As 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game ended to the team in the locker room, “This is what we’ve been waiting for all season long.”
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A Dominant Win in Arizona
An injury-ridden 49ers’ team went into Arizona, took the ball way three times, didn’t turn it over once, scored at least 40 points for the first time this season and dominated on their way to another divisional win.
Blueprint for a Playoff Push
It was against a Cardinals team that’s 3-7, but the 49ers provided the blueprint for a path to the playoffs and some potential success in the postseason. Their efficient offense pushed the ball down the field to their explosive playmakers and they cashed in whenever they got to the red zone, finding tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey for five touchdowns combined.
Defense: Bend but Create Turnovers
Defensively, the 49ers are going to allow yards and chunk plays to opposing offenses because they just don’t have the requisite talent to be a top-tier unit. But, if they’re able to generate turnovers and some stops in a game, it’ll give their offense extra chances to build enough of a cushion.
Special Teams Remaining Elite
From a special teams’ standpoint, the 49ers are trotting out one of the best units in the NFL, with a kicker that hasn’t missed a field goal this season in Eddy Pineiro and a return unit spearheaded by Skyy Moore that’s giving the 49ers’ offense good field position.
They are playing complementary football in all three phases and are positioning themselves to make a run for the postseason.
Current Standing and Upcoming Schedule
After Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, the 49ers are now 7-4 and sitting in the #7 spot in the NFC if the season ended today. Their favorable schedule continues, as they host the Panthers on Monday night, then play the Browns and Titans. Not to get too ahead of ourselves, but the 49ers will likely be favored against all three opponents at Bovada and if they can take advantage, they would be in prime position.
Offensive Boost with Brock Purdy’s Return
The return of Brock Purdy on offense was a welcome sight, as the 49ers had their third-most efficient passing performance of the season and Purdy was able to generate more explosive passing plays down the field than they have the last few weeks.
Star Playmakers Leading the Way
George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey continue to play at a Hall-of-Fame level and while Ricky Pearsall didn’t make a huge impact on the stat sheet, he was moving like someone who had not missed more than a month of the season.
Run Game Finding Its Rhythm
The 49ers’ run game has also started to gel as of late, as they had their second-most efficient rushing performance of the season. The return of Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch has stabilized the left guard position and the entire offensive line seems to be playing with more confidence.
Christian McCaffrey had his longest carry of the season (20 yards) and had seven first downs on 13 carries.
New Injury Concerns
As with any win this season, the 49ers have had another injury setback on the Monday following the game. This time, it’s Pineiro, who’s expected to be out for a few weeks with a hamstring strain and linebacker Tatum Bethune, who suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Looking Ahead to the Panthers
The 49ers will look to build off of the win against the Cardinals and try to win two straight games for the first time since Week 3 of the season. At Bovada, the 49ers are up to seven-point favorites over the Panthers, who needed overtime to knock off the Falcons on the road on Sunday.
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