The 49ers are on to Philadelphia next week. They had a shot at the coveted one seed. It was quite literally in their grasp on at least three occasions last night. Once when Yetur Gross-Matos had an opportunity secure a game changing fumble. Another, just a few plays later when the Niners allowed 19-yard run on a third down and seventeen play. Lastly, when Christian McCaffrey bobbled a reception into a Seahawk interception. Despite the throw being tipped at the line of scrimmage, the ball should have still been caught.
The 49ers defense outplayed expectations last night. They held the Seahawks to one touchdown and two field goals. In fact, the 49ers are the only team to hold the Seahawks to thirteen points or less this year. Despite no Fred Warner or Nick Bosa, the Niners still managed to hold the Seahawks to the same number of points last night as they did in game one.
What is the difference in the two games? In the first game the 49ers had the benefit of Ricky Pearsall and Trent Williams on offense. Pearsall accounted for 108 receiving yards, while the total rushing attack accounted for 119 yards. The Niners won the time in possession game during week one, largely due to their effective running attack.
Pearsall allows the 49ers to stretch the field with his speed and his ability to beat man coverage. Pearsall’s abilities also open up underneath routes for George Kittle and Jauan Jennings. Williams allows the run game to be more multiple. Additionally, he does not need an additional blocker to chip at the line of scrimmage like Austen Pleasants does. The Niners offense needed Pearsall and Williams to compete with the Seahawks for game two. The offense was limited against an elite Seahawks defense. It just was not the Niners day.
Despite the lack of Pearsall and Williams, the Niners had opportunities. The 49ers missed three great opportunities to change the game and their stars yesterday. They failed. It’s time to flush bad taste in their mouths and move on.
This year’s Eagles are not the same Eagles who put Brock Purdy out of the 2023 NFC Championship game before it really started. They are also not last year’s Super Bowl Championship team. This year’s Eagles are more vulnerable. They are an even match for the 49ers, though the home team will likely have the edge according to oddsmakers.
Jalen Hurts passing numbers are pedestrian at best. With a seventeen-game season, two top receivers and the most pass friendly rules in NFL history, Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown should have had at least thirteen to fourteen hundred receiving yards this year. Jalen Hurts completion percentage is a remarkably low 64.8 percent. Their rushing numbers are significantly down as well. Saquon Barkley ran for 1,140 yards this year as opposed to 2005 yards last year.
The Eagles defense is still quite formidable. Their secondary is considered elite. The Eagles defense also sports two of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. The Niners will have to be creative in their approach.
The Niners have proven that teams can win despite significant injuries. Playing in the NFL is hard. Winning on a consistent basis in the NFL is hard. Yet the Niners found a way. The genesis of their success likely started when Coach Kyle Shanahan called his veterans in before training camp to request their help in training the large number of first- and second-year players on the roster. When vets began to fall, rookies, 2nd year and third year players stepped up to the challenge and battled.
This Niners team is seemingly exhausted. They have played two very tough teams on back-to-back short weeks. Yet their youth will allow them to bounce back. The resilience the have shown this season will allow them to compete with the Eagles. They are not scared of the moment. As Kyle Juszczyk said, “Nothing has gone right for this team this year, so why would we have it any other way right now? Let’s do it the hard way has been the theme of the season, so let’s jut lean into that.”
On to Philly.
