Michael Crabtree Will Be X-Factor For San Francisco 49ers In Week 10
By Nick Wilder
@NickCWilder
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers will be on the road in Week 10 when they battle the New Orleans Saints in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome on Sunday. Both teams enter the game with a record of 4-4 and desperately need a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. The 49ers will look for several players to step up their games in order to obtain the road win, but the x-factor for the team this week is wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Whenever a team travels to New Orleans to take on the Saints, scoring a significant amount points is a necessity. The 49ers will likely have to score several touchdowns to keep up with Drew Brees and his high-powered offense. However, San Francisco has struggled to score the last two weeks, as they’ve combined to put up 30 points against the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams.
Crabtree has been a major reason for the team’s offensive woes the past two games, as he’s combined for only nine catches, 67 yards and zero touchdowns in those contests. He’s been inconsistent throughout the year, and he will need to have a big day against the Saints for his team to have a chance in this matchup.
New Orleans ranks 27th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (268.4) and is tied for 13th in total sacks (17). There will be plays to be made for Crabtree against this Saints defense. The 49ers can’t afford another lackluster performance out of him in this game, which is as close as it gets to a must-win for their postseason dreams.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick will likely air it out at least 30 times on Sunday trying to keep up with Brees in the dome. Crabtree has the talent to put his mark on this game and produce big numbers. If he plays well against the Saints this weekend, the 49ers will emerge with a victory and get back on track after a disappointing first half of the season.
Nick Wilder is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickCWilder and add him to your network on Google.
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