By Scooter_McG
The 49ers came into this game needing a win and some luck to get the #1 seed in the NFC. They took care of business on their end, with a 17 point explosion in third quarter sparked by two takeaways giving them an insurmountable lead in the fourth quarter which allowed them to rest most of their starters throughout the final quarter. However, they didn't get the luck they needed as the Giants decided to rest their players and hand the Eagles an easy win to retain their place.
This game didn't start the way the 49ers wanted as Lenoir got turned around and outleaped by AJ Green on a deep pass off a flea flicker which he took to the house for a 77 yard TD. The 49ers responded immediately as they rolled up the field easily and then Purdy found McCaffrey on a screen pass which he took for 21-yard TD.
Both teams would then get a bit sloppy on offense with penalties and missed blocks blowing up drives quickly, but in the second quarter the 49ers got back into their groove on offense and put up a couple of more TDs. However, they were unable to break away from the Cardinals who had a TD of their own in the second quarter to stay in touch. That Cardinals drive only added to some fan concerns about the defense as it saw a number of third downs converted when it looked like the 49ers had done enough to get off the field. The issue again appeared to be one of the back end coverage struggling if the pass rush is unable to hurry up the process of the QB.
But the third quarter was a different beast. The 49ers started the quarter by rolling easily down the field to score a TD and open up a 28-13 lead. The pass rush was also able to pressure Cardinals QB David Blough into a couple of mistakes, including his second INT to Gipson as well as a sack fumble by Willis. The 49ers converted those turnovers into 10 points to make it a 38-13 ball game by the end of the third. The rest of the game was then primarily played by the 49ers backups as they rested starters ahead of the playoffs.
Purdy was once again quite impressive in this one. He didn't have to do too much, only making 20 pass attempts, but he did a nice job of distributing the ball to the open player and avoiding mistakes. He did get brought down for some sacks which was a combination of protection breakdowns and Purdy being a little jittery at times in the first quarter. But overall, another strong performance in the final tune-up before the playoffs.
The defense started off poorly but came on strong and finished with four takeaways, including three INTs and a fumble recovery. Lenoir will no doubt get some grief for the long TD on the opening drive, but aside from that mistake he actually played quite well, at least as far as I saw. By the end of the third quarter the defense was looking very much back to its best.
With the second seed the 49ers will now be hosting one of Seahawks, Packers or Lions in week 1 of the playoffs depending on results.
For a rookie, Purdy's consistency is remarkable. Also, in his first couple of games it seemed like Purdy got lucky when some bad passes that should have been intercepted were not. While I didn't see every pass this game, I don't recall any passes where I thought he was lucky that it wasn't intercepted.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Purdy has kept the offense consistently moving the chains and putting up points. Obviously he is helped by the talent around him, but he is doing what is needed to allow that talent to shine while generally avoiding back breaking negative plays and making some impressive plays of his own. And yes, today he did a good job of keeping the ball out of danger - don't recall one opportunity he gave the defense. But he has gotten lucky a couple of times in previous weeks.
DeletePurdy's giving them 10 more points a game in his 6 game stretch.
DeleteThe Niners have scored 35+ points in 4 out of the 5 games he's started.
DeleteYeah, including the Dolphins game, the team is averaging 33.5 points per game with Purdy at QB. And its not a case of 1 or 2 games propping that up - consistently putting up points.
DeleteEbukam broke his chance at a four year streak of getting exactly 4.5 sacks with his one sack today. Now he has 5.5 this year!
ReplyDeleteSeattle come on down!
ReplyDeleteThe battle for the final wild card spot in both conferences really gave the vibe that we were better off at 6 teams per conference.
DeleteFirst game on Saturday.
DeleteVery satisfying season and Kudos to the coaching team and players! After a 3-4 start, there is no way anyone could have predicted that we will win out! So many accomplishments too after the demoralizing KC Loss.
ReplyDeleteRebuild OLine. Check.
Sweep Division. Check.
Strengthen QB Room. Check.
Field No 1 Defense. Check.
Top 5 Offense. Check.
