By: Joe Lami

AP photo: San Francisco 49ers NaVarro Bowman is assisted off the field after suffering a season ending achilles injury on Sunday in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys

SANTA CLARA–One month into the NFL schedule and it’s deja vu for the San Francisco 49ers. After a week one Monday night blowout, the Niners have gone into a slump, dropping their past three games.

Sunday night’s 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys added injury to insult as star linebacker NaVarro Bowman suffered a season-ending achilles injury. The 49ers season is in the balance, as they will need to be able to bounce back from losing their best defensive player.

San Francisco may be getting a break on Thursday night against the 1-3 Arizona Cardinals, as their starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, is expected to miss the game after suffering a concussion to the LA Rams. Expected to get the start for Arizona is Drew Stanton, which should heavily disappoint the NFL and their TV ratings with Stanton facing off against Blaine Gabbert in primetime.

The Niners need to take advantage of facing Stanton, who has a 66 career QB rating. Not only does the 49ers’ defense need to step up, but the offense needs to show up. The 49ers offense has been the biggest issue in Santa Clara for the past two seasons. It doesn’t just end at the quarterback position with Gabbert being a questionable NFL starter, but it extends to the wide receiver positions as well.

Jeremy Kerley, a player the Niners traded for during the pre-season, is their leading receiver with 18 catches for 202 yards and shows how big of a joke San Francisco’s offense is. San Francisco is a team that heavily leans on their defense, and even with one of the better defenses in the league, their offense can’t do enough to win a game.

It’s clear that Chip Kelly has improved San Francisco’s offense, but it’s evident the talent isn’t there to excel in the NFL. If the deja vu from last season continues, San Francisco will lose on Thursday night and slide into last place in the NFC West.

It’s clear that Chip Kelly has improved San Francisco’s offense, but it’s evident the talent isn’t there to excel in the NFL. If the deja vu from last season continues, San Francisco will lose on Thursday night and slide into last place in the NFC West.