Some might say the 49ers reaching 10 wins is a miracle. Perhaps it is. Much ink has been spilt on the immense number of injuries this team has suffered over the season, and the hits keep on coming. Recently, the latest 49ers roster drama centers around the fate and future of Brandon Aiyuk. He has mysteriously absented himself from team activities for month. The front office is no longer tolerant of his antics. Voiding his contract should have been a wake-up call. Instead, he continues to remain absent from the team.
The 49ers achievements are a total organizational effort. The front office drafted very well this year. More importantly, they have secured the services of talented veteran players. The wide receiver room was never a worry because Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson are seasoned veterans with Super Bowl experience. Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have battled through injuries this year, yet when they are on the field, they produce. Mac Jones led the team to multiple victories in Brock Purdy’s absence. Skyy Moore’s punt and kick return talents have put the offense in great positions. Clelin Farrell, Bryce Huff and Keon White are racking up pressures and sacks. Key, low budget free agents are contributing to the 49ers overall success.
Some may say this team is patched up with duct tape and bailing wire. If that is true, then credit the coaching staff for getting the absolute best out of these castoffs from other teams. Coach Shanahan and Coach Saleh have likely pulled off their best coaching efforts yet with this group.
The 49ers victory against the Titans this week is more significant than people realize. The Titans field a very tough defense. The 49ers are one of three teams to score over 35 points on them. Only the Colts have scored more points on the Titans, and they did so in September and late October, scoring 41 and 38 points respectfully. Before Daniel Jones’s injury, the Colts were in the pole position for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.
Yesterday’s victory had few hiccups. The most egregious came early in the fourth quarter. It was third and ten, Purdy takes the snap. As he steps up into the pocket he rears back to throw and as his arm appeared to come forward, Jeffery Simmons hit Purdy’s throwing hand. In a rare instance, referee’s called it a fumble despite the fact that ball propelled forward about fifteen yards. On the next play, the 49ers defense gave up a 43-yard pass to Van Jefferson. Then, the Titans scored on a pass to none other than Jeffery Simmons. Number 98 lined up as a fullback on the one-yard line. For some odd reason the 49ers failed to match up on him, and he was all alone at the back of the end-zone. The play was an inexcusable lapse of attention to detail.
Malik Mustapha and Ji’ayir Brown must work on their ball skills. Both safeties dropped drive ending interceptions. For the Niners to have a deep run into the playoffs ending in a Super Bowl berth, the defensive backs must take advantage of the opportunities that are gifted to them. I recall a dropped Jaquiski Tartt interception that eventually led to a Rams victory in the NFC Championship in 2022. The margins of victory are slim, and the Niners young defenders must tighten up to achieve the ultimate goal in football.
The most significant thing about yesterday’s game is the fact that for the first time all season, Christian McCaffrey did not account for at least half of the offense’s yards. Though, after Purdy, he touched the ball the most, he did not have 50% of the overall touches either. Coach Shanahan was deliberate in his play calling and use of his star running back, ensuring that he strategically used the team’s best offensive weapon while preserving his ability to continue to play in games to come.
Pearsall led the team in reception yards, followed closely by George Kittle. Jennings led the team in touchdown receptions, though he dropped two passes. Pearsall collected the longest pass of the day (38 yards) followed closely by Demarcus Robinson (a 30 yard strike for a first down). Brock Purdy distributed the ball well only putting the ball in jeopardy once, when he tried to drill the ball to Jennings when he was triple covered in the red-zone in the second half.
Few people thought the Niners would lose to the Titans yesterday. Yet, it’s the NFL and anything can happen. The Titans are a team of professionals with a highly experienced interim coach in Mike McCoy. No win in the NFL is free.
Next week the 49ers take on the oldest quarterback in the league, Philip Rivers. Number 17 came out of retirement last week to aid the Colts in their bid to make a deep playoff run. The Colts were skyrocketing towards the Lombardi Trophy. They picked up Sauce Gardner. A few weeks later he suffered a debilitating calf injury. Two weeks later, Daniel Jones ruptures his achilles. Yet the Colts are not giving up. They signed Rivers with the hope that his veteran leadership would carry the team through. They put up a fight against the Seahawks, holding them to no touchdowns. The Seahawks won by a mere two points, kicking six field goals for their victory. The 49ers cannot afford to sleep on Philip Rivers and the Colts.