Lead in Turnover Differential. Check.
Difficult beating a team 3 times in a row and there is rain forecasted which might reduce the talent disparity. But I really hope we go deep in the playoffs.
Go Niners!
Same here. I don't like the Lockett-Lenoir matchup. As you commented, rain is predicted which will reduce the effect of the talent gap. Seattle will be playing stress-free with house money. Niners' D will not have the luxury of taking the better part of a half to settle down. Front 7 have to stop Walker right away and the DBs have to wash their eyes with saline water before the game 😃
DeleteI hope we are both wrong. Demo against Lockett/Metcalf screams mismatch. :)
DeleteDemeco Ryans must have a great game plan, in order for us to win.
Lenoir is obviously the weak point in the secondary and after last week and the big play on the opening drive yesterday I get why there are concerns. But let's not forget he has actually played pretty well most of the season, and that includes yesterday bar that early play.
DeleteDidn't it take the Seahawks 2 games to score 2 TD's against the 49ers?
DeleteScooter - With Lenoir, I know the 1st play was the only TD that Lenoir had given up all season, so it is not all bad. I guess what I'm saying is that come playoffs, Teams exploit seeming weaknesses and Lenoir is the weak link in our D. You gotta feel the same way right!??
DeleteRazor - Yes I know. But I see incremental (or rather close to exponential) improvement when the 'Hawks play us. First game we blew them out (although we lost Trey for the season), 2nd game was much closer. So with rain predicted (which if you have lived in Seattle is like sunshine), 3rd time lucky is not that far fetched is what I'm saying.
So bottom line, don't take the 'Hawks lightly. This team has been the bane of our existence this past decade! Pete Carroll will have them ready to play and we better come prepared to leave it all on the field.
Sly Pete will be working hard all week to scheme up ways to confuse Sturdy Purdy?
DeleteMugeek, yes, Lenoir is the weakest link and teams will look to attack him. But as far as weakest links go we could do a lot worse.
DeleteYea, but he 49ers have improved as well.
DeleteI was wrong. It was only 1 TD, lol.
DeleteHa!
DeleteI would love to be wrong on this and for us to blow out the 'Hawks!
Niners have a "lockdown" corner and a "liability", according to his high-school Twitterer:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/_pranavrajaram/status/1610014797025656833
Wanted to acknowledge the accomplishments of two Niners in an often-overlooked area -- special teams. George Odum led the league in special teams tackle (21), and Mitch Wishnowsky led the league in highest percentage of punts within the 20 yard line (52.5%).
ReplyDeleteWish has been fantastic this season.
DeleteScooter, you think we draft a kicker this year?
DeleteThey'll need to make a decision at kicker one way or another with Gould coming off contract. Might be time to go the draft/ rookie route.
DeleteThey have invested so much in the special teams with contracts for Wish, Odum, McCloud and Burks, I think they go draft route or rookie UDFA for Kicker.
DeleteMakes most sense roster-building wise considering potential contract for Bosa/Aiyuk and one of Ebukam/Omenihu/Willis needs to be extended.
Stetson Bennett might be a good late round pick as the 3rd QB. In many ways he seems like Brock and tonight he is having a great game.
ReplyDeleteI would take Bennett late in the draft before I'd take Young as high as he'll go.
DeleteMan, Purdy's accuracy makes KS offense even more dangerous. Those high and behind passes are a thing of the past now. I dont have any data but I bet our YAC has increased since he became the starter.
ReplyDeleteThe Purdy man was blitzed on 12 of his 27 drop backs (44.4 percent) and completed eight of his 10 attempts for 87 yards, two touchdowns and a 142.5 passer rating. Chan
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the stats that I pay attention to. It's not necessarily the yardage or even the touchdowns that is important here. The point that I take from it is that he is continues to check off boxes in what you want to see in a franchise QB.
Pressure doesn't faze him, in fact he excels under it.
DeleteHis mental makeup for a 23-year-old is extraordinary
DeleteOnce he gets this first playoff game under his belt, I expect he'll keep improving throughout each game.
