The San Francisco 49ers head on the road for this first time this season to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in a clash of marquee Super Bowl era franchises.
The 49ers are on a short week after playing on Monday night while the Steelers have a few extra days' rest following their Thursday opener.
Here are the experts' picks from around the web for the Week 2 matchup. Give us your predictions in the comment section below...
Don Banks of Sports Illustrated: Steelers 29, 49ers 23
"I took my medicine and offered a mea culpa to 49ers fans via Twitter, after pronouncing that their favorite team would start the year 0–8 in my 20 bold predictions column this preseason. Missed that one by a mile. For now, the 49ers are 1–0 and coming off a game in which they totally out-played the Vikings, setting an aggressive tone and getting stronger as the game wore on. Pierre Garçon, you have our attention. But I expect reproducing that entire effort in Heinz Field will be considerably harder."
Barry Wilner of The Associated Press: Steelers 28, 49ers 24
"Steelers are lucky they are so well-rested for physical 49ers."
Peter Schrager of Fox Sports: 49ers 28, Steelers 27
San Francisco and Pittsburgh have met 20 times, with the 49ers leading the series with 11 wins. The most recent matchup came in 2011, when San Francisco won at Candlestick Park, 20-3.
"Upset special. I'm doubling down on the 49ers. It won't be easy, but watching Monday's game tape, I think the San Francisco D actually matches up well with the Pittsburgh offense — especially with Maurkice Pouncey still out of the lineup. Jim Tomsula's a Western Pennsylvania guy through and through (have you heard him speak?). Big homecoming for him."
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com: Steelers 30, 49ers 22
"Carlos Hyde is going to go off – again – with over 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers play five or six in the box – like the Patriots did against DeAngelo Williams in the Kickoff Game – and stay in dime coverage."
Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus: Steelers 28, 49ers 24
"The 49ers new look defense obliterated a depleted Vikings front in Week 1, but this week will be much more of a test for them. The 49ers did most of their damage with the blitz last week (holding Teddy Bridgewater to a 33.3 QB rating on the 14 blitzed dropbacks)."
Fox Sports' panel of eight experts: four picks 49ers, four pick Steelers
CBS Sports' panel of eight experts: four pick 49ers, four pick Steelers
ESPN's panel of 13 experts: two picks 49ers, 11 pick Steelers
