The San Francisco 49ers have consistently made strong starts this season. They scored first in their last three games and four of the last five. The offense has impressively put points on the board in 12 opening drives this season, with 10 resulting in touchdowns.
Securing an early advantage is not just about numbers. It builds momentum and influences the mental dynamics of both teams, a factor that can leave a lasting impact on the outcome of a game.
On Wednesday, tight end George Kittle emphasized the impact, stating, "As an offense, when we get the ball first ... when you can go down the field, score a touchdown, get points in the board right away, it just definitely puts on the other team like, 'Oh, wow.' The defense is like, 'Well, we can't do that again. What do we have to change to not let them score again.' Their offense is like, 'All right, we have to score or we don't want to get lapped,' something like that."
Scoring first puts the offense in a nice rhythm, too. Kittle admits that he is delighted when teammates like running back Christian McCaffrey or wide receiver Deebo Samuel score quickly, shortening the initial offensive drive and putting the opponent at an early disadvantage. However, Kittle also acknowledges the benefits of longer initial drives that finish with a trip into the end zone.
"You get a nice 10-play drive out there, be on the field for a while, get their defense worn down, it's always huge," Kittle shared. "And then reverse that—when our defense goes out there, gets a three-and-out right away, it definitely gets the stadium lit up."
Quarterback Brock Purdy admits that the 49ers' mindset entering a game could be a reason behind the frequent fast starts. Players are eager to get out there and out-physical their opponent.
"Just our mindset with getting on a team pretty quickly and doing the little things right from the jump, that's a big emphasis that we have here," Purdy said. "So that's something I think we've done well. Then obviously, our scheme and stuff, the plays that we know we're going to call for the first drive. Those are all things that you can prepare for, and it helps you out as a player."
Purdy believes the combination of these factors contributes to the team's early success, which could be significant in the coming weeks.
The 49ers don't have to worry about changing their mentality for the playoffs. The team believes it has been playing with a purpose all season long.
Kittle added, "I don't think our intensity is going to raise at all. I think we're just going to continue to play the way we've been playing, and that's just kind of a kudos to the standard that we set here as the 49ers."
On Saturday, the 49ers will host the Green Bay Packers in a Divisional Playoff showdown at Levi's Stadium. It's an opponent that jumped to a 27-0 lead over the favored Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, creating a formidable obstacle for the 49ers in their quest to reach and win Super Bowl 58. A fast start will go a long way in securing the victory.
