Yes, I know the Giants stomped them. Yes, I know Christian Ponder beat them too. But the 49ers are for real, and we’re all going to see it very soon.
What I love most about San Francisco, is that they play a consistent brand of football. They have a strategy that’s been proven effective and they don’t care that they got smoked by Eli Manning, they’re going to run it out there next week, knowing Russell Wilson is going to be ineffective.
The Niners rank first in the NFL in total defense, but most importantly, they rank second in passing defense. The league has become so pass heavy, that unless a team finds effective ways to stop the throw, no lead is going to be safe. In their four wins combined, San Francisco’s allowed just 28 second half points to be scored against them, and more than half of those came in their week one shootout with Green Bay.
Having allowed just two rushing touchdowns all season long, as well as just one 100-yard rusher (the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw), it’s simply hard to put up points against this team.
With any good defense, it’s important to control the clock and the pace of the game on the ground. Cue Frank Gore and the NFL’s most successful rushing attack this season. Averaging 5.4 yards a carry, Gore leads a squad averaging 177 yards a game this year.
This resurgent dominance has allowed the Niners to utilize the play-action pass more effectively than they did last year. It’s leading to a breakout year for Vernon Davis (23 rec., four TD), and some impressive numbers from Michael Crabtree (30 rec., 337 yds.) as well.
You can talk up the Falcons and the Texans all you want, but the strength of schedule and the stats just don’t line up. The NFC West currently houses three 4-2 squads, including San Francisco. Houston’s most impressive win was an opening week thrashing of the respectable Dolphins, and the Falcons remain 6-0 despite uninspiring performances over Oakland, Carolina, and Washington in consecutive weeks.
Keep an eye on Nov. 19 when they host the Bears for Monday Night Football. Two great defenses with two great rushing attacks, in what could be a preview of the NFC Championship game.
I’m taking Alex Smith’s three picks last weekend as an aberration, not an epiphany. Starting this weekend in Seattle, this punishing ground game and suffocating defense will get back to rolling.
Miles Parks can be reached at minaret.sports@gmail.com.
Hey bro, I appreciate the love, but we lost to the Giants. What are you dumb or something?