When the NFL released its schedule in May, it was the 49ers’ three-game sequence that immediately caught the eye.
In Seattle. In Philly. Against Seattle at Levi’s Stadium.
Three crucial games in three weeks that will go a long way in determining the NFC West and potentially placing at the top of the conference.
The 49ers enter this stretch of the regular season with a record of 7-3 and one game ahead of the Seahawks in the division standings.
Everything we’ll learn about the 49ers this season has yet to be written, and there could be more twists to come.
The 49ers had three losses between five-game and two-game winning streaks. Coach Kyle Shanahan actually answered questions two weeks ago suggesting he bench quarterback Brock Purdy. There were overreactions from all sides.
Now let’s take the fanbase’s temperature after the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
We looked through the threads for this portion of the 49ers overreactions and found this:
The San Francisco Forty Niners have the best quarterback in the league! (@blinghelmetsbywally)
Overreaction? NO.
Based on performance and stats, who has played better than Brock Purdy this season?
Just a quick note: The NFL’s passer rating system is based on completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns per attempt, and interceptions per attempt. These are all meaningful statistics that accurately and objectively evaluate quarterback performance.
Purdy posted the highest score possible in the 49ers’ 27-14 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday. And he was already leading the NFL in that statistic heading into Week 11’s slate of games.
His current rating of 115.1 would place him in the top 10 of the all-time NFL single-season list and stand as a 49ers record.
While we acknowledge that Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is a great player and has two Super Bowl rings in his locker, it’s no exaggeration to say that Purdy is – right now – playing the best football of any quarterback in the NFL .
The only criticism Purdy has ever had since he’s been in the NFL is that he doesn’t have the strongest arm. And while that’s true – there are other quarterbacks in the league who can throw faster and farther – no other quarterback in the league has been as successful on deep passes as Purdy this season.
The 49ers front 4 is so good that we can survive Hufanga’s injury (@vincedmonroy)
Overreaction? NO.
The 49ers acquired edge rusher Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline for good reason.
And while it wasn’t specifically about making up for an injury in the defensive backfield, the idea was that a better pass rush would help the 49ers at every level of their defense.
Talanoa Hufanga’s loss of safety due to a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee is devastating. There’s no way around it. But the season continues.
Luckily for the team, they decided to address this position by selecting Ji’Ayir Brown in the draft.
“We know we need some depth there,” Shanahan said of the decision to select Brown in the third round. “He practiced like he knew this moment was coming. He was locked up.”
The 49ers’ secondary will be their Achilles heel and cost them a deep playoff run. (@perrin49)
Overreaction? Yes.
If the 49ers fall short of their goal of winning the Lombardi Trophy, they may face a strong passing attack and be unable to keep up.
But if that’s the case, the blame won’t or shouldn’t lie entirely with the defensive backfield.
Pass rush and coverage go hand in hand. If the 49ers’ secondary is beaten, that means the team’s pass rush is also lacking.
There is no defensive backfield in the NFL that can sustain coverage for extended periods of time when the quarterback is not under pressure.
The fact is, the 49ers’ pass defense has been very good this season, so don’t lose sight of that either.
Remember the components of determining NFL passer rating (see above)? Against the 49ers, opposing quarterbacks have posted a lowly 70.1 rating with just 6.2 yards per pass attempt and 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season.
Trent Williams is our best player. (@Controversy cow)
Overreaction? NO.
In this case we move out and let Christian McCaffrey take the ball over the goal line.
“He might be the best player I’ve ever seen,” McCaffrey said recently of Williams.
Yes, that is high praise.
Williams is tied with Aaron Rodgers among active NFL players with 10 Pro Bowl selections. Rodgers won’t make the Pro Bowl this season, but Williams will.
Here’s how McCaffrey described Williams: “There’s nothing he can’t do. He plays beyond the
Kyle has to win an SB. That’s the benchmark now, anything that falls short is a failure. (@jtf321)
Overreaction? NO.
Shanahan isn’t going anywhere. He signed a contract extension that keeps him with the 49ers until at least the 2026 season.
Shanahan is widely considered one of the best coaches in the NFL, and for good reason. He is.
But for him to be considered truly outstanding, the 49ers must win a Super Bowl under his leadership.
If the 49ers don’t win this season, the organization will be disappointed. But he should also have more opportunities in the coming years.
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