49’ers Toughest Test so Far for Steelers

While there should be concern about the 0-2 49’ers coming into Hinez Field on Sunday, the Steelers have the obvious advantages in many of the matchups on the field, and by the final gun Sunday the team should be 3-0. The Steelers will have to be careful to keep with the things that got them to 2-0, which includes mostly mistake free football on offense, and a defense that has yet to allow many big plays and that gets off the field without allowing many big drives.

The offense will benefit from a big 49’ers injury this week, as the 9’ers lost linebacker Manny Lawson, and the players playing in his place are not nearly as good as the former number one pick. Look for Willie Parker to take advantage of the 49’ers run defense, and I can clearly see him going for over 100 yards for the third straight game in 2007. Big Ben is going to be tested more than in weeks one and two. With Nate Clements covering Hines Ward like a shadow, I would expect him to look more for Santonio Holmes as well as tight end Heath Miller. I expect to see Miller have a solid day as well.

On defense, the player the Steelers need to watch is Frank Gore. He is a playmaker, and can make things happen. The Steelers have done such a great job in stopping the run, I think that this is going to be the biggest test they will face to date in 2007. Vernon Davis is one of the better tight ends in the league, but so far QB Alex Smith has yet to get in a goorve with him, and I think that Sunday could be a day where Smith and Davis test the Steelers D. I can see Davis with about 5-7 catches. I’ll give him that, but overall they can’t let Davis, Smith and Gore get to settled out there.

Make no mistake, the Steelers at home are a better team than the 49’ers and if they play this game as well as they have played weeks one and two, they will be 3-0 heading into Arizona in week four. Final score: Steelers 24 49’ers 13.