Week Fourteen

 49ers 28, Seattle 16

The official word this morning is that the 49ers are the first NFL team to clinch a playoff spot in 2023. Realistically, Sunday's solid win over the Seahawks essentially clinched the NFC West division title, too. The Los Angeles Rams, with a 4-1 division record, could theoretically win out and finish 10-7, and if the Niners were to collapse, lose the season finale at home to LA, and also finish 10-7, the Rams would win the division. Compute those odds if you've time to waste.

San Francisco also leads the NFL in point differential-- whoops, no they don't. That leader would be Dallas, who became the second straight team to hammer the defending NFC champion Eagles Sunday night. To get that lead, the 'Pokes had to overcome their own minus-32-point differential against the 49ers. Congratulations are in order, if you've time to waste.

Brock Purdy showed off the strong arm and the deep ball Sunday, with an absolutely perfect 54-yard strike to Deebo Samuel, who caught it in stride-- he strides very fast indeed-- and continued on for the touchdown. Purdy added deep downfield completions of 30 and 45 yards to Brandon Aiyuk, and an old-fashioned 44-yard post pattern to George Kittle for the score that made it 28-10 and essentially decided the game. 

The tally: 150 yards for Deebo, 153 for Christian McCaffrey (including a 72-yard burst on the game's first play), and 126 for Aiyuk.  That's 527 total yards, 354 passing, 173 rushing, a 54% third-down efficiency, and you may be wondering, then, why only 28 points? A fair question. Only one turnover (an interception that served as a punt), three sacks, and five punts.  One of those punts was preceded by punter Mitch Wishnowsky's 30-yard run off a beautiful fake, but a chop-block penalty nullified it. And, on defense, four more sacks and two more interceptions, and the tendency to shut the opponent down in the second half after a lethargic start.

So is it that the 49ers are so good that they win going away even when they miss numerous scoring chances against a porous defense?  Was it simply a letdown after the monumental Philadelphia game, meaning they're good enough to win regardless? Or does that failure to capitalize on those opportunities mask a real weakness that also explains the midseason losses which seem so long ago?

The next game, at Arizona, may reveal whether those are legitimate concerns or just needless worry. Classic trap game and all, facing a 3-10 club on their home field, a week before the AFC's best team, Baltimore, comes a-callin'.