We All Should Have Been Talking More About the 49ers, Less About the Rams
This is not an overreaction to one Week 1 game. It is a reaction to what San Francisco looked like when, for the first time in a long time, its core was actually healthy...
The 49ers walked into Melbourne as the undercard to a Los Angeles team that had spent the offseason as one of the most hyped teams in football history. The Rams had Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season. They added Myles Garrett. They added Trent McDuffie... Then the 49ers beat them 27-7. And it was never particularly close.
San Francisco controlled the line of scrimmage, ran for 174 yards, converted 7-of-12 third downs and held the Rams to just 2-of-9 on third down. Brock Purdy threw three touchdowns. The defense forced turnovers. Nick Bosa looked like Nick Bosa again. Fred Warner looked like Fred Warner again...
The 49ers made it to the divisional round last year with their entire core missing. Now that core is healthy again. And looking good.
Brock Purdy might be the NFL's most underrated quarterback. At some point, we probably need to stop talking about Brock Purdy like he's a quarterback who is merely benefiting from Kyle Shanahan's system. Purdy has been extraordinarily productive since entering the league. Through his first 50 regular-season games, he has completed 68.1% of his passes for 11,890 yards, 87 touchdowns and just 38 interceptions. His career passer rating is 104.0, and he has averaged an absurd 8.6 yards per attempt. That's elite.
And what makes Purdy particularly dangerous is that he doesn't need to dominate the game with volume. He makes quick decisions, gets the ball out, creates explosive plays and consistently keeps San Francisco ahead of the chains. Brady-esque.
Against Los Angeles, he completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a 105.6 passer rating despite an early interception. Most importantly, he made plays when the Rams took away the structure of the offense. Purdy repeatedly extended plays, moved the chains with his legs and made throws outside of the initial design. Kyle Shanahan called the performance “unbelievable.”
And now he has Mike Evans. This could be a very big deal. Mike Evans gives Purdy something he hasn't really had during his San Francisco career: a massive, physical X receiver who can simply win a matchup when the play breaks down. Evans caught six passes for 49 yards and a touchdown, including a ridiculous red-zone grab where Purdy essentially gave his 6-foot-5 receiver a chance to go make a play.
And Evans wasn't the only veteran receiver making an impact. Deebo Samuel caught a touchdown too. Even Demarcus Robinson caught a touchdown.
Suddenly, Purdy has a group of receivers capable of attacking defenses in completely different ways. And George Kittle hasn't even fully returned to form yet. That should be a worrying thought for opposing defenses.
Meanwhile, the offensive line just embarrassed the Rams' biggest addition. The Rams acquired Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, specifically to create nightmares for quarterbacks like Purdy. Instead? Garrett never recorded a tackle. Purdy wasn't sacked. He was barely under pressure at all the entire game, and the 49ers ran the football at 5.8 yards per carry.
And then there's the defense. This is where the argument gets really interesting. Look at who is back: Nick Bosa is healthy after tearing his ACL last season. Fred Warner is back. Dre Greenlaw is back. All of sudden, a defense that looked vulnerable at times last season has the potential to become one of the best units in the NFC.
Bosa looked explosive against Los Angeles, while Warner was all over the field and forced a fumble. The 49ers also intercepted Stafford and held a Rams offense that led the league last season to just seven points. Warner isn't just another linebacker. He's the emotional and tactical center of this defense. Having him back changes the personality of the entire unit. The same goes for Greenlaw. After years of injuries and setbacks, getting him back alongside Warner gives San Francisco an entirely different level of speed and physicality in the middle of the field.
Remember what happened last year: The 49ers made the divisional round last season despite their core being absolutely ravaged by injuries. They weren't simply missing one or two players. They were constantly trying to patch together a roster that had Super Bowl expectations but couldn't stay healthy. And now? They're healthy.
Current Odds @ Pinnacle:
+1400 to Win the Super Bowl | +700 to Win NFC
