NFL Football
2025-09-14 - San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 2
Sunday 14th September 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
Injuries, off-field issues and other factors meant the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) finished with the fewest wins in the NFC West last season and never threatened to make the post-season.
The Super Bowl window feels like it is closing for this group of players, but finishing in 4th place in the NFC West means the 49ers have been 'rewarded' with a very manageable schedule. Once you get into the Playoffs, anything is possible, and so the ambition remains for the San Francisco 49ers to make use of the the drop in standards from last season.
However, they will certainly need more luck with injuries and losing Quarter Back Brock Purdy and Tight End George Kittle at the end of Week 1 is a serious blow.
The 49ers earned the win over the Seattle Seahawks on the road, despite the poor misses from Kicker Jake Moody.
He has since been cut, but San Francisco will need backup Quarter Back Mac Jones to guide through the next month and keep the team competitive. With that change at the most important position in sports, the advanced line has dropped significantly, but the 49ers will have faith in Jones and the system he will be working within.
It also feels like the 49ers are benefiting from having to travel to the New Orleans Saints (0-1) who were beaten by NFC West rivals Arizona last week and with the Saints looking like a team that will be picking pretty highly in the next NFL Draft.
Derek Carr had to make a snap retirement decision and that has left New Orleans looking very short in that department and they struggled to compete with the Cardinals in Week 1.
Spencer Rattler earned the start at Quarter Back last week, but he is going to need plenty of help if the New Orleans Saints are going to earn the upset.
It is clear that Alvin Kamara remains a key player for the team, but he may not find it as easy to run the ball against this San Francisco Defensive Line and that is going to put a lot more pressure on the young Quarter Back.
If Spencer Rattler is left in third and long spots, it will be tough for the Saints to keep the chains moving against a 49ers Secondary that played well last week. San Francisco clearly have something to prove after the 6-11 finish last season and this is a unit that will take it upon themselves to try and give their team the best chance to win without the starting Quarter Back.
Mac Jones may not have lived up to his First Round selection, but he is experienced enough to believe he can lead the San Francisco 49ers while they wait for Brock Purdy to return. Forty-nine NFL starts are not to be ignored, even if Jones has not managed to reach the level of his rookie season in New England, and the game plan that will be put together will look to make the best of the situation for Jones.
Losing George Kittle is a blow, but the 49ers may feel they can have more success handing the ball to Christian McCaffrey against a New Orleans Defensive Line allowing 5.4 yards per carry last week.
Being in front of the chains should make things more comfortable for Mac Jones and he should be afforded the protection to get the ball out quickly and into the hands of the playmakers that are still on the roster.
An early Sunday kick off for the San Francisco 49ers is going to make things tougher, but the line has dropped significantly and the road team are perhaps not given enough credit, even as the road favourite.
Both teams could have some issues scoring, but the feeling is that the 49ers can control the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and ultimately Mac Jones is surrounded by more help than Spencer Rattler. That should show up in this game and the 49ers can came through with a win and a cover of the shorter line following Brock Purdy's injury.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road favourite.
The Pick :
New Orleans Saints 13-20 San Francisco 49ers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back San Francisco 49ers - 3 Points at +100 with Bovada
