When the NFL released its schedule in May, what jumped off the page was the 49ers’ three-game series.
In Seattle. In Philadelphia. Game against Seattle at Levi’s Stadium.
Three key games in three weeks will go a long way in determining the NFC West and possibly the top seeding in the conference.
The 49ers enter this period of the regular season with a 7-3 record and a one-game lead over the Seahawks in the division standings.
Everything we know about the 49ers this season has yet to be written, and there could be more twists and turns down the road.
The 49ers have lost three games in between a five-game winning streak and a two-game winning streak. In fact, coach Kyle Shanahan responded to a question two weeks ago about whether quarterback Brock Purdy should be benched. Overreactions are occurring from all angles.
So let’s take the temperature of the fan base after the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I went to the thread about this 49ers overreaction and found this:
The San Francisco 49ers have the best quarterback in the league! (@Bling Helmet by Wally)
Overreaction? no.
Based on performance and statistics, who played better than Brock Purdy this season?
Quick note: The NFL passer rating system is based on completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns per attempt, and interceptions per attempt. These are all meaningful statistics that accurately and objectively evaluate a quarterback’s productivity.
Purdy achieved the highest possible rating in the 49ers’ 27-14 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday. And entering the Week 11 game, he was already leading the NFL in that statistic.
His current 115.1 mark ranks among the top 10 in the NFL’s all-time single-season record and ranks with the 49ers.
We know Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is a great player and has two Super Bowl rings in his safe deposit box, but Purdy is currently playing the best football of any quarterback in the NFL. It is no exaggeration to say that it is.
The only drawback everyone has seen with Purdy since coming to the NFL is that he doesn’t have the strongest arm. While that’s true, there are other quarterbacks in the league who can throw faster and farther, but no quarterback in the league has had as much success with deep passes this season as Purdy.
The 49ers’ front 4 is so good that they can survive Hufanga’s injury (@vince de monroy)
Overreaction? no.
There’s a reason the 49ers acquired edge rusher Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline.
The idea was that a better pass rush would help the 49ers at every level of the defense, although it wasn’t specifically to compensate for injuries to the defensive backfield.
It is devastating that Talanoa Hufanga has lost his safety due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. There’s no way around it. But the season moves on.
Fortunately for the team, they chose to address the position by drafting Ziair Brown.
“We know we needed some depth there,” Shanahan said of the decision to select Brown in the third round. “He’s been practicing like he knew this moment was coming. He’s trapped.”
The 49ers’ secondary will be their Achilles’ heel and will jeopardize their ability to make the playoffs. (@Perrin 49)
Overreaction? yes.
If the 49ers didn’t achieve their goal of winning the Lombardi Trophy, they might have been hit by a strong passing attack that they couldn’t keep up with.
But if that’s the case, the blame isn’t all on the defensive backfield, nor should it be.
Pass rush and coverage go hand in hand. The 49ers’ secondary is failing, which means the team’s pass rush isn’t getting the job done either.
There are no defensive backfields in the NFL that can hold up for extended periods of time if the quarterback isn’t under pressure.
In fact, the 49ers’ pass defense has been very good this season, so don’t overlook that either.
Remember the factors that determine NFL passer ratings (see above)? Opposing quarterbacks have posted a poor 70.1 rating against the 49ers this season, allowing just 6.2 yards per pass attempt, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Trent Williams is our best player. (@controversy)
Overreaction? no.
Let’s put this aside and let Christian McCaffrey cross the finish line.
“He might be the best player I’ve ever seen,” McCaffrey said recently of Williams.
Yes, that’s high praise.
Williams is tied with Aaron Rodgers among active NFL players to have been selected to the Pro Bowl 10 times. Rodgers will not play in the Pro Bowl this season, and Williams is expected to.
McCaffrey said of Williams: He plays beyond the X’s and O’s and does things that a lot of other guys can’t do and has been doing it for a really long time. ”
Kyle needs to get a full back. That is the current measuring stick, and anything short is a failure. (@jtf321)
Overreaction? no.
Shanahan isn’t going anywhere. He signed a contract extension with the 49ers through at least the 2026 season.
Shanahan is generally considered one of the best coaches in the NFL, and for good reason. he.
But for him to be considered truly great, yes, the 49ers need to win a Super Bowl under his direction.
The organization will be disappointed if the 49ers don’t win this season. But he should have more opportunities in the coming years.
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