If you are someone who enjoys what World War I had to offer, the San Francisco 49ers’ 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals was for you.
It was an injury-riddled afternoon of attrition, slow-moving masses of men in a battle of who could go backward less, leading Kyle Shanahan to fittingly call the Niners’ three wins to open the season — and take an early lead in the NFC West — as “grimy.”
Both teams lost stars in the first half. Nick Bosa suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of the game, and will define what the 49ers’ ceiling is.