49ers game review: The back-breaking play that left John Lynch screaming (paywall) “The big play was part of a game in which the 49ers missed a season-high 18 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, a reason they missed out on a chance to win the NFC West title and claim the conference’s No. 1 seed. The sloppy tackling could have been a sign of fatigue for a banged-up team playing its third game in 13 days, which is why the 49ers desperately needed a first-round playoff bye a win would have provided.
After the 49ers missed 15 tackles in a 26-8 win at Cleveland on Nov. 30, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said the following week’s bye came at a “perfect time” for his gassed group.“
49ers head to Philadelphia in wild-card game as George Kittle doesn’t get his wish (paywall)
“The biggest story of Philadelphia’s season has been their sputtering attack under rookie coordinator Kevin Patullo, who has kept his play-calling duties amid repeated questions to head coach Nick Sirianni about his performance. The Eagles have slipped to 24th in the NFL in total offense after they ranked eighth last year despite retaining a star-studded cast of skill-position players that also includes QB Jalen Hurts and wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
After a 13-12 win at Buffalo on Dec. 28, Sirianni said he needed to help Patullo after Philadelphia had one first down and 16 yards in the second half while Hurts went 0-for-7 passing.“
Kawakami: Can the 49ers fight their way through the hard road? ‘Oh, we’re ready for it’ (paywall)
“The 49ers’ biggest disappointment on Saturday: Their red-hot offense was shut down (gaining a season-low 173 yards after racking up 430 or more in each of their previous three games) by the Seahawks’ fast and physical defense. There is no way the 49ers will last long if this happens again in the playoffs.
The biggest bright side: The 49ers’ vulnerable defense bent and bent against Seattle’s offense but held up as well as could be expected in the many times that the Seahawks got into 49ers’ territory and gave up just one touchdown.
Put those two things together and … maybe Purdy’s offense can rev up again. The 49ers will need this. And maybe the defense can continue to bandage things together for a little while longer, until Warner can make it back in a few weeks.“
49ers’ inescapable flaw grows more glaring vs. Seahawks, an ominous sign for playoffs (paywall)
“Six days after the Chicago Bears had seven plays of 20 yards or more against the San Francisco defense, the Seahawks had four more. What should be most concerning to Lynch and the 49ers is that two of those were runs, including a 27-yard Zach Charbonnet touchdown on which one safety, Brown, was blocked out of the play, and the other, Malik Mustapha, whiffed on a tackle attempt. A third explosive play was merely a short toss to Walker, in which he gained the bulk of the yardage after the catch….Still, the massive, inescapable flaw with which the 49ers have been playing for most of the season — an inability to stop the run — became even more prominent Saturday with the loss of Winters and Bethune, who ranked 1-2 on the team in tackles heading into the game. Shanahan said both injuries might affect their Round 1 availability.
The odds suggest the 49ers’ likeliest opponent will be the Philadelphia Eagles, who are a lot like Seattle in that they’re one of the few teams with more run plays than pass plays this season. Their offensive line is strong, tailback Saquon Barkley is a 1,000-yard rusher, Jalen Hurts’ 421 rushing yards rank fifth among quarterbacks this season and they promise to be well-rested after sitting key starters for Sunday’s finale against the Washington Commanders.“
On third-and-17, the Seahawks and reality hit the 49ers defense hard (paywall)
“Somehow, the 49ers only gave up a field goal after the embarrassing inability to get off the field. A reminder of their competitive spirit doing its best to compensate for the absence of greatness. The offense had a 10-point hole with 14 minutes remaining. Not insurmountable. In most cases, that’s more than a passable performance.
But the 49ers, now a wild-card team with the loss, will spend the weekend licking their wounds and preparing to hit the cold road. Doing their best to suppress the even louder doubts about this defense. This depleted, exhausted, largely inexperienced, figuring-it-out-on-the-fly defense.
Saturday, it ran into the truth about playoff football like a bird crashing into a skyscraper window. Losing four starters, including two of the best in football, eventually catches up to a defense. On third-and-17.“
49ers vs. Seahawks PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
“Cornerback Upton Stout was the 49ers’ highest-graded player (85.6 defensive grade). The team’s top offensive grade belonged to right guard Dominick Puni (84.0)….Right guard Dominick Puni wasn’t just the 49ers’ highest-graded offensive lineman. He also earned the team’s best run-blocking grade (78.4) and pass-blocking grade (87.9), surrendering zero pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps.
Left tackle Austen Pleasants, filling in for an injured Trent Williams, was the game’s lowest-graded offensive lineman (38.7). He posted the team’s worst run-blocking grade (35.1) and the lowest pass-blocking grade (39.6) among all offensive linemen in the game. Pleasants allowed three pressures, including two hurries and a hit.“
Who 49ers will play at home, on road officially set for 2026 NFL season
“Although the opponents for all NFL teams are now known, the schedule is not expected to be released until mid-May.
The 49ers (12-5) finished in third place in the NFC West, which means they will face the third-place teams from the AFC East (Miami Dolphins), NFC North (Minnesota Vikings) and NFC South (Atlanta Falcons).
Among the notable non-division opponents on the 49ers’ schedule will be home games against the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles, as well as road games at the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers.“
NFL insider says 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s shoulder stinger “not expected to keep him out next week”
“Late, late, late in that game, Brock Purdy got crunched,” Rapoport said Sunday on NFL Gameday Morning. “I believe it was on a fourth down, went down in pain immediately, headed to the blue tent, giving every 49er fan a significant scare. That said, after the game, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said it was just a stinger for Brock Purdy, a left shoulder stinger.
“Basically, what that is is a temporary nerve injury. Hurts a lot. Then it clears up. He has had it in the past. Shanahan saying Brock Purdy should be fine. Missed eight games this season, and frustrating from that standpoint. Not expected to keep him out next week.”
