Is the pressure on the Niners?

[chickenhead]

Just reading this article on AccuScore concluding that the Niners have a 70% chance of winning the division, while the Cardinals have a 19% chance.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AuD56EtVsqr3IWQs4XdsMchDubYF?slug=ys-accuscore090810

Most experts are picking the Niners, as are the sports books. Does anyone think the Niners will feel the weight of expectations? As two-time defending division champs, I think the Cards should feel the expectation to repeat, but does the pressure come off as they're written off?

 

[Brighteyes]

Not the pressure -- but perhaps easily tripped.

I don't think they feel the pressure. But if things don't go as planned, and they suddenly find Alex throwing those interceptions or the rookie O-line not holding up, I think they could fall fast.

 

[football karma]

I think this is a significant factor this year

one gets the impression from listening to certain 49er players that they believe they more or less "inherited" the division title -- it will just come to them.

i also believe that the 1 or 2 win difference from a 8-8 team and a 9-7/ 10-6 team is a far,far bigger move than going from 6-10 to 8-8. An 8-8 team is a solid team that beats the teams they favored over. A 10-6 team is a team that beats one or two teams, usually on the road, they aren't favored over. The mental edge associated with getting over that hump is something the Cards have, but the 49ers have yet to show.

 

[Garthshort]

Mike Greenberg (Mike and Mike), this morning, said that SF would have the NFC West wrapped up by Halloween. Of course he also picked Atlanta to beat the Saints in the NFC South.

 

[wilycoyote24]

Everyone expects them to win and the Cards to lose. Clearly, the pressure is on them. Now, does that mean anything?

 

[Pariah]

I think they have pressure to win, but I don't think that is a significant factor on whether they will or not.

 

[CaptTurbo]

One picked them to win the superbowl over the chargers LOL

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5528592

 

[chickenhead]

I hope they DO feel like they've inherited the division: maybe they'll be a little complacent and stumble in a few key early season games at Arrowhead, in Atlanta, and in Carolina.

The second half of their season is stacked with divisional opponents and two rough games at Lambeau and in San Diego. Add two losses to the Cardinals to the mix, and suddenly they aren't who we thought they were.

Sun 9/12 at Seattle
Mon 9/20 New Orleans
Sun 9/26 at Kansas City
Sun 10/3 at Atlanta
Sun 10/10 Philadelphia
Sun 10/17 Oakland
Sun 10/24 at Carolina
Sun 10/31 Denver
Bye
Sun 11/14 St. Louis
Sun 11/21 Tampa Bay
Mon 11/29 at Arizona
Sun 12/5 at Green Bay
Sun 12/12 Seattle
Thu 12/16 at San Diego
Sun 12/26 at St. Louis
Sun 1/2 Arizona

 

[ARZCardinals]

Looks like 9 - 6 for them with the Cards splitting games. May come down to divisional wins.

 

[Ronin]

Yes. As one webzoner said" the media will rip singletary to shreds, if the 49ers dont win early in the year"! I agree 100%.....with Tim Kakaface leading the charge.

 

[JeffGollin]

It depends on the Niners...

Technically, there should be no more pressure on the Niners - as they face each game (or the season) - than there is on the Seahawks, the Cardinals, the Raiders or any NFL team.

Each game is important each week to each team.

So if there's any more or less pressure from team to team, it's because some teams put more pressure on themselves than others.

Pressure, in turn, can translate either to inspired or choked up play depending on how a given team handles that pressure.

Short answer, therefore, is: "Dunno."

 

[Austin Zonie]

The most important factor regarding the 9ers being favored in the division is that it plays directly to the Cards benefit. I have not seen the Cards play better than when in the underdog role. THANK YOU MEDIA.

 

[Perfectionist]

I had read where some think Whis could not longer use the no respect card in getting this team fired up because we don't have the talent. I think we do have the talent and Whis will have another year to use it!!

The Niners will feel the pressure.