“Punch in the face.” With these simple and quite profane words, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was able to express what had happened to his franchise on the fifth NFL game day after the 10:42 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers.
“I put everything into it. I didn’t see that coming. A few weeks ago I described the defeat against Arizona as humiliating, but this is perhaps the most humiliating defeat I have ever been a part of.
It’s humiliating for almost every opponent the Niners face right now. Five games, five wins. Along with the Eagles, San Francisco is one of only two undefeated teams in the current NFL season. Observers of the best football league in the world don’t really believe that anything will change so quickly at the moment. And there is no reason to do so.
Things are going better for the Bay Area franchise than they have in a long time; all signs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara point to success. But why are things going so well for the Niners? SPORT1 breaks down the five-headed monster.
Quarterback Brock Purdy
Who would have thought? The playmaker was selected in the seventh round at position 262 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy was the last player selected in this talent draw, which earned him the not-so-glorious title of Mr. Irrelevant.
The youngster was actually only the third signal caller behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, but because the two in front of him were injured, his hour came earlier than expected. And Purdy knew how to take advantage of his chance. In his first game as a starter last season, he beat megastar Tom Brady, who was also once picked late in the draft. And things went well. The Niners reached the playoffs, only ending in the conference championship game after an injury to the quarterback.
Now Purdy is fit again and is giving fans and teammates even more fun than last year. He presents himself as quick and agile on the field, even under pressure he remains calm and hardly makes any mistakes. Against the Cowboys, for example, he managed four touchdown passes with a passer rating of 144.4, but he did not have to accept an interception. In any case, his career ratio of 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions suggests that he can take care of the ball extremely well.
His reputation is particularly high among his teammates. “Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level. He protects the ball and makes clean plays. He is not just a game manager. He delivers. And I don’t think he gets enough credit for it,” safety Tashaun Gipson said.
Receiving und Rushing Hand in Hand
Many NFL teams can look forward to exceptional wide receivers or tight ends. However, it is not the rule that a franchise can send the highest quality players onto the field in both positions. But that is the case with San Francisco.
The team has one of the best tight ends in the league in George Kittle and an excellent receiver in Brandon Aiyuk. And then there is Deebo Samuel, the magic bullet. The pass receiver who can also be used in the running game and builds a bridge to Christian McCaffrey.
Many opposing fans had feared it, but since his arrival in October 2022 it has become more than clear: CMC fits perfectly into the Niners’ offense as one of the best running backs in the league.
Everything about the NFL on SPORT1.de
Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s franchise has so many exceptional players on offense that the opposing defensive lines can hardly manage to adequately cover each one. So there is almost always a passing station that can provide the next space gain or touchdown. And the numbers prove it: 20 touchdowns have already been scored in the first five games of the season. Eleven through the running game, nine via the pass. A balanced offense.
Defense wins Championships
The fact that a stable defense is needed for a successful season is certainly not a new insight. All the better for the 49ers that their D-line has the necessary stability.
On the one hand, there is the highest-paid defender in NFL history, Nick Bosa. The Defensive Player of the Year from last season always impresses with his performances. However, Fred Warner is even more important at the moment.
There is hardly a play in which the linebacker is not involved. Tackling the running back, intercepting passes, sacking the quarterback – he exerts his influence everywhere.
What’s more: He already talks like a defensive coordinator and leads the defense. On average, the Niners-D only allows 13.6 points per game, fewer than any other NFL team.
Coach Shanahan is pushing all the right buttons
Of course, a successful team also needs an excellent coach. Kyle Shanahan recently extended his contract for several years – and not without reason. In addition to the excellent defensive work, he and his coordinators manage to create a good balance between passing and running on offense – garnished with clever trick plays.
For example, against the Cowboys, when quarterback Purdy handed the ball to running back McCaffrey, who in turn threw it to Deebo Samuel, who was already running. The receiver then passed the egg back to Purdy, who threw to tight end George Kittle, who was completely free. touchdown.
It goes without saying that Shanahan also manages to properly coach the still young and inexperienced Brock Purdy.
These are the German stars in the NFL
And there is something else: the right approach and motivation. The night before the game against the Cowboys, Shanahan played a video of Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in a team meeting. It showed Lawrence talking about how the NFL had seen the “best defense in the world” after the Cowboys’ 30-10 win over the New York Jets in week two. Enough incentive to prove your opponent wrong.
Health
The last and yet extremely important aspect of the five-headed Niners monster is the aspect of health and the lack of injuries. A topic that an NFL team cannot largely influence, but which is extremely important for success.
In recent years, the 49ers have had an excellent squad with great prospects for success, but countless injuries ultimately ruined all plans.
Of course, the season is still young with five regular season games played, but things are looking good in exactly this area. The key players are fit, and none of the highly paid top stars who are important to the team’s success are out for the long term.
The chances in the fight for the Super Bowl haven’t been that good for a long time.
2023-10-12 21:55:14
#fiveheaded #monster #San #Francisco #49ers #scare #NFL #opponents
