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.