OK, before anyone gets too carried away, let’s start with this: The short-lived Jim Tomsula era also began with quite a bang.
That said, it’s OK for 49ers fans to have bit more optimism this week after the home team clobbered the Rams 28-0 Monday night in the first game of head coach Chip Kelly’s tenure. It was the 49ers’ first shutout since a 34-0 win over the Jets on Sept. 30, 2012.
The season-opening, prime-time victory, just like last year’s Week 1 prime-time 20-3 romp over the playoff-bound Vikings, was headlined by a smothering defense and a potent rushing attack.