When the NFL released its schedule in May, it was the 49ers’ three-game sequence that jumped off the page.
In Seattle. In Philadelphia. vs. Seattle at Levi’s Stadium.
Three crucial games in three weeks would go a long way toward determining the NFC West, and possibly seeding atop the conference.
The 49ers enter this portion of the regular season with a 7-3 record and one game ahead of the Seahawks in the division standings.
Everything we’ll learn about the 49ers this season has yet to be written, and there may be more twists and turns ahead.
The 49ers had three losses sandwiched between a five-game winning streak. Coach Kyle Shanahan actually asked questions two weeks ago suggesting he bench quarterback Brock Purdy. Overreactions have come from all corners.
So, now, let’s take the temperature of the fanbase after the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
We took to Threads for this batch of 49ers overreactions, and this is what we found:
The San Francisco Forty-Niners have the best quarterback in the league! (@blinghelmetsbywally)
Overreaction? no.
Based on performance and stats, who has played better than Brooke Purdy this season?
Just a quick note: The NFL’s passer rating system is based on completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns per attempt, and interceptions per attempt. These are all useful statistics that accurately and objectively evaluate the production of midfielders.
Purdy had the highest rating possible in the 49ers’ 27-14 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday. He was already leading the NFL in that statistic entering the Week 11 game.
His current mark of 115.1 would place him in the top 10 on the NFL’s all-time single-season list and would rank as a 49ers record.
While we realize that Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is a great player and has two Super Bowl rings in his safety deposit box, it’s not a stretch to make a statement that Purdy – right now – is playing the best football of any quarterback in the NFL.
The only knock anyone has had on Purdy since he’s been in the NFL is that he doesn’t have the strongest arm. And while that’s true — there are other quarterbacks in the league who can throw it faster and farther — no other quarterback in the league has had as much success as Purdy this season on deep passes.
49ers offensive line is so good, we can survive Hufanga injury (@com.vincedmonroy)
Overreaction? no.
The 49ers acquired edge rusher Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline for a reason.
Although it wasn’t specifically to help offset an injury to the defensive backfield, the idea was that a better pass rush would help the 49ers at every level of their defense.
Losing safety Talanoa Hufanga to a torn ACL in his right knee is devastating. There is no way around that. But the season continues.
Fortunately for the team, they chose to remedy the situation by selecting J. Ayer Brown in the draft.
“We know we need some depth there,” Shanahan said of the decision to select Brown in the third round. “He was training as if he knew this moment was coming. He was locked in.”
The 49ers’ secondary will be their Achilles heel and cost them a deep playoff run. (@Beren49)
Overreaction? Yes.
If the 49ers fall short of their goal of winning the Lombardi Trophy, it may be because they faced a potent passing attack that they couldn’t keep up with.
But if that’s the case, the blame won’t go entirely — or shouldn’t — go to the defensive backfield.
Pass rush and coverage go hand in hand. If the 49ers’ secondary is overwhelmed, it means the team’s pass rush isn’t getting the job done either.
There is no defensive backfield in the NFL that can hold up in coverage for long periods of time if the quarterback is not under pressure.
The truth is, the 49ers’ pass defense has been pretty good this season, so don’t overlook that either.
Do you remember the components needed to determine NFL passer rating (see above)? Opposing quarterbacks have compiled a lowly 70.1 rating against the 49ers with just 6.2 yards per pass attempt with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season.
Trent Williams is our best player. (@Controversial cow)
Overreaction? no.
We’ll step aside from that point and let Christian McCaffrey run it across the goal line.
“He might be the best player I’ve ever seen,” McCaffrey recently said of Williams.
Yes that is high praise.
Williams is tied with Aaron Rodgers among active NFL players with 10 Pro Bowl selections. Rodgers will not make the Pro Bowl this season, and Williams will.
Here’s how McCaffrey described Williams: “There’s nothing he can’t do. He plays beyond the X’s and the O’s and does things a lot of other guys can’t do, and he’s been doing it for a really long time.
Kyle needs to win SB. This is the measuring stick now, anything short is a failure. (@jtf321)
Overreaction? no.
Shanahan isn’t going anywhere. He signed a contract extension that keeps him under the cap with the 49ers through at least the 2026 season.
Shanahan is generally considered one of the best coaches in the NFL, and for good reason. he.
But for him to be considered truly special, yes, the 49ers would have to win a Super Bowl under his watch.
If the 49ers don’t win this season, the organization will be disappointed. But he should get more opportunities in the coming years as well.
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