The Niners Are the Best Team in Football

By Stuart Shikano

As my hometown team, I expected the San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs this season. I knew they would have had a better record last season if QB Jimmy Garoppolo did not go down in week 3 with a torn ACL and then miss the remainder of the season. Getting Jimmy G back for this season and combining him with Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling, I knew they would be good. I knew that they would be good this season because they bulked up their defense by drafting DE Nick Bosa with the #2 pick, signing Pro Bowl DE Dee Ford, and also signing LB Kwon Alexander. These gentlemen joined a front seven that already included standouts like DE Arik Armstead and DT DeForest Buckner. But, I did not know they would be THIS good.

The Niners have been the best football team all year long. Want some proof? They started 9-0 and were the last undefeated team in the NFL. Then their schedule got harder and a lot of their most impactful players got hurt. Pro Bowl TE George Kittle missed the epic week 10 Monday Night Football game against Seattle, which resulted in a loss, and week 11’s showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, which resulted in a win. Not having your stud tight end, who is the best pass catcher on the team, and a standout blocker certainly negatively affects a lot of what the Niners do on offense. It might have been all the difference in the MNF showdown vs. the Seahawks. DE Dee Ford missed week 12 vs. Green Bay (a W), week 13 vs. Baltimore (a L), as well as week 15 (a loss vs. Atlanta), week 16 (a win vs. the Rams), and week 17 (a win vs. Seattle). Ford is a great player himself and his absence was one less scary dude to match up against the opposing team’s offense. But not only that, Nick Bosa is a much better player when Ford plays. Bosa is able to get to the quarterback faster, play less snaps, have more energy, and generate more production. You could see it with your eyes. The stats show it too, as Bosa’s 2 multiple-sack games have both come when Ford played. FB Kyle Juszczyk missed weeks 6-9 due to injury and legendary CB Richard Sherman missed week 15’s loss vs. Atlanta. It was a tough time to have all those injuries, as the Niners played most of their toughest opponents. Opponents like the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens.

The Niners have been the best football team all year long. Want some more proof? They never had a letdown. Every other really good team this year had a game where they didn’t just show up, everyone was shocked, and it resulted in a lopsided loss. The Ravens did it in week 4 when they lost 40-25 to the Cleveland Browns. They did it again in the AFC Divisional game vs. Tennessee. Cheap shot, I know. The Saints did it in week 10 when they lost 26-9 to the struggling Atlanta Falcons. The Packers did it in week 9 in a 26-11 loss to the Chargers and funny enough in week 12 in a 37-8 loss to the Niners. The Chiefs did it in a week 5 Sunday Night Football loss to the Colts, losing 19-13. Yes, Patrick Mahomes got injured in that game and kept playing banged up and didn’t look like himself, but hey, it still counts. The Seahawks did it multiple times, but the worst one was week 16 against Arizona, where they lost 27-13. The Niners lost three games, but they ALL came down to the last play of the game. They lost 27-24 against Seattle on MNF, which took every second of OVERTIME to lose. Seattle won on a GW-field goal in OT? That’s not a letdown. That’s a great game, where unfortunately someone had to lose. Later, they lost 20-17 vs. the mighty Ravens, and that came down to another GW-field goal. Lamar was really rolling then and the Niners were able to slow him down way more than any other team in that span; they even got a strip and recovery on him in a crucial spot in the game. But, still Baltimore did win, albeit on a GW-field goal. So again, very close and in no way a letdown. Their last loss of the season was to Atlanta, where they lost 29-22. This was an odd game that came down to a review to determine the outcome. Officials looked to see whether Julio Jones got into the end zone to give Atlanta a win on a game-winning touchdown. Officials determined that he had done just that and Atlanta won the game. It was a disappointing loss for the Niners, but again not a letdown. It came down to review to determine they had lost. So three losses, all close games, and zero games where you thought the Niners didn’t come to play that day. Three losses, losing by an average of 4.3 points, and all three of those games coming down to the last play of the game. Compare that to 13 wins, where the Niners won by an average of 14 points.

The Niners have been the best team in football year long. Want more proof? Their defense is SCARY. I’m glad I root for the Niners because I’d hate to see this defense against my team. Led by brilliant defensive coordinator and awesome sideline reactor Robert Saleh, this Niners’ defense has been lethal. The front four of Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead, and DeForest Buckner is terrifying for opposing offenses. These are some big, athletic, strong, and talented dudes. They get after you and get after you fast. Linebackers Kwon Alexander, Fred Warner, and Dre Greenlaw are also studs on defense. Their front seven reigns superior over every team in the league. Their secondary has overachieved, compared to analyst expectations. Led by the man Richard Sherman, who had a great comeback season, the Niners’ secondary has looked great too. You can’t throw on this team. Between the Niners’ front four getting after you, getting sacks, and messing up the offense’s rhythm and the Niners’ secondary showing up, how are you going to throw on US? For what it’s worth, the Niners are 1st ranked in opposing passing YPG and 2nd ranked in total defense.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? Their offense is very dynamic. Their run game has been superb. The Niners ranked 2nd in the NFL in rushing, trailing behind only Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens. Whether it’s Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, or Raheem Mostert, it really doesn’t matter. They all have the potential to be the lead rusher any given Sunday and carry the load. Kyle Shanahan’s creative run plays has elevated all backs on the team. The Niners’ run game has been the main story of their offense, but let’s not forget Jimmy G. Let’s put some respect on his name. Garoppