Much like the similarly hyped Titanic, the San Francisco 49ers sunk without trace on the opening voyage of the new National Football League season, but conditions in Chicago — plus the fact that kid QB Trey Lance needs to be given a fair chance — means that there should be no call to launch the Jimmy Garoppolo lifeboat.
Torrential rain in the build-up to the 49ers road game against the Bears threatened not only to wash away the markings from the brand new hybrid Bermuda grass field, but potentially the game itself, with ground staff spotted feverishly squeegeeing the playing surface once the covering tarps came off to allow the teams to warm up.
Although the deluge abated enough to allow the 1pm Eastern kickoff and following quarters to continue as planned, the rain returned with a vengeance in the latter stages, making it difficult for anyone to make a good impression on anything other than the sodden sod beneath their cleats.
