The NFL playoffs are around the corner which means every win counts towards your seeding and matchup. This year we get seven teams in each conference which means more opportunities for a wildcard spoiler. There are plenty of teams in the hunt for a wild card position, but there’s one team that stands out. That team is the San Francisco 49ers, a team that has recently been surging and has an ideal schedule going forward. In this article, I’m going to break down what’s been going right for the Niners and why they’re a team to watch out for in the playoffs.
They are Healthy
Last year this team was plagued with injuries and Covid cases. 2020 saw the 49ers lose 38 players for at least three games last year. It’s safe to say that it could only get better in 2021 and it has. So far with the team only losing RB Raheem Mostert and Jason Verrett for the season. Other than those two the team has been relatively healthy, with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel only missing four games combined. The one injury that could have a long-term effect on this team is Elijah Mitchell, who has missed his second straight game. The compromise is that Jeff Wilson Jr looked excellent in his third start this year after coming off meniscus surgery in the spring. If they can cruise through the next two weeks and sit their dynamic rookie running back until a Week 18 matchup with the LA Rams. Then well see what this offense can really do at full strength. I don’t think there are teams lining up to take on this squad with all of its offensive pieces.
The YAC Bros
Deebo Samuel is a DAWG. #49ers pic.twitter.com/TSdGh1TRaG
— Coach Yac ? (@Coach_Yac) November 21, 2021
The “YAC Bros” are healthy and ready to help this team get to the playoffs. The group consists of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. This unit is known for its ability to take passes and stretch the field. These guys are the heart and soul of the offense. Their ability to make stretch the field in open space makes this team exciting to watch. Deebo has been on fire, this season scoring a touchdown in five straight games and 11 overall on the season. He’s been utilizing his RB background and his tenacious running style to score six rushing TDs in the last five games. Deebo’s ability to run through defenders has shown up this year with his 11 broken tackles. He’s a nightmare in open space because he won’t avoid the tackle he’ll run straight through it. This year Deebo is third in the NFL with 587 YAC, which is more than his yards before the catch (501).
George Kittle has been on fire the past three weeks getting targeted 33 times, catching 28 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Kittle has been an unstoppable force, making incredible catches and game-changing plays. Not to mention this man is a monster in the open field tallying 435 YAC, breaking seven tackles, and showing up for the 49ers. If Kittle continues to be heavily involved in the receiving game then the 49ers have a good chance to win any game.
Brandon Aiyuk has been the “little brother” of the trio, with his early issues of conditioning and not having the trust of the coaching staff. Aiyuk though has been coming on strong since Week 8, averaging seven targets a game. Since Week 8, Aiyuk has also averaged 10 YAC/reception, making him a dynamo in the open field. Aiyuk isn’t the tackle-breaking machine that his compatriots are, but he has taken on the role of being the downfield receiver with an average depth of target of 9.4 yards. This year Aiyuk has been a game-to-game guy, sometimes the script calls for him downfield and sometimes it calls for him to run block. Either way, Aiyuk has been answering the call late in the season and the Niners are reaping the benefits of having him on the field.
Going forward these three “YAC Bros” are going to be crucial to the 49ers. They will be called upon to wear down defenses and impose their will on opposing secondaries. If they all can stay healthy, this trio will be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.
Nick Bosa and the Front Seven
Nick Bosa’s 15th sack of the season! #FTTB @nbsmallerbear
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021
?: #ATLvsSF on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/YXvVcTQr9m
This defense has been slowing down runners all year long. Last week they limited Cordarrelle Patterson to 18 yards on 11 attempts. This is a guy who was getting 4.2 ypc this year. This wasn’t the only big-time runner that the Niners have shut down this year. As a matter of fact, the Niners have only allowed two runners to rush for 100 yards this year and that was Justin Fields and Jonathan Taylor. This defense has also been a force against opposing QBs as well. Recording the fourth-highest sack totals with 36 through Week 15. This is a particularly interesting stat when considering that the Niners blitz 19.3 percent of the time. The sixth-lowest and the lowest amongst the top 5 teams in sacks. This unit is also one of the least penalized squads in the league with 80 penalties on the year. So this isn’t a team that shoots themselves in the foot on defense either.
