Now that the euphoria has worn off from Sunday's thorough dismantling of the Green Bay Packers we can all look ahead to this weekends bout with the Detroit Lions. I have to say it was quite fun and I enjoyed going over to Acme Packing Company (the Packers SB Nation site) and reading them discuss how bad their team was outplayed. But now the focus is on the Lions and, of course, handshake-gate. How's that headline for an alliteration?
Who can forget last year's epic battle in Detroit, when we stole victory from the jaws of defeat with an Alex Smith to Delanie Walker TD pass in the closing minutes of the game. And then there was the post game fracas with Coaches Harbaugh and Schwartz being separated by referee Anthony Davis. I don't know about you all, but after that game and some of their ensuing shenanigans, the Lions went from being my second favorite story of the year to wannabe toughs that I was glad to watch fail. I know Coach Harbaugh wasn't 100% innocent in the ordeal, but the feelings haven't subsided and the Lions are actually one of the few teams I actively dislike. That's the thing about having a great season, you earn enemies. Not the fake kind, or the geographical kind, but you get pissed off at teams and they get angry at you, and actual dislike is generated. Now the Lions (and Saints) fall into that category and both were teams I previously had held a soft spot for.
As for the links.....It's not a space race, but I'm rushin'...so you get a heap of links.
WEEK 2 PREVIEW: LIONS at 49ERS
San Francisco, Detroit look to renew hostilities. (Brady)
Schwartz says handshake story so 2011. (CBS Sports)
Harbaugh can't shake off 'the' question. (Lynch)
Handshake-gate revisited. (Scout.com)
Harbaugh uninterested in reliving handshake moment. (Mercury News)
Lions' Chris Houston: "I would never talk trash to Randy Moss". (ProFootballWeekly)
Letter to Jim Schwartz not pertaining to The Handshake. (Cohn)
Key matchup: Niners interior offensive line vs Lions DTs. (ProFootballWeekly)
Lions injury report: Chris Houston, Louis Delmas closer to returning; Bill Bentley suffered concussion. (Detroit SB Nation)
WEEK 1: 49ERS 30, PACKERS 22
David Akers 'hitting a hole-in-one' with his 63-yard field goal. (Gin)
49ers have new options, similar identity. (Sando)
Niners make statement heard 'round the NFL. (Scout.com)
Grading the 49ers in opener: Straight A's (Inman)
View from the press box. (Cohn)
49ers report card: Grading the Packers game. (Scout.com)
49ers defensive player-by-player review vs Packers. (Maiocco)
49ers offensive player-by-player review vs Packers. (Maiocco)
Vernon Davis' dunk gets an F...but his TD deserves an A. (Barrows)
NaVorro Bowman: 49ers' win over Packers "was a huge statement". (NBC Sports)
Aaron Rodgers backs out of Boyz II Men jersey bet. (Yahoo!)
POWER RANKINGS
Week 2, 49ers come in at no. 1 - Bay Area SB Nation. (Brady)
2012 NFL Power Rankings: 49ers, Raiders headed in opposite directions. (Bay Area SB Nation)
NFL Power Rankings: 49ers put NFC on notice. (Philly SB Nation)
NFL Power Rankings: How they voted. (Sando)
AP Pro32 comments about 49ers. (Yahoo!)
ASSORTED NEWS
NFC West stock watch. (Sando)
Ravens Coach Harbaugh likens handshake-gate to Lee and Grant at Appomattox. (CBS Sports)
Familiar postgame refrain for Harbaugh's happy 49ers. (Inman)
Frank Gore up for Week 1 FedEx award. (49ers.com)
Raiders' loss prompts question: Who's behind Jennings? (Branch)
Wide receivers a key part of 49ers offense again. (NBC Bay Area)
No regression, just mean. (Scout.com)
Leonard Davis literally a big addition to 49ers. (Yahoo!)
Go deep? Prepare to dink and dunk vs 49ers. (Branch)
Secondary displays brains and brawn. (49ers.com)
Vernon Davis on Alex Smith's streak of no INTs: 'Amazing, but it doesn't surprise me.' (Inman)
Life on the line. (SFGate)
49ers pack extra punch on O-Line. (49ers.com)
Vernon Davis improves ball skills. (49ers.com)
49ers value long-snapping depth. (49ers.com)
Vernon Davis appreciates the help. (Branch)
Alex Smith is No. 1 for 49ers. (Mercury News)
VIDEOS
49ers preparing for Detroit. (49ers.com)
Sorry for the ton of links and no reviews. I'll be back with a bang tomorrow and of course, we'll have another edition of This Week in Niners Nation on Friday evening.
Being a Sheep
Be sure to follow @NinersNation on Twitter as well as on Facebook. You can follow SB Nation Bay Area on Twitter @sbnbayarea and also on Facebook.
If you're new here, you can register for a free account to participate in the discussion and create your own fanposts here at Niners Nation and across our entire network of 300+ sports blogs.