Through ten weeks and multiple impact injuries, the San Francisco 49ers are 23rd in the NFL, scoring 22 points per game. While the offense is first in the NFL with 261.4 passing yards per game, the rushing offense is 27th with 94.8 rushing yards per game. Without Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle, the 49ers’ offense was largely dependent on Christian McCaffrey. Kittle returned four weeks ago, and Sunday will see the return of Purdy and Pearsall. McCaffrey will still be
the engine of the offense, but his burden should be lightened with the return of the important 49ers weapons.
Six wins through ten weeks, especially given the injuries on both sides of the ball, is close to a miracle. Now, a 49ers defense that was whipped by the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday will need the offense to help “play defense.” Not only is putting together long, time-consuming drives now part of the formula for victories, but the offense will have to be nearly flawless and score as many points as possible to put the team in a position to win more games. Drives need to end in points and not turnovers. Some games will have to be track meets.
The group of Purdy, McCaffrey, Pearsall, and Kittle has been on the field together for one possession in 2025. That possession ended in a 95-yard touchdown drive in Seattle. Ideally, this group will be together for the remainder of the season. At this point, if Aiyuk gives the 49ers a single game in 2025, it should be considered found money. It’s finally time for the offense to be the driving force of this team, as predicted in the offseason, given all the uncertainty for the defense.
The next four games are against Arizona, Carolina, Cleveland, and Tennessee. The Browns’ defense is loaded, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has notoriously given Kyle Shanahan fits in the past. However, their offense is anemic. Four wins is a realistic outcome, but this is the NFL, and the game in Cleveland could be a weather game at the end of November. Going 3-1 is a fair prediction, but the 49ers have a chance to rip off four straight and get to ten wins. Their bye week is in between the Cleveland and Tennessee matchups, as well.
The final three games will be in Indianapolis and at home against Chicago and Seattle to finish out the season. The four-game stretch beginning with Arizona gives the offense a chance to get rolling with its weapons. Some games will require ball control, others will be back-and-forth shootouts. Either way, Shanahan and this offense will need to get rolling quickly to lift the 49ers down the stretch.
It is unfair to ask any side of the ball to be perfect, but the 49ers’ offense will have to be as close to perfect as possible. Reduce the turnovers and mental mistakes, and end drives with touchdowns and field goals. The 49ers offense will take this team as far as they will go in 2025.
