49ers’ Week 17 game against the Las Vegas Raiders Initial materials were provided to exaggerate the reactions.
Las Vegas, winning only six games this season, The page has turned on quarterback Derek Carr He went with backup Garrett Stidham. This move seemed to indicate that the Raiders were not doing their best to win the game.
However, the Raiders played well.
They went toe-to-toe with the 49ers before falling, 37-34, in overtime. So yeah, there are reactions from 49ers fans.
But is any of this an overreaction? Maybe not.
The defense looked as exposed and fragile as they did against Kansas City. Match teams will take notes from both. (phb: David Corral)
Overreaction? No.
Their playoff opponents are sure to test these two games. It also means the 49ers will have time to delve into why they made the mistakes that left them vulnerable to big plays.
The best thing that could happen to the 49ers was that game against Kansas City, in which the 49ers surrendered over 500 yards of total offense in 44-23 loss to Patrick Mahomes & Co.
Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans made some changes. The 49ers started playing different coverage and it wasn’t as expected. In the process, San Francisco may have become more vulnerable to explosive coverage while also generating more takeaways on defense.
The match against the Raiders showed the good and the bad. The 49ers defense has had a lot of mix ups. In the end, however, two interceptions enabled them to win the game.
While the opponents will identify the weaknesses of the 49ers in those matches, the coaching staff will also learn which fouls were committed.
The next step is for Ryans to make the necessary corrections and adjustments.
The Niners played like the only loser this weekend on Wild Card! (phb: George Garcia)
Overreaction? No.
No matter where the 49ers finish in the NFC rankings, all it takes is one bad game and their season is over. Starting next weekend, it’s a single elimination tournament.
The 49ers have relied on their defense all season. If they conceded 34 points to Stidham and the Raiders, it shows that nothing should be taken for granted.
Lenoir is not the answer. (phb: Scott Tokach)
Overreaction? No . . And yes.
It’s easy to say where the 49ers will attack. Yes, this is Diodorus Lenoir. But to say that Lenoir is not the answer is to infer that someone else is.
Lenoir was generally fine after taking over for Emmanuel Moseley, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 5 in Carolina. The 49ers signed veteran Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins to the practice squad in November to serve as insurance.
Jenkins, 34, is in his 11th season in the NFL. He has appeared in one game this season, playing 14 defensive snaps in the 49ers’ victory over Seattle.
The veteran cornerback has a lot more experience than Lenoir, for sure. But GPS doesn’t lie either. Lenoir is doing better than Jenkins, and so, at this point, it doesn’t look like the 49ers are ready to make that change.
While there’s more upside with the Lenoir, everyone knows he’ll get tested early and often stay on the road. So while it’s reasonable to wonder if Lenoir is the answer, it also doesn’t seem like anyone else is.
An offense led by Brock Purdy can carry a team when defense struggles. (phb: Chris Pino)
Overreaction? No.
The game against the Raiders felt very much like a late 2019 game in New Orleans.
That was the game the 49ers won on penalties on a day when Drew Brees and the Saints scored against a 49ers defense.
Quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t throw it all over Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
But Purdy recorded a career-best 284 passing yards and passing yards—his fifth consecutive game with two passes for the record. The offensive line did not allow a sack on running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Ayuk sparked the offense.
Whereas in 2019, when the 49ers turned exclusively to the running game to reach the Super Bowl, we think Coach Kyle Shanahan has more confidence in getting closer to 50-50 this postseason.
Brock Purdy solidified his status as the next year’s starter. (phb: Nate Cates)
Overreaction? No.
At this point, Purdy appears to have established himself as a starter for the postseason. This is not a hit on Tri Lance. After all, Lance is still a virtual unknown for only taking four games worth in two NFL seasons.
Related: Shanahan is not satisfied with Ayuk’s overall play against the Raiders
Purdy looks and acts like a veteran. He processes information quickly, makes all the throws and seems comfortable while controlling the offense.
These are all things we can’t definitively say about Lance. Purdy wasn’t perfect. And we have no idea how Shanahan will measure up to Purdy against Lance.
In a short period of time, however, Purdy did nothing to ensure that he would be relegated to a backup role.