San Francisco 49ers Mid-Season Checkpoint
49ers look to extend their winning streak to three games in upcoming rivalry vs. Seattle
The San Francisco 49ers triumphed over the New England Patriots last week 33-6 and have yet to lose a game on the road.
Almost a year ago, the 49ers fell short of a Super Bowl victory in a 30-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, the team has faced an uphill battle in rebuilding a competitive, Super Bowl-ready team. The 2020 season looked bleak after a slow 2-3 start. The three detrimental losses occurred against the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins.
Additionally, within the first three weeks, the Niners had to reorganize their starting lineup due to a bout of injuries. Two key defensive starters—Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa—were confirmed to have season-ending injuries that required serious surgeries. Other important players including Richard Sherman, Dee Ford, Raheem Mostert, and Jordan Reed were all placed on injury reserve. Most recently, running back Jeff Wilson Jr and wide receiver Deebo Samuel were told they would likely miss the Nov. 1 game against their rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite these setbacks, the 49ers appear to be finding strength in both their offense and defense. Against the Patriots, Jimmy Garappolo threw for 277 yards, completing 20 of 25 passes. Garappolo worked with receiver Brandon Aiyuk who had six receptions for 115 yards and running back Kyle Juszcyzk who contributed with a touchdown, successful carries, and a reception.
On the other side of the line, the defense excelled in stopping the Patriots from reaching the endzone. The 49ers forced four turnovers on the Patriots, three of which were interceptions off of Cam Newton. Fred Warner, Emmanuel Moseley, and Jamar Taylor each had a pick. The Patriots never found a rhythm and looked unusually sloppy. Although Bill Belicheck is known to be a talented coach, he lost stars Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season.
Ranked 4th in the National Football Conference (NFC) West, the 49ers will have to prove themselves as NFC contenders in this week’s competition. The rivalry against the Seahawks has been a consistent battle between the two teams dating back to 1976. The Seahawks lead the series 27-16, with a notable 27-24 overtime win in Nov. 2019. Even after that loss, however, San Francisco claimed the win in a 26-21 victory last December.
This week’s game will not only be a testament to this fiery rivalry, but also to the strength of a 49ers team that’s lacking many of its original starters. The Seahawks are coming off an overtime loss to the Cardinals in a game that showcased the talents of two of the top NFL teams. If the Niners plan to compete with the Hawks, it’s imperative that they bring their A game and keep momentum from last week’s victory.