Sunday's game was frustrating. To an extent, every 49ers loss is, but this one was not due to the kind of sickeningly bad play as the Houston loss was. It was not due to incompetence across the entire roster. No, yesterday's game was a clear example of how depleted the Niner defense is.
One can complain, understandably, about the lack of run defense. One can point out the lack of a pass rush. But the fact of the matter is that last year, the run defense was poor, and General Manager John Lynch drafted to improve that unit. Another fact of that matter is that the first two people he drafted are injured, and superstars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are also out for the season. In other words, the 49ers have fewer horses than they did in 2024 due to no fault of management.
I would rather start by looking at a few positive things that happened on Sunday. They involve the offense. It did something it has not done consistently all year—move the ball.
Two drives ended prematurely due to poor plays, but more on that later. The Rams are a good team. They are favored to win the division, and they will be in the hunt for at least a berth in the Super Bowl.
And San Francisco moved the ball on them consistently.
The 49ers scored four touchdowns and could have easily scored more, but for a few plays. Quarterback Mac Jones passed for over 300 yards. Tight end George Kittle played at his best-tight-end-in-the-league level. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings looked to be back to his healthy self.
The Rams are second in the league in points allowed per game at 17. San Francisco scored 26 (and should have had 28 but for an unlikely missed extra point by Eddie Piñeiro, which later necessitated a two-point conversion try. Eddie P. has been phenomenal, and fortunately, that miss was irrelevant. The game was over at that point.)
And the 49ers had that production despite missing wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as quarterback Brock Purdy. They have an offense that can be really explosive.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan also did something he has not done so far this year: he used running back Brian Robinson extensively and effectively. Robinson had eight carries at 5.1 yards a pop. He powered in for a short-yardage score. He provided the hard-nosed running that John Lynch acquired him to do, and I was thrilled to see Shanahan take advantage of those skills.
Mac Jones threw two interceptions, but let's look at context. The first one was on 4th-and-4. George Kittle was held on the previous play, and it should have been an automatic first down, but the refs called an illegal shift, which resulted in offsetting penalties. Color commentator Tom Brady immediately stated that it was a bogus call, and the rules analyst confirmed this. So Jones had to try again; he was under extensive pressure, and he forced a throw.
While I'll hate a pick, it pleased me that he gave it a shot. I have frequently seen quarterbacks take a sack on 4th down and have never understood why they wouldn't take a chance. It's 4th down! Throw it up there and see if your receiver can make a play. Maybe you get a pass interference call. Jones forced it, and it didn't work out, but I was glad he went for it. (He did the same thing on his other interception, a two-point conversion try.) You have to force the issue in those circumstances. You have to be aggressive.
The one weakness on offense was, as is usually the case, the offensive line. Though San Francisco's offense moved the ball well—and scored a rushing touchdown—the cracks in the armor were apparent. On that rushing touchdown, Robinson was hit in the backfield, but he broke the tackle. It was not because the OL blew the Rams off the ball.
Running back Christian McCaffrey was relatively effective, but he gained only 2.5 yards per carry. On a 4th-and-1 call, when the game was not yet out of hand, Kyle Shanahan called a sweep, and McCaffrey was stopped short of the line to gain. Why not run between the tackles? The shortest distance is straight ahead.
The answer is straightforward.
Kyle has no faith in our interior line. Why not run to the left, where you have future Hall of Famer Trent Williams at left tackle? The left guard, Spencer Burford (or Ben Bartch), is not very good. Why not run between center Jake Brendal and promising right guard Dominick Puni? Brendal isn't very good. How about between Puni and right tackle Colton McKivitz? McKivitz regularly gets pushed around like a shopping cart.
We have seen numerous times when Kyle has called the logical play—often on the goal line—a run up the middle, only to see the back get hit in the backfield.
McCaffrey is one of the best backs of his generation. He is perhaps the most versatile back since Marshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson. And CMC might end up in the Hall of Fame. He is such a good pass catcher. In fact, he is second in the league overall in receptions. He is third in receiving yards. And yet, in yards per reception, he is ... 87th? How can that be?
Running backs are frequently the check-down option. And Mac Jones (or Purdy) is getting pressured too quickly to let the deeper routes open up, and therefore has to get the ball to McCaffrey. Even if the 49ers had their speed receiver, Ricky Pearsall, available, Jones just isn't getting the time.
McCaffrey's rushing yards show the same thing. He is second in attempts but 45th in yards per carry.
But San Francisco did move the ball. We did see the offense, even with injuries and a subpar line, put together drives. Jauan Jennings had a costly fumble early, but he had six catches for 71 yards and a score, showing that he looks healthy for the first time all season.
Kittle, whom the 49ers missed desperately when he was sidelined for five games, showed why he is the gold standard for tight ends, diving for amazing catches and stopping himself an inch from the sideline and diving for a touchdown. My wife looked at me and said, "He never quits. No matter the score, the Niners keep fighting."
And that is a good thing. That is something positive we can take from the game.
The team is reeling from injuries, but with six wins, the playoffs are not out of the picture, especially since the rest of the schedule includes some weaker opponents, such as Carolina, Cleveland, Tennessee, and Chicago. If the 49ers were 100%, I would be confident. As it is, I am hopeful.
But the future is not all doom and gloom. San Francisco has some talent left and a lot of fight. And who knows? Maybe the football gods will grant the team a little luck. Let's keep the faith alive. After all, the Faithful is who we are.