Community Picks: Carolina Panthers 0% vs San Francisco 49ers 0%

The Kyle Shanahan era kicks off Sunday for the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium against the Carolina Panthers. Shanahan gets his chance after one-and-done seasons from previous head coaches Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly.   There is almost nowhere to go but up for the 49ers after general manager Trent Baalke and Kelly teamed up for a 2-14 record, including a franchise-worst 13 game losing streak.   Here are five things to watch in the 49ers’ regular-season opener. . . Continue to Article

September 09, 2017 7:09:pm EST

Last year's game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, also on Comcast Corp unit NBC, drew 25.2 million TV viewers. Despite competition for attention, advertisers and television networks are optimistic for this season due to a more compelling game lineup and the NFL's traditional broad reach. Continue to Article

September 08, 2017 5:07:pm EST

The NFL kickoff game broadcast on Thursday night on NBC, a win by the Kansas City Chiefs over the New England Patriots, attracted 21.8 million TV viewers, down more than 13 percent from last year's opening game, data from NBC and Nielsen showed. Last year's game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, also on Comcast Corp unit NBC, drew 25.2 million TV viewers. Continue to Article

September 08, 2017 5:07:pm EST

The consensus was that last night’s NFL kickoff game would see the favored New England Patriots win at home – but the defending Super Bowl champions currently sit in last place. In a 42-27 win over Tom Brady and crew in a game that went to midnight on the East Coast, the Kansas City Chiefs brought some real drama to the start of the 2017-18 regular season. While better than anything on the Big 4 has done in the overnights in months, those numbers are down a sobering 12% from the early results of the Denver Broncos’ tight 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers in last year’s kickoff game on September 8, 2016. Continue to Article

September 08, 2017 9:51:am EST

Football devotees call it “the ultimate team sport,” and in a sense they are right. No play is made alone. The linebacker who bursts through to level the running back can thank his linemen for occupying blockers; the receiver who gets behind the defense for a 40-yard touchdown can thank the distracting routes of his cohorts who end up empty-handed. Still, nobody approaches the importance of the quarterback, especially in today’s NFL. Recent rule changes designed to protect players have had the side effect of liberating offenses, making passers unquestionably the most valuable commodities in the sport. A great one can elevate a bad team to relevance, or a good team to Super Bowl contention. A Continue to Article

September 07, 2017 11:15:am EST