Nick Bosa has been everything the 49ers have needed him to be this year. He leads the league in QB pressures (44), second in sacks (15), and has forced four fumbles. This is the guy no one is talking about in the defensive player of the year race, but everyone should be recognizing. Remember this man tore his ACL last year in Week 2 and has been nothing short of spectacular in 2021. Bosa has come on strong as of Week 10, sacking opposing quarterbacks eight times in that time span. One thing I’ve noticed as an observer is that Bosa has changed the way he attacks the edges. As a rookie, he was nothing but a raw talent speed rusher. Against immobile quarterbacks, it worked, but against some of the craftier mobile QBs. It more or less opened up their running lanes on broken plays. This year Bosa has played more of a slower-paced contain role and it has paid off in spades. As opposing QBs see their pocket shrink up, allowing for either Bosa or his fellow D-linemen to get to the QB easier. Bosa adapted his style of fast-paced pass rushing to become more of an efficient defensive end. This is what is going to make him a force in this league for years
This defensive line has been a force this year, with a fierce rotation of talented players like Arik Armstead, DJ Jones, Kentavius Street, and Kevin Givens. The heart and soul of this defense are upfront and in the trenches. The 49ers’ defensive linemen have recorded 30 of the team’s 36 sacks this season. They have been benefitting from the excellent rotation of down linemen. DJ Jones has been a stud this year in the middle recording seven tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles along the way. Also if you ever thought to yourself what’s so special about this Jones kid. Here’s a video of him stopping a fake field goal by making an open-field tackle, check it out below. Another guy that has stepped up this season is Arden Key, who has five sacks since Week 9. He’s just stepped up big against the Falcons last week in what should’ve been a two-sack performance. Look out for this guy to further establish his presence on this line with Dee Ford out for the season.
.@49ers defense stops the fake field goal attempt! #FTTB
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2021
?: #LARvsSF on ESPN
?: https://t.co/Pbh7qEl7Sy pic.twitter.com/ooTJa4Immt
The linebackers have been great in the roles they’ve been given as well. Fred Warner has been asked to be the guy in the linebacking core and he was given the money to warrant that responsibility. While he hasn’t been his usual great self this season. He hasn’t sucked and at times he’s been covering up for the 49ers’ lack of good coverage linebackers. One guy that has emerged is Azeez Al-Shaair, stepping up this year with Dre Greenlaw being injured. Prior to missing Week 15, Al-Shaair was on a tear racking up 26 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in Weeks 13-14. Overall Al-Shaair has 96 total tackles this year and if the Niners can get him and Greenlaw back in time for playoffs then they’ll have their front seven healthy and ready for playoffs.
Garoppolo is Playing Well
Jimmy Garoppolo has been putting together gutsy games against the Niners arch-rival Seahawks and playoff contender Cincinnati Bengals. Last week he took a back seat to the defense and running game of the Niners. While was still making all the necessary throws to propel the 49ers to a 31-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 14, we got a nice glimpse into what Jimmy looks like under the pressure of a must-win game for the 49ers. Garoppolo didn’t disappoint as he completed all six of his passes for 73 yards and the game-winning TD. While the touchdown was more of Brandon Aiyuk’s second effort than a great Jimmy G pass. It was the lead-up to that play that restored faith in the faithful’s handsome leader. Jimmy G took the Niners downfield by making a gutsy throw to Jauan Jennings hitting him on the outside shoulder in a contested-catch for 25-yards. The very next play he hit a bread and butter seam up the middle to George Kittle for 21 yards setting up the final score.
Jimmy G hasn’t been known in the past for stepping up into the moment. This might offend some of his fans, but he’s been more of a game manager than a championship quarterback. That being said this year has been a little different and he’s starting to hit his stride. If the 49ers can keep him completing passes and making big plays then this team’s potential moves them into Super Bowl contenders. The problem with Jimmy is if he throws interceptions, he’ll usually do it in bunches. So that’s something this team would have to overcome, but if the Niners get calm, composed and confident Jimmy then look out NFL.
Conclusion
This year the Niners have gone through the wringer with injuries and going 1-4 so far in divisional games. Yet there’s still a light at the end of the tunnel for this team. The Niners are 8-6 and have been given a 91 percent chance to make the playoffs. This is the time for teams to get hot and the 49ers have been doing just that. If the season were to end today the Niners would be matched up with longtime rival Dallas Cowboys. A game that would surely be a winnable one at this point in the season for the 49ers. So watch out this postseason if this gritty San Fran team can get into the playoffs healthy, then they’ll start really turning some heads.
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