I know that this comparison may be a little bit crazy (OK, maybe a lot crazy), but hear me out.  With a hat tip to Bill Simmons, it's crucial that we not overreact after Week 1's debacle.  His words?  "home dogs + raucous crowd + [Defensive] TD + dumb turnovers + bad weather + [Jimmy Raye] = FLUKE UPSET!!!!"

Here's a box score from a September 2003 week 1 game between the Patriots and Bills: final score?  Buffalo 31, New England 0.

Here is the box score from last week's week 1 game between the 49ers and Seahawks: final score?  Seattle 31, San Francisco 6.

Delving into the similarities between the two games...

1) Bills were home in 2003.  Seattle was at home last week.

2) Bills scored on a pick-6.  Seattle scored on a pick-6.

3) Bills won the turnover battle 4 to 2.  Seattle won the turnover battle 2 to 1.

4) Bills (10 for 119 yds) had fewer penalties than the Patriots (12 for 121).  Last week? 'Hawks (5 for 35): 9ers (8-60)

5) Pats QB had a bad day: Brady went 14 for 28 (50% comp) for 123 yds, 4 INTs, 0 TDs, 22.5 rating

    49ers QB had a bad day: Smith went 26 for 45 (57% comp) for 225 yds, 2 INTs, 0 TDs, 52.5 rating

Interestingly...

1) Bills outgained the Pats in 2003 322 total yards to 239.  49ers outgained the Seahawks 263 to 242.

Even more interestingly, the 2003 Patriots went 14-2 having gone 9-7 the previous year, and the 2003 Bills went 6-10, having gone 8-8 the previous year. 

The Pats starting receivers were Deion Branch and Troy Brown, neither of whom caught more than 60 passes for more than 804+ yards.  Tom Brady finished the year with 3600 yards passing, and the Pats didn't have a 1000-yard running back.  Somehow I think the Niners may have some better numbers than those...

Now, I'm not sure that Alex Smith will morph into 2003-era Tom Brady--in fact I doubt it, and I don't expect the 2010 49ers to go 14-2.  But if the plays can come in quicker, and the team can rally around this early loss, they have a chance to be better, and maybe even to be special.  GO NINERS!