San Francisco 49ers: Game-by-game predictions for the 2019 season

Week 2: @ Cincinnati Bengals

While they haven’t committed to the “Tank for Tua” movement in the same way as the Miami Dolphins, the Bengals have a better shot at the top pick than the playoffs this season.

Cincinnati moved on from longtime head coach Marvin Lewis for Zac Taylor. Outside of Taylor, an offensive-minded coach, there were no major additions made to a roster that floundered to a 6-10 record in 2018.

Andy Dalton has stalled out as a quarterback and the offensive line (or lack thereof) in front of him is borderline criminal. Even if A.J. Green rebounds to his former All-Pro form, Dalton isn’t going to have much time in the pocket.

The first two weeks of the season are setting up for the 49ers star-studded defensive line to dominate. If they do, that’ll put the secondary in position to make some big plays.

More importantly, a mediocre Bengals defense won’t be able to hold out for long if they are getting killed in time of possession.

Prediction: W 27-17 (2-0)