport in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Butch Dill)
Dee Winters • LBOne sensible sport? That is perhaps a fluke. Again-to-back sensible performances? That’s a pattern, of us. Winters is the true deal, and the Niners’ protection carries a unique swagger due to it.
San Francisco 49ers huge receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs the ball previous New Orleans Saints security Jonas Sanker (33) throughout an NFL soccer sport, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photograph/Tyler Kaufman)
Jauan Jennings • WRI’d be remiss to not shout out the warrior-like efficiency from Jennings. His shoulder was busted up, his legs regarded like they weighed 100 kilos every, and but he nonetheless caught 5 passes for 89 yards, together with a 42-yard, game-winning landing.
San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Bryce Huff (47) celebrates after sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to pressure a turnover on downs through the second half of an NFL soccer sport in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Butch Dill)
Bryce Huff • DENo one doubted that he might rush the passer as a hand-in-the-ground defensive finish. Huff was not solely a constant winner as a move rusher, however he’s held up higher within the run sport than I ever imagined. The sport-winning pressured fumble off an elite rush was merely the cherry on prime. Good pickup by the Niners.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers seems on in opposition to the New Orleans Saints through the second half within the sport at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
Kyle Shanahan • HCShanahan busted out the previous 2021 playbook and turned Mac Jones into Jimmy Garoppolo and Christian McCaffrey into Deebo Samuel. And boy, did it ever work. Was it an elite offensive efficiency? Hardly. Nevertheless it was strong in a state of affairs the place the Niners had little proper to be strong. Shanahan can nonetheless scheme it up, of us.
San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Bryce Huff (47) celebrates with cornerback Upton Stout, rear, and defensive finish Mykel Williams (98) after sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) to pressure a turnover on downs through the second half of an NFL soccer sport in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Butch Dill)
Mykel Williams • DEThe rookie lived within the Saints’ backfield. A lot for all that hand-wringing from the YouTube highlights crowd about that first sport (which was good!).
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by Christian McCaffrey #23 after passing the ball for a landing in opposition to the New Orleans Saints through the second half within the sport at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
Mac Jones • QBThat’s a fairly darn good backup quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) is tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) throughout an NFL soccer sport, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photograph/Tyler Kaufman)
Jake Tonges • TEA sneaky optimistic improvement of the preseason was Tonges’ reps at fullback. He was actually good at it. That proved important on this sport, the place he was, certainly, excellent at it with Kyle Juszczyk out with a concussion.
New Orleans Saints operating again Alvin Kamara, proper, is introduced down by San Francisco 49ers security Ji’Ayir Brown, left, earlier than fumbling the ball, which was recovered by linebacker Fred Warner, through the second half of an NFL soccer sport in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Gerald Herbert)
Ji’Ayir Brown • SSBig credit score to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for locating a task for the wayward Brown, who stood out as a third-down sturdy security/linebacker on this sport.
📉 DUDS
Alfred Collins • DTI didn’t know you can ice skate in New Orleans. After a disastrous first sport the place he stopped receiving snaps within the second half, Collins was much more of a weak level in Week 2. That’s not the trajectory you need any rookie to take, a lot much less your second-round decide who was drafted to a place of want with an intent for speedy affect.
Dominik Puni • RGPuni is taking part in injured, and you may see it rep after rep.
Brian Robinson • RBNiners followers have been much more enthusiastic about Robinson than these in-house, as a result of for followers, Robinson’s fame as a one-year Fantasy Soccer league winner preceded him. However he’s not that again anymore, and he actually isn’t behind this Niners’ offensive line, which bought out to pass-protect on Sunday.
Robinson isn’t a nasty participant–he’s merely essentially the most common operating again. He’ll get you every thing you block for him and nothing extra. That meant a mean of two.5 yards per carry within the first half. Consider Robinson as a management operating again. How good is Christian McCaffrey? Have a look at how arduous this all appears for Robinson.
Issac Guerendo • KRHe was given a few probabilities to return kicks and botched them each by making a nasty one-on-one learn after which returning one from the top zone. In the event you’re questioning why the Niners traded for Robinson as an alternative of taking part in Guerendo, the kickoff returns have been a superb clarification. He doesn’t see it, and in the event you can’t see it, you’ll be able to’t play for Shanahan.
Initially Revealed: September 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM PDT
