The San Francisco 49ers are working on another short week as they prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. The opponent is familiar, so there won't be a lot to learn. But the rest factor is an issue. The 49ers will be at a significant rest disadvantage.
But this team won't make excuses. They'll instead work to improve upon their performance from two weeks ago, in which they lost 13-3 at Levi's Stadium. Can this depleted roster advance to the NFC Championship Game?
We opened the 49ers Webzone Mailbag to find out what questions you had regarding the team. You had some good ones, so let's jump in and take a look.
What an amazing game! Is it just me, or are both Kendricks and Sigle already instant upgrades over what we had earlier at those positions? - Andy G.
Eric Kendricks played great against the Eagles. So did Marques Sigle, who came in for Ji'Ayir Brown. I also thought Garret Wallow played very well. He led the team in tackles.
Those three players were much more solid when it came to tackling. Brown misses too many tackles, Dee Winters overpursues, and Tatum Bethune is up and down. So, yes, Kendricks, Sigle, and Wallow were better last week than the players they replaced. And they may be an upgrade, as well.
Big win and huge loss (Kittle). Is Juice now TE1? He played really well and got more targets than usual after the GK injury. Can this offense get going? They have not looked great in the last 2 games whatsoever. - KCarps
When George Kittle went down, it appeared that Shanahan began using Kyle Juszczyk more than usual, especially in the passing game. I'm sure that will continue. However, Jake Tonges will be TE1 from now on. He's not the blocker Kittle is, but he has great hands and is a solid weapon as a receiver.
Are Nick Bosa and Fred Warner going to play against the Seachickens? - David W.
No, Nick Bosa is out for the season. The earliest he will return from his ACL injury is next season.
The 49ers opened Fred Warner's practice window on Tuesday, but I doubt he will play in this game. Kyle Shanahan said the hope is that he'll be available the following week if San Francisco advances.
Then again, I'll never count out Warner.
That was fun. How do the Niners get clever and get that running game going? Hawks crowded the line of scrimmage and basically said, "can't throw deep and won't throw deep". We need to get those safeties further away from the line of scrimmage. - Lowbridge
I agree. The 49ers need to find a way to run the ball. When a defense, like Seattle, can pressure the quarterback with only four rushers, that makes a secondary congested with bodies, which leads to tighter windows through which to throw.
Two weeks ago, Brock Purdy had very little time to throw, and when he did throw, his receivers had defenders right there. Getting the run game going could help the passing game on Saturday.
Then again, hitting some throws downfield could help the run game. It's going to be another huge challenge for Shanahan and the offense. Of course, having Trent Williams this time around doesn't hurt. And if they can get Ricky Pearsall back, that would help, as well.
Shanny is now closing out the 4th quarter this year. It seems like, in past years, 4th-quarter losses/collapses were much more common. What is different? - PJ Cavender
I'm sure Shanahan continues to improve. He's one of those people who is always working to get better. But I think the late-game success this season has more to do with the players executing better than in seasons past. It's been a more challenging season with all the injuries, but the 49ers have endured so many of the difficulties. One reason for this is that the offensive line has been more consistent. Williams has been mostly healthy. Colton McKivitz has been good. And the interior linemen have played well, too.
So, there are plenty of factors, but I believe it's mostly been the players performing better.
What do you view as the top 2 needs for the 49ers next year? (Assuming no more injuries, surprise retirements, holdouts, etc.) One need addressed through the draft, the other through Free Agency. - Mr. Grinch
There are the usual suspects—offensive line and defensive line (specifically an edge rusher). I would add safety to that list, as well as wide receiver.
But given some of the injuries and how we've seen backups play, I might add linebacker and tight end, as well. No one knows when Kittle will return. If it's in 2026, it will be later in the year.
I was so impressed with our implant linebackers! Eric Kendricks and Garret Wallow were balling! Now part of 49er lore. Can you compare the previous week's linebacker play vs the Eagle game? - PJ Cavender
Kendricks and Wallow are veterans. They're more experienced, and they know where to be. And when the play came their way, they made the tackle. That was the biggest difference to me—they made plays that the guys they replaced weren't making.
That's all we have for this short mailbag. We'll be back next week with a brand-new one. Thanks for reading, and thank you to all those who submitted questions.
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