The San Francisco 49ers have won eight successive games. The last time they achieved that feat, back in 2019, they went all the way to Super Bowl LIV. That campaign concluded in heartbreaking fashion but there’s increasing evidence to suggest this may well end up being a fairytale year for the Niners.
Last Saturday’s clash with the Washington Commanders did provide a sterner test than the Niners have been used to in recent weeks, with San Francisco going into half-time tied at 7-7 following an opening two quarters in which their overall dominance was undermined by sloppy mistakes and the ability of Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke to make things happen on third down.
But in the second half the 49ers ensured there was never any chance their Christmas would be marred by a defeat, as both offense and defense took command and helped San Francisco to an ultimately comfortable 37-20 victory that improved their record to 11-4, keeping alive the hope of the third-seeded Niners overhauling the second-seeded Minnesota Vikings (12-3) or — less likely — top seeds the Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) to secure at least one more home game in the NFC playoffs.
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Brock Purdy continued the magical start to his career as the 49ers’ starting quarterback as the seventh-round rookie moved to 3-0 as a starter with a performance in which he once again showcased poise that belies his experience at the highest level, decisiveness delivering the ball and both accuracy and timing as he threw for 234 yards — at an average of over 10 yards per attempt — two touchdowns and a first-half interception that clanked off the hands of wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
The primary recipient of Purdy’s well-timed throws was tight end George Kittle, who enjoyed his best game of the 2022 season in catching six passes for 120 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions.
Kittle, who has been hindered by persistent injury problems in recent seasons, is arguably in his best physical shape since that 2019 run to the Super Bowl and his emergence and apparent rude health is one of two developments from the win over the Commanders that should worry potential playoff rivals.
The second is the burgeoning depth on the defensive line, which dominated its contest with an overmatched Commanders offensive line in a game that saw the 49ers welcome back defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw from a knee injury that has kept him out for most of the campaign.
Kinlaw’s impact was primarily felt in run defense as he played a role in the 49ers holding Washington to 79 net yards rushing. The Commanders’ leading rusher, Brian Robinson Jr, managed just 58 yards, meaning the Niners have still yet to allow a 60-yard rusher this season.
The Niners dictated the matchup in the run game and consistently pressured quarterback Heinicke and later Carson Wentz because of the quantity and quality of talent at their disposal on the defensive side of the trenches.
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead continued to demonstrate why many saw him as the missing piece for the 49er defense during his time on the sideline with a foot injury with an outstanding all-round display, while defensive ends Samson Ebukam, Jordan Wills and Charles Omenihu all excelled. T.Y. McGill and Michael Dwumfour, cut by the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans respectively earlier in the year, also stood out at defensive tackle, illustrating the 49ers’ ability to unearth talent on the D-Line and get the best out of it.
The star of the show on defense, however, continues to be edge rusher Nick Bosa, who had two sacks — as well as a third that does not count to his season tally as it occurred on a Commanders two-point conversion attempt — to take his total for the season to a league-leading 17.5. His second sack led to the Commanders turnover as Heinicke fumbled the ball into the arms of Willis, before then committing another giveaway with a pass delivered under pressure from Armstead intercepted by Jimmie Ward.
Bosa’s knack for producing devastation on a weekly basis has solidified him as the clear frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award and there will be a clear onus on him and a 49er defense that has established itself as the premier group in the NFL to provide the foundation for a deep playoff run as San Francisco aim to go one better than last season’s surge to the NFC Championship Game.
Their path to the Super Bowl could get easier if the 49ers can improve their seeding, and the New Year’s Day clash with the Las Vegas Raiders seemingly represents an excellent opportunity for the Niners to boost their prospects of doing so. While the Vikings are on the road to face a Green Bay Packers team fighting for their playoff lives, the 49ers are taking on a Raiders team that has moved on to “evaluating young talent”, with head coach Josh McDaniels making the decision to bench starting quarterback Derek Carr for former New England Patriots backup Jarrett Stidham.
Stidham has never started an NFL game and the Raiders’ apparent willingness to punt the final two weeks of the season would seem to play right into the hands of the 49ers. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, however, is confident there will be no thoughts of complacency or taking the foot off the gas by the hottest team in the league.
"I don't know why they're doing it, but it doesn't matter to me,” Shanahan said of the Carr benching.
“We knew there was a possibility just looking into it, we started on Monday, but no, I don't worry about that with our guys. Our guys know one way to play and I expect to see them that way."
Provided the 49ers maintain the level that has seen them lock up the NFC West title and at least the third seed in the conference, opportunity will indeed knock for them to at least keep the pressure on the Vikings. The 49ers didn’t realistically need any assistance from Las Vegas to continue their outstanding winning streak, but the Raiders’ quarterback change could facilitate them taking another step towards hitting the jackpot at the end of a hugely impressive season.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Kyle Shanahan, asked about Kittle improvising his route on a third-quarter touchdown reception on a throw intended for Ray-Ray McCloud:
"I do [get angry] until the ref puts his hands up [to signal touchdown],” Shanahan told reporters. "I'm like, 'What is he doing? Oh, all right.' Then I move on, and I'm celebrating. Ray-Ray might have taken longer to get over it, but I could[n't] care less once it works. But it better work."
MVP OF THE WEEK: Nick Bosa
It is the ease with which Bosa savages opposing offensive linemen and, subsequently, quarterbacks that makes him so impressive, and he stands on the precipice of history on two fronts after a typically destructive display against Washington.
Bosa looks primed to become the third Defensive Player of the Year award winner in 49er history and the first in franchise history at the defensive end position. On top of that, he is 2.5 sacks away from breaking Aldon Smith’s single-season franchise record of 19.5 sacks.
STAT OF THE WEEK: 3-0
Purdy is the first rookie quarterback since 1950 to win his first three NFL starts and he also became the second quarterback since 1950 to win his first three starts while throwing at least two touchdowns in each game, joining Kurt Warner in that regard. Purdy (120.0) is the third quarterback, along with Warner (125.0) and Patrick Mahomes (130.1), in the Super Bowl era to have a passer rating of at least 120.0 or better across his first three starts.
The Niners’ rookie quarterback is supported by a historically stout defense. The 49ers are the only team in the Super Bowl era to win eight successive games in a single season while holding their opponents to fewer than 80 rushing yards in each one.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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