Trey Lance will thrive if these 49ers bounce back in Week 2 vs. Seahawks

Trey Lance will dominate against the Seahawks as long as the 49ers get production from key veterans who struggled in Week 1.

Was Lance perfect? Was he the second coming of Josh Allen Sunday against the Bears? Hell no.

He struggled at times, as you'd expect from a guy who's essentially a rookie. Especially a guy who was forced to try and win the game throwing the ball during a raging monsoon during the fourth quarter.

However, Lance also showed everyone why he's THE guy for the 49ers going forward. His live arm and mobility gave the 49ers a chance to win. And a few of the throws he made Sunday are on a level that's reserved for the league's elite.

As Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle so aptly put it, "On this day, against a team they should have rightfully throttled, the 49ers put their young quarterback in a tough spot -- and he wasn't good enough to lift them out of it."

That shouldn't be a badge of shame for a 22-year-old quarterback with limited experience and two starts under his belt.

The reality of Sunday's disappointment in Chicago is that it was the epitome of a team loss. And in fact, many of the players most responsible for it were guys you'd expect to show out. They didn't, though, and now the 49ers enter Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks with an 0-1 record and a heck of a lot to prove.

These are the players who absolutely must come through for Lance and the 49ers Sunday to ensure a victory in Week 2.

Deebo Samuel, Wide Receiver

I'm not going to lie. Aside from a few nice runs and his touchdown scamper, Samuel had a pretty miserable game against the Bears. It's definitely not the start he, or the 49ers, were looking for after his holdout and subsequent monster contract extension this summer.

Samuel finished the game with just two receptions on eight targets, gaining 14 yards through the air. Clearly the weather was a major factor. However, it's impossible not to observe that Samuel and Lance are still working on their chemistry -- something that was evident this preseason as well.

Then, of course, there was the first-quarter fumble by Deebo that kept the 49ers from taking control of the contest early. Following a gorgeous pass from Lance to Brandon Aiyuk that gained 31 yards and put San Francisco in scoring range, Samuel coughed up the ball on a toss left, giving the Bears an absolute gift of a turnover. 

This wasn't a banner day for Deebo. He has a lot to prove after inking his monster contract, and the 49ers are counting on him to do just that. He's one of the most important players on the team's offense and must perform at his highest level in order to give his young quarterback the best chance to succeed.

Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, Offensive Tackles

Before the season began, just about everyone was worried about the 49ers' interior offensive line. The 49ers are starting three new, relatively inexperienced guys at the guard and center spots, so this was a natural concern. While Aaron Banks, Spencer Burford and Jake Brendel were far from perfect in Week 1, Trent Williams led the team in pressures allowed (3) while Mike McGlinchey struggled on the right side as well.

This is a big issue they will need to correct in Week 2. The Seahawks may not have a ton of recognizable players up front defensively, but they did an incredible job harassing Russell Wilson on Monday night. In particular, Uchenna Nwosu was a terror off the edge. If McGlinchey isn't on his best behavior, Nwosu will eat him for lunch this Sunday.

When Lance has time to throw, he's already proven himself as a deadly gunslinger who can get the ball downfield with accuracy. Under pressure, he predictably struggled in Week 1. If No. 5 is going to take advantage of Seattle's depleted secondary, he'll need time to do it. 

Dre Greenlaw, Linebacker

The entire team bears responsibility for the 12 penalties incurred in the 49ers' Week 1 loss to Chicago. You cannot give any team 99 free yards, lose the turnover battle, and expect to win in the NFL.

In particular, Dre Greenlaw had a brutal outing against the Bears. He was responsible for two of the most eggregious penalties in the entire game.

The first was a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on Justin Fields, who was sliding as he headed toward the sideline. Greenlaw ended up landing right on top of the quarterback -- an automatic flag and one that helped Chicago flip the field on the drive.

The second was singled out by none other than Kyle Shanahan as the worst penalty of the game. The 49ers had stuffed running back David Montgomery for no gain on 3rd-and-4. The problem? Greenlaw came in at the end of the play, with Montgomery already having been stopped, and grabbed the running back's facemask.

Another automatic 15-yard penalty, and this one cost the 49ers dearly. Three plays later, Fields bought time scrambing away from pressure and found a wide-open Dante Pettis for Chicago's first score of the game. This was THE momentum-killer. The one play that turned the game on its head. Previously, the Bears had been absolutely stymied by the vaunted 49ers defense. Suddenly, they had life, and ultimately this momentum swing led to a win for Chicago.

Greenlaw is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL. He's one of the veterans the 49ers are counting on to contribute to what they believe can be the league's best defensive unit. Simply put, he cannot have a repeat performance in Week 2 if Lance and Co. are going to rebound with a win against the Seahawks.