Saints vs. 49ers: Why Monday Night Will Be Mike Singletary's Biggest Test Yet

Have you ever felt pressure to succeed after failing to meet high expectations?

After the Seattle Seahawks upset the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, I'm sure head coach Mike Singletary and his team are feeling the same way.

The beating featured a poor gameplan, terrrible playcalling, and a simple lack of execution. All in all, this definitely didn't seem like the team that many projected to finally break free and claim the NFC West crown.

Luckily, for the 49ers, they have a golden opportunity to redeem themselves when the football world will be watching the defending champion New Orleans Saints come to town on Monday Night Football.

Obviously, heading in, the Saints are and should be the heavy favorites as they are one of the most talented clubs in the NFL.

Drew Brees leads arguably the most prolific offense in the league, and defensive coordinator Greg Williams has his unit play a very aggressive style which generates several big play opportunities. 

That being the case, there's no doubt that the 49ers have a daunting task ahead of them. At the same time, they can't afford to lose another one and risk starting the season 0-2 which would significantly decrease their chances of achieving their goal of making the playoffs. 

Unfortunately, after a such demoralizing loss, the 49ers may not be ready to take down a title contender which is why it will be primarily Singletary's responsibility to get their act together. 

There's no way he can have another week where his players seemingly quit in the face of adversity.

He will need to reconnect the bond between the coaches, improve the offensive line, regain Alex Smith's confidence level, and much more.

He needs to use his motivational skill to inspire an organization that got stomped on and ignite a flame under this franchise that will hopefully be enough to propel them through the rest of the season. And, most importantly he must explain to them that they shouldn't panic.

 He is the leader of the franchise and will have to shine on the biggest stage in order to demonstrate to the world that last week was a fluke and that the 49ers are for real.Because, if they're not and don't qualify for the postseason, his job security will definitely be shaky. 

Making matters even worse, the 49ers better be ready because the Saints were 7-1 on the road last season and picked up right where they left off with an impressive victory over the Vikings in the season opener. 

On the flip side, the 49ers should have added motivation I expect them to prevail in this game.At the same time, for that to occur, the team's stats such as Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, and Vernon Davis will have to step up and make big-time plays.

Optimistically speaking, I still predict the 49ers to eventually win the division and I wish them the best of luck on their journey.