Game Breakdown: 49ers Handle The Cards to Win NFC West
For the second straight year, the 49ers have won the division, picking their spots in a 45-29 victory over Arizona.
The game wasn’t in doubt after the first quarter, but the depleted 49ers run defense let Arizona stay in it as the Cardinals ran for 234 yards. That’s a season-high for the Niners in rushing yards allowed, dwarfing Cleveland’s 160.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner points out that the Niners have won 12 straight division games, their longest streak since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
GAME BALLS
Charvarius Ward – Two interceptions and a brilliant game in coverage. Ward’s pick-six was the Niners first in 25 games. He came off his assignment to jump the route on a late throw by Kyler Murray and went in untouched. Ward’s confidence is at a career-high as he leads the NFL in pass breakups at 22.
Christian McCaffrey – 187 yards of total offense with three touchdowns. BetUS now has him leading Offensive Player of the Year projections ahead of Miami’s Tyreek Hill at -140 to +110. McCaffrey has 20 touchdowns on the year, three away from Jerry Rice’s franchise record of 23 in 1987.
Brock Purdy – He bolstered his MVP chances in a 16-of-25 game, throwing for 242 yards and four touchdowns with no picks to earn a passer rating of 135.3. Jeff Garcia’s single-season team record of 4,278 passing yards in 2000 is well within reach, just 483 yards away.
The individual hardware chances for both Purdy and McCaffrey may be hurt if the Niners can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs before playing the Rams in Week 18. Kyle Shanahan may decide to rest the starters if the game isn’t needed, and starters may not get a final stat boost.
More rest can help the league’s 4th oldest team win a title. There may be a generational split among fans on this. Curmudgeons like me who saw each ring live only care about one piece of hardware. Fans that ask, “Why not both?” I’m guessing they weren’t around to see all five rings live. The Lombardi is eternal.
PENALTY FLAGS
Ronnie Bell – Replay saved him, Bell has had too many mishandled punts. It’s time to find someone else. I thought he could get it done, dead wrong in public yet again.
Fans remain haunted by the memory of punt returner Kyle Williams giving away a trip to the Super Bowl with two turnovers in the 2012 NFC Championship. Even if the replay says it was a non-fumble it was close enough to proclaim Bell extra crispy. His punt handles are suspect.
The Faithful gives zero grace to any punt returner who fumbles. None, nada, zip, zero, take a seat.
Alas, the Niners can’t clone John Taylor, Dana McLemore, or Bruce Taylor. Fans will be hoping to hear about team tryouts and then worry when it doesn’t happen.
Fred Warner – In a rare misstep, Warner had his share of missed tackles. Some were solo in space as the Niner defense did not swarm to the ball consistently. There’s a lot to clean up before the Baltimore game on Christmas night.
TAKEAWAYS
If the Niners don’t have Arik Armstead and Deommodore Lenoir next week the Baltimore game gets a lot harder.
We just saw what happens to the Niners run defense without Armstead. With Baltimore likely losing Keaton Mitchell, next week’s game plan will lean more on Lamar Jackson in quarterback option and designed runs.
The Niners need Armstead to break up the blocking schemes and get early penetration in the pocket. Lacking that, Jackson will have more success in 11-on-11 football.
Lenoir has been key to an improved post-bye defense by injecting more speed and coverage skills. Lose Lenoir for a few weeks due to his rib injury and the Niners get slower just when they need speed the most.
Kyle Shanahan shares a merciless Bill Walsh tactic.
When Walsh found an opponent’s weakness in-game he would attack it relentlessly. One of Joe Montana’s best comebacks included a 28-point 4th quarter to beat Philadelphia. All of the late scores were against Philly cornerback Izel Jenkins.
Shanahan found his Izel Jenkins in Arizona safety Jalen Thompson, burning him for two wide-open touchdowns to Deebo Samuel and McCaffrey.
Jon Feliciano continues to play well.
Feliciano led the Pro Football Focus grades for the game with an outstanding 93.5. He has proven capable of stepping in when needed. Felciano could be making a case to play in a rotation with Spencer Burford.
LOOKING AHEAD
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this will be the first time the top seed from both conferences faced off in the regular season since 1993.
The Niners met their Super Bowl opponent in the regular season in 1994, routing the Chargers in San Diego 38-15.
This could be another preview of the championship game, both teams have matchup advantages that could carry them to Las Vegas in February.
