Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports


The NFC better Get Ready for the 49ers

Dec 18, 2022 at 10:04 AM--


The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-13 on Thursday night, clinching the NFC West division. They are one game away from sweeping the division. The team has a winning streak of seven games and looks to continue at home on Christmas Eve against the Washington Commanders.

San Francisco looks to get healthy as the playoffs begin by bringing back players such as defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The 49ers would be the No. 3 seed if the playoffs began today, behind the Minnesota Vikings at two and the Philadelphia Eagles at number one.

Why should the NFC get ready for the 49ers? Let's dig into the three main reasons.

The Unknown


With Brock Purdy as the quarterback, the league hasn't been able to catch up with his style of play. Purdy appears to gain more confidence and seems to be comfortable the more he plays. In the last three games against the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seahawks, Purdy has thrown for 612 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception and has rushed for a touchdown as the starting quarterback. Again these stats may not dazzle the eyes of the beholder, but they are consistent.

As long as Purdy continues his style of football play, the sky is the limit with Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers' offense. Purdy leaves the opposing defenses dazed and confused, and that's the way Shanahan likes it.

The Domination on Defense


The 49ers' defense continues to dominate, and it doesn't matter who's out there; the defense continues to make plays and create turnovers (22). The 49ers' defense is ranked first in total yards allowed per game (286.1), first in rushing yards allowed per game (74.7), and first in points allowed per game (15.0). After the embarrassing performance of the defense against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers defense flipped a switch, and its been on a roll ever since. The defense tends to play its best football in December and January, so whether they play under the sun or in the tundra, the D brings the pain. Expect the unit to continue its success and remain at the top.

The Reserves are Returning


The 49ers have eight players on the injured reserve list. Two players, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and tight end Jordan Matthews were placed on injured reserve before the season started, so they're not eligible to return. Quarterback Trey Lance and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett had season-ending injuries and will not return in 2022.

Due to the rules, the 49ers can bring back two more players off the injured reserve list. The remaining players are running back Elijah Mitchell and defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and Hassan Ridgeway. With the practice window of Kinlaw expected to open this week, his return could be a massive addition to the 49ers' number-one defense. The run-stuffing defensive tackle will only make the number-one rush defense even better.

That leaves a spot open for Mitchell or Ridgeway. Being that the 49ers could use the additional running back in the room, it is safe to say the 49ers will be getting back a key piece during the playoffs. With Mitchell returning, his role should spell Christian McCaffrey's, and the team should continue to use Jordan Mason, known as "JP" to teammates and coaches, as the closer. Imagine a three-headed monster as opposed to a two-headed monster during the time that matters the most.

In Conclusion


The 49ers remain hot and dangerous with a seven-game win streak. However, the team must continue to handle business with three games left, two of which are home games (Commanders, Cardinals). If the 49ers continue to take care of business, they will remain the most feared team in the NFL.
  • Written by:
    Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.



3 Comments

  • Richy
    What the hell has happened to javon kinlaw
    Dec 18, 2022 at 4:08 PM
    0
  • BigAl
    A SF-PHI will be the most physical game of the year and must see TV
    Dec 18, 2022 at 12:30 PM
    1
  • Sl
    Why does no one mention price the 3rd rd running back. Is he that useless he cant even be a backup rb?
    Dec 18, 2022 at 12:22 PM
    0

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Bulkier Drake Jackson ready to attack 2023 with 49ers

By David Bonilla
May 31

When Drake Jackson stepped up to the podium after Wednesday's practice, there was something different about the San Francisco 49ers' second-year defensive end. He was bulkier, thanks to a lot of offseason work. "Drake has been here all summer, working out—all spring, rather—doing the things that he needs to do to improve his game," defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said earlier this month. "He's gained a lot of weight. He's in there with [defensive line coach Kris] Kocurek, and I'm just excited to see exactly what he's going to do and how he's going to progress in his second year." What are Jackson's expectations for his sophomore



Breer: 49ers QB Brock Purdy throwing without pain, on track to be ready by Week 1

By David Bonilla
Jun 5

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy started throwing again last week, his first significant throwing session (with a football, at least) since the NFC Championship Game in January when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the damage and isn't expected to be cleared to hit the practice field for several months. The 49ers liked what they saw from his limited work last week. "He's just had one session thus far, but we're incredibly encouraged by that," general manager John Lynch said last week during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And Brock's a worker. If you give him a



Doctor on 49ers QB Brock Purdy injury: "You should expect to get that same level of play"

By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jun 4

The San Francisco 49ers are entangled in yet another quarterback controversy, with Brock Purdy at the forefront of the talk due to a UCL injury that he sustained during the team's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Given the rarity of the injury to a quarterback in the NFL, the 49ers have stressed caution on Purdy's recovery timetable, while expressing optimism about his return by the beginning of the season. Speaking with former NFL offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, respected sports medicine doctor Jess Flynn, who has worked with NFL teams, shared that the 49ers should expect Purdy to return to his former self once back from injury. "When he does come back, studies show that you should expect a similar level of play compared to before the



49ers' Nick Bosa confident contract will get done before training camp

By David Bonilla
Jun 6

The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which means defensive end Nick Bosa finally reported to the team. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been training in Florida and didn't participate in organized team activities (OTAs). He didn't practice on Tuesday either, but he was in attendance. Of course, none of that is out of the ordinary for the talented pass rusher. Wednesday will be the final minicamp practice. The team will likely gather for a family day on Thursday before breaking for the summer. Bosa is entering his fifth NFL season and will undoubtedly soon become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. The two sides are working towards a contract extension, and the defensive end is confident that something


Featured

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone