The San Francisco 49ers are scorching. Winners of 11 in a row and doing most of it with a rookie seventh-round choose at quarterback, this Niners squad is the most harmful crew within the postseason. Despite the excellent play of Brock Purdy, San Francisco’s success has been potential because of their stifling protection. During the final half of the season, this protection has made its mark the place it issues most, within the second half of video games.
San Francisco’s protection did it once more to Seattle in Saturday’s wildcard matchup, holding the Seahawks to 6 factors within the second half, and people got here late within the fourth quarter when the sport was already determined. The Seahawks led 17-16 at halftime and finally misplaced 41-23. There’s one thing about this Niners protection that clicks at intermission, and so they come out fired up for the final two quarters.
Something modified in Week 7 for the 49ers
Since the Week 7 blowout loss to Kansas City, San Francisco’s protection has been relentless. Following the Chiefs loss, the 49ers pitched 4 consecutive second half shutouts. The Niners beat the Rams, Cardinals, Chargers, and Saints in these video games. The Saints’ win was an entire shutout in a 13-0 remaining.
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They followed that up by holding Miami, Tampa Bay, and Seattle to seven second half points in consecutive games. It wasn’t until the final two games of the year that the Commanders and Raiders were able to score double-digit second half points against the Niners, but still wound up losing. Even in the few games the defense has seemed out of sorts, they find a way to lock in and come up with a big play.
In Saturday’s wildcard game against the Seahawks, the turning point was a big play when Geno Smith was stripped of the ball, and Nick Bosa pounced on it. That was a huge third down play late in the third quarter, with the 49ers up just six points with the Seahawks in the red zone. That play changed the course of this game, and San Francisco never looked back.
If it’s close at halftime against San Francisco, the odds of their opponent winning are slim, thanks to the defense. That should be a warning to all NFC teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles. You’ve got to get up on this team early and force them to fight from far behind. But obviously, that’s a task much easier said than done.