DeleteScooter
ReplyDeleteWhile we all know that CMC was a great addition to the 9ers offense and a top contributor to the 9ers closing out the season by winning 10 game, I have to admit his numbers are shockingly better than I realized.
Christian McCaffrey becomes most productive midseason addition in NFL history…….
* With 79 scrimmage yards in Sunday’s 38-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, McCaffrey now has 1,210 since joining San Francisco in Week 7 — The most by a midseason addition in NFL history! The dual-threat back recorded 670 scrimmage yards in Weeks 1 through 6 with the Panthers.
* In the 2022 NFL regular-season finale Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, McCaffrey tallied 45 yards rushing on 10 carries in addition to 34 yards receiving and a touchdown on three receptions. Against the Las Vegas Raiders the previous week, he tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Erik Dickerson for the most games with 100 or more scrimmage yards by a midseason addition at six.
* Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged last month that McCaffrey has exceeded the 49ers’ expectations, seamlessly fitting into the offensive scheme and helping catapult the team into the NFL playoffs.
And to think, some 9er fans were complaining the FO gave up too much to trade for him!
SO WHO IS COMPLAINING NOW?
It was a great addition, no doubt about it.
DeleteGeorge:
DeleteCMC's the dynamite and Purdy is the plunger.
The
ReplyDeleteabove post was mine.
The 49ers offense has the lowest 3-and-out percentage in the NFL at only 13%.
ReplyDeleteGeorge:
ReplyDeleteIan Rapoport
@RapSheet
2h
One of the most coveted GM candidates, #49ers Assistant GM Adam Peters has declined requests to interview with the #Titans and #AZCardinals, per source.
I know it is way too early to be talking 49ers offseason, but this makes me think Peters knows a promotion to 49ers GM is coming.
DeleteSome people have suggested they think this means Lynch will go back to broadcasting, but I wouldn't be surprised if the team has been planning this move for a while and we see Lynch move to president of football operations.
George:
DeleteWould be a nice way to keep both of them. Question that comes to mind is, if the team has been planning this move, and I wouldn't doubt it, who's directing the process? I'd have a hard time believing it's Jed. It takes someone who's a very-big-picture, strategic thinker. Paraag?
It might be a matter that he thinks it isn't the right fit. Could be a case of wait till the season is over for the Niners.
DeleteAaron Wilson
ReplyDelete@AaronWilson_NFL
#Jets parting ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, according to league sources. He ran their offense the past two seasons after previous stint as #49ers passing game coordinator @KPRC2
I saw that and I have to admit I was a little surprised.
DeleteA few assistants have been let go too. Saleh now on the hot seat.
DeleteYep, anytime a coach starts making sacrificial lambs from their staff, it's is a prelude to; you've got one more year.
DeleteIf anyone deserved to be fired, it was Joe Douglas. Wilson was his pick -- not Saleh's. Douglas also chose not to sign a vet QB last season and basically forced Saleh to start an unprepared rookie with inadequate overall talent on offense.
DeleteI suspect LaFleur was against that approach and was probably forced into that decision. His recently public regret may have something to do with the developments that led to his firing:
https://larrybrownsports.com/football/zach-wilson-jets-mike-lafleur-regret/609704
John Benton, the o-line coach at NY Jets out as well.
DeleteI kept meaning to bring this up. On that second play of the past game Lenoir was pushed is the reason for the success of that play.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was definitely a push off by Green. But they often don't call it.
DeleteThe main takeaway for me though was that aside from that play Lenpir was actually pretty good.
Yes, I agree. In fact that one play was the only TD that Lenoir had given up both in the slot and as an Outside corner, all year.
DeleteMy concern with Lenoir is that with Tall WRs like Green, Metcalf, he is naturally at a disadvantage.
Lenoir has the mindset to succeed, unlike Witherspoon.
DeleteNiners did not give up a 100-yard rusher all season. Only six rushers had more than 50 yards. Among the six Jacobs had the most, 69 yards the remaining five were below 60 yards.
ReplyDelete