NFC West Outlook

 

SF is one game back of both SEA and LA:

LA's next 2 games are against DET and SEA
SEA's next 2 games are against IND and LA
SEA beats LA and all of a sudden the 49ers have an opportunity week 18 to secure the best division record.

All while owning tie-breakers over both LA and SEA. 

These last 4 games mean everything for the 49ers. They are in control of their own destiny. I expect them to come out from this bye week focused and hungry.

True Grit

 CMC recently posted a shoutout to Upton Stout, highlighting him as a player who has stepped up and demonstrated great leadership this season. The camaraderie is strong, with Stout himself mentioning how much fun it is to "jell with everybody" and make plays with his teammates. This kind of internal praise from veteran leaders like CMC really speaks volumes about the positive team culture. I understand the feeling some may have after the losses of  Bosa and Warner, however you cannot underestimate the power of one of the tightest locker rooms in the league. Stay strong faithful, this team is destined for great things!

49ers Neuter The Dawgs

 

San Francisco:

-11 expected points added on Special Teams

-65% 3rd down conversion rate

-no turnovers

-average starting field position: SF46

Game Day Week 13: 49ers vs. Browns

 

#1 in adjusted line yards and also #3 in adjusted sack rate. The Browns defensive line is a tough nut to crack and will be Foerster's offensive line's biggest challenge this year. They're coming off their best cohesive performance. San Francisco leads the league in lowest sack EPA lost attributed to quarterback fault. Niners offense has been very good in the redzone recently - tied with Jacksonville for the highest percentage of drives reaching the red zone, and ranking 3rd in TD rate once inside.

Offensively the Browns rank 31st and dead last in passing efficiency. San Francisco's defense ranks 26th against the pass and 12th against the run. They better bring their lunchboxes because Judkins is a load. He's got 7 TD's and averaging 3.8 yards per carry. If they can take away the run and force Sanders to beat them it's likely they'll get at least one turnover. I expect Shanahan to come out running the football a lot in this weather with BRob getting 10 runs on top of CMC's normal workload. I like San Francisco in this game in a low scoring affair, 17-10. Go Niners!

49ers Inactives:

K Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) LB Tatum Bethune (ankle) DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) DL Kevin Givens WR Jordan Watkins RB Jordan James OL Connor Colby

Shanahan's 1st Round Pick In '26 Draft

 KC Concepcion

Good route runner. High level athleticism. Very strong, physical player after the catch. Extremely hard to bring down. Tracks the deep ball really well. Dangerous return specialist. Excellent through contact receiver. Very explosive, and has a good catch radius. Excels underneath as a receiver with good speed. Lethal punt returner and RAC weapon. Extends really well outside of his frame to make catches. Excellent stop and go ability. Maintains concentration very well through traffic. High level route runner. Settles down well between zones. Good run blocker on the boundary. Very good contact balance. Tiptoes the sideline very well.

With the 49ers likely drafting in the lower 20's I believe Kyle Shanahan will love Concepcion as a prospect in his offense and he'll likely still be on the board. He would pair perfectly with Purdy.

Despite The Injuries

The 49ers defense posted their highest EPA of the season vs the Panthers +10.89. Good confidence builder heading into a very tough matchup with the Browns. They'll face the rookie Sanders at quarterback who will look to go down field early and often. Brock will have to play a much cleaner game to give them a chance on a short week. Matchup of the year: Trent Williams vs. Myles Garrett. 🍿

Monday Night Football Week 12: Panthers vs. 49ers

 The Panthers come out west with a 3-0 record on the road and have their sights set on 1st place in their division with a win. Since their 2022 trade of CMC to the 49ers:

Touches: 1,000 (#5) Scrimmage Yards: 5,690 (#4) Touchdowns: 45 (#3)

They have no one that can cover him in the passing game.

The 49ers are 2nd All Time on Monday Night Football with 53 wins. This is a must win to stay in the playoff hunt. Shanahan will have the Panthers LB's chasing their tails. Curtis Robinson will be backed up by just activated Jalen Graham. Matt Gay is activated as well to fill in for Eddie Piñeiro. I like the 49ers to put the Panthers on the leash, 31-21. Go Niners!

The 49ers INACTIVES for tonight’s game against the Panthers: Jordan Watkins Jordan James Eddy Piñeiro Tatum Bethune Connor Colby Kevin Givens Robert Beal