The San Francisco 49ers have done something that hasn't been accomplished by the organization since 1990 — start the season 4-0. The coaches and players aren't celebrating, though. Well, maybe they were for a bit after the game, judging from a few cheers you could hear coming from the team's locker room, but come Tuesday, it will be business as usual.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked after the game how his squad plans to handle the hype that inevitably comes with being one of just two undefeated teams in the NFL. The other, by the way, is the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, so San Francisco is in good company.
Shanahan said the 49ers would handle being 4-0 the same way they would handle being winless.
"You don't pay attention, and you just go to work," the coach said. "I think we've got the right guys. I think today was a little lopsided game, but the league is too hard to be overconfident. Every week is a tough week, and we've got a lot of work to do."
Shanahan did admit that if the 49ers end up undefeated at the end of the season, then that's when you'll see him celebrating. Until then, all the team can do is move on and focus on its next opponent, the Los Angeles Rams.
"Still got some guys who are waiting to get back from injury, and that game (on Monday night) by no means was perfect," Shanahan continued. "I thought our defense played four great quarters, from the first play to the last play. I think our special teams, obviously struggled. I was real disappointed how the offense finished in the fourth quarter."
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo knows the 4-0 start is historic. The last time it happened, Joe Montana was the quarterback. Still, it doesn't mean a whole lot with so much of the season left to play.
"It's a good start is really all it is," Garoppolo said. "Four games isn't going to really give you much in this league, but it's a good start. I think we have a good mindset in that locker room, just taking it one game at a time and just taking it one step at a time."
Cornerback Richard Sherman says there are no trophies handed out for being 4-0, and being undefeated though four games isn't the end goal.
"We're just focused on the next game," Sherman said. "We're getting ready for the Rams, and we're going to do our best to handle them."
Tight end George Kittle also knows to be 4-0 means there are 12 more games to potentially lose. That's why there is nothing to celebrate yet. While it is nice to be linked with a team like the Patriots when it comes to your records, there is a lot of work to be done.
"Just proud of the team," Kittle told reporters. "Like head coach Kyle Shanahan says, all that's guaranteed is that we can go 4-12. So, we've got to come back, and on a short week, we've got to try and win this game and get 5-0. We get about 24 hours to celebrate this victory as a team, and when Wednesday comes around, we'll be locked and loaded for the Rams."
