San Francisco 49ers: 12 wins – 5 losses, NFC West champions, first in NFC
Who in the NFC can beat the 49ers? The question seems to be getting louder and louder since the Niners' demonstration against the Eagles a month and a half ago. Philadelphia? In difficulty for many matches and now eliminated from the title race. Dallas? The Packers have been there. Detroit? They suffer from a significant lack of experience.
San Francisco is now the favorite in its conference. But is it enough to get the sixth ring that a whole people is waiting for? For almost 30 years, the 49ers have not lifted the Lombardi Trophy. This year could well be the good one. But beware of excess confidence, because their opponents are not there to make up the numbers.
How did they get there?
The Niners' season went through three distinct phases. First of all, a great start to the season with five consecutive successes and the highlight of which was the big victory against the Cowboys (42-10). After these fanfare beginnings, the machine stalled. Three defeats in a row against opponents who were well within their reach, and now doubt had set in.
The bye week came at the best of times, since on the return, Kyle Shanahan's men seemed more dominant than ever. Six wins in a row, an impression of ease and domination on both ends of the field, and San Francisco was back in the position of favorite for the title.
The loss, in the Christmas shock game against the Ravens, served as a no-cost warning for the Niners. Yes, they can beat absolutely everyone. But they're not the only big team in the league. An off day, like the one Brock Purdy experienced against Baltimore, comes very quickly, and the fact that the Niners probably have the most complete squad in the NFL may not be enough. But at 100% capacity, the 49ers are almost untouchable.
The key player: Christian McCaffrey (RB)
What if he was the real 2023 MVP? The simple fact that this question arises, in a league where this title has been exclusively reserved for quarterbacks for more than 10 years, proves the boy's level. Certainly, this season, no quarterback stood out at the level of Mahomes or Rodgers of recent seasons, but CMC's 2023 fiscal year is extraordinary. 1,459 rushing yards (1st in NFL), 564 receiving yards (2nd RB), 2,023 total yards (1st in NFL), 21 touchdowns (1st in NFL), 5.4 yards per carry : Christian McCaffrey is the best running back in the league and there is no existing discussion.
In the 16 games he played with San Francisco this season, McCaffrey exceeded 100 yards 12 times. Of the four games in which he did not reach this symbolic mark, the 49ers lost twice. When CMC puts up yards, San Francisco wins. McCaffrey is the barometer of this explosive attack led by Kyle Shanahan.
Only small concern: he slightly injured his calf against the Commanders in week 17. With the NFC number 1 place validated, the 49ers were able to rest their star runner against the Rams. Knowing McCaffrey's injury history, there could be concerns. But Niners fans can rest assured: he will indeed be on the field for the clash against Green Bay on Sunday evening.
Why are they going to go through with it?
Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner. These players are among the three most dangerous players in their positions. Add to that the Aiyuk-Samuel duo, the rookie Javon Hargrave and the solid Arik Armstead, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward, and you get the most impressive squad in the league. San Francisco has a number of talented players like few, and everyone dreams of having such a strong squad. John Lynch's intelligent roster construction is really paying off, and with few injuries this season, the opportunity is perfect to go after the franchise's sixth ring.
If the 49ers defense, a real benchmark in 2022, was seen as the strong squad, it was the attack that was the engine of this team. Led by Brock Purdy who silenced the many skeptics, the squad was impressive. 2nd in the league in total yards, 4th in passing, 3rd in rushing, the Californian attack is exceptional. It's a real headache for any defense to choose who to focus their attention on between Kittle, McCaffrey, Aiyuk or Samuel. The slightest weakness in the opponent is immediately punished.
If San Francisco's offense has made a strong impression this season, the defense has not been left out. 8th in yards conceded, 3rd in points conceded, 7th in number of sacks and above all 1st team with the most interceptions, this squad is a real danger to attacks throughout the league. The departure of DeMeco Ryans to Houston was felt at the start of the season, but Steve Wilks has since taken over and there is way too much talent in this group. While Nick Bosa is having an average season by his standards, management brought in his friend Chase Young to support him. If this defense evolves to 100% of its capabilities, it can crush any attack.
Why won't they go?
Too much confidence attracts danger. Since the start of the season, the 49ers have been seen as one of the favorites, if not the big favorite for the title. A status that can sometimes be heavy to bear. If they arrive in the playoffs full of confidence and sure of their strengths, Kyle Shanahan's men are not immune to failure, as in their defeat against Baltimore, less than a month ago .
If the defense was able to perform well, it nevertheless remained fragile in the aerial game. The cornerback position poses particular questions, with the exception of Charvarius Ward, rightly elected to the second All-Pro team. The Isaiah Oliver experiment at the nickelback position was not conclusive, and Deommodore Lenoir, who was playing on the outside, was replaced in this position. It is Ambry Thomas who now occupies the role of cornerback, without having been very convincing. He will have to raise his level of play, because he remains an easy target.
Injured players
This year, 49ers fans were able to breathe. Unlike often, San Francisco has been relatively spared from injuries. Aside from All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, no starter saw their season end. The latter was also replaced by rookie Ji'Ayir Brown, who showed great things at the end of the season. Trent Williams missed a few games, Deebo Samuel also, Christian McCaffrey was slightly injured in the calf, but nothing alarming.
The only question heading into the playoffs revolves around Arik Armstead. The defensive tackle injured his foot and has not played since early December. If he is not the most prominent player on the squad, Armstead is a road captain of this team, and a real leader in run defense, especially since the former first round, Javon Kinlaw, is struggling to convince. His participation in the match against Green Bay still remains uncertain.
Prognosis
Playing the playoffs at home is an undeniable advantage. When you combine that with an extra week of rest, it's a real gift. The 49ers won the right to those profits on the field. It's never easy to win at Levi's Stadium, even more so in the playoffs.
The 49ers are big favorites in the NFC, even more so after the surprise elimination of the Cowboys. If San Francisco performs at its level, the match against the Packers should not pose a problem. The conference final, if they participate, should see them face an opponent less strong than them on paper. Despite two Super Bowl defeats in the last 10 years, the 49ers have never seemed so close to a sixth title.
Qualifying for the Super Bowl. The rest is history.
