The San Francisco 49ers this past weekend considered their Week 11 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals a must win for their playoff hopes. Quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall both rushed back from injuries, re-injecting the often-efficient offense with a spark. They mauled the Cardinals, crushing them 41-22 in a game that was never that close. With this victory, the 49ers have moved to 7-4 overall and 4-1 in their division, the NFC West.
With this loss, the 49ers have developed a dangerous pattern of alternating wins and losses this season. The impending return of several key players could provide the stabilizing force they’ve lacked to shatter that trend. The 49ers lost their star linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa for the season to major injuries. With a healthy roster, the depth of their experience will see them continue to flourish.
Purdy’s first start, versus Arizona, was a watershed moment in many ways. He was two-for-four for 55 yards and a score on deep balls. This performance was his first opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate threat to stretch the field. Under Purdy’s command, the 49ers have produced a staggering average of 6.7 explosive plays per game. These big plays, defined in most cases as plays of 20+ passing yards or 10+ rushing yards, illustrate some of the offense’s great potential.
“We’re positioned right where we want to be,” said tight end George Kittle, highlighting the team’s confidence moving forward.
The new-look matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Monday night at home only heightens the need to keep building on momentum. It’s no exaggeration to say a win would double the 49ers’ playoff odds, increasing them by 4.7%. An outright loss would cut those odds down by 12.5%. With a favorable fifth-easiest remaining schedule according to Football Power Index (FPI), the team is looking to capitalize on every opportunity.
Purdy expressed enthusiasm about the team’s progress: “I’m excited just with the momentum that we have going and guys being ready to go in on this challenge of finishing out the season strong.”
Our recent victory over the Cardinals was a demonstration of our offensive firepower. After an unsustainably excellent performance from special teams and defense takeaways, those units were huge in helping to earn the win. The team will need to build on these strengths in the face of their toughest opponent yet.
As they prepare for Monday night’s game, the 49ers are committed to creating more explosive plays. They’ve had some trouble with this issue at times this season. Dudes just rose to occasion, and this is exactly what NFL football is all about. You find out who you are under pressure, but we’ve got the right guys in the building and we’re ready for it,” Purdy added.
The 49ers currently have an 18.8% chance to win their division. This makes doing the little things right over the next few weeks of regular season all the more vital. They should because of their favorable impression of their decisive win over Arizona. They understand that maintaining their intensity and continuing to stick to their game plan will be key in their pursuit of the playoffs.
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