49ers keep defying the odds and have a path to the top seed in the NFC
Yahoo Sports host Andrew Siciliano, senior NFL writer Frank Schwab and senior NFL reporter Jori Epstein break down how the San Francisco 49ers keep winning despite all the injuries they've suffered this season. Check out the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
The 49ers have sustained this success, but this isn't the same formula because they don't have Nick Bosa.
They don't have Fred Warner, who was two of Their defensive stalwarts.
They're not playing with Brandon Aiyuk.
Who hasn't been showing up, and Deebo Samuel, whom they traded to the Commanders.
So first of all, Brock Purdy had an excellent game: five passing touchdowns.
The first 49ers quarterback to do that in over 30 years.
And then you look at what he's doing with his weapons.
George Kittle, it seems, has avoided a high ankle sprain.
It looks like it's just a mid to low, they said, which means it's a little less finicky in the Recovery.
But on both sides of the ball, I should say All three phases, um, they were the dominant team.
And you kind of felt for Philip Rivers, who I know we'll get to.
When you saw that just there weren't, there wasn't a lot of help.
As he seemed to be doing his part, there was no help.
... Often throughout the game.
But on the 49ers' end of it, when you watched that game last night, You have to wonder: who's scarier than the 49ers?
And I'm not saying they're the scariest, But they're definitely in that upper echelon of scary, in my opinion.
Yeah, they, uh, they're scary on offense, I'll say that.
I mean, they can outscore anybody.
And I, I'll... We're gonna talk about Kyle Shanahan later.
I, I have, I haveMm-hmm.
...
Thoughts on Kyle Shanahan and where he ranks among the NFL coaches this year.
But I, I just think he's done an excellent job, like a tremendous job.
When you look at the injuries they've had, the adversity they've faced, The division they play in, the fact that they're two home wins away from number one Seed is, is crazy.
Yeah.
Like, we're not talking about it enough, Really.
I, I... Now, they have to play the Bears and the Seahawks.
Are they going to sweep those games?
I don't think so.
But it's right...
I didn't...
They don't have 11 wins right now, either, so maybe they can.
Uh, I will say this, that... We all celebrated Philip Rivers last night.
It was a great story.
It was an awesome night for him.
It was very cool.
Blah, blah, blah.
The 49ers' defense is a problem.
The fact that a 44-year-old quarterback was Torturing them like that?
Yeah.
... Not really great.
Like, nobody wanted to mention that part.
But okay, that's fine.
But the 49ers, I don't.
I don't even care what happens.
I don't care if they're one and done.
Playoffs.
I don't care if they get a wild card.
I...
They've had such a remarkable season, overcoming Injuries.
Other teams have had injuries that just Folded up like, "Okay, we can't do anything."
Lions on defense, Well, we have all these defensive injuries.
We're, we, We... this excuse, that excuse.
Well, 49ers had those excuses and then some.
And here they are, 11 and 4.
Hats off to that whole organization.
Whole organization, they've done a tremendous job.
Brock Purdy looked great last night.
Anyone who said that two months ago, Hey, maybe Mac Jones should start for the 40... Just go delete those posts.
'Cause that was nonsense to begin with, and it looks even worse now.
49ers, excellent, excellent job by them all season-long.
I, I can't believe they're in this spot, really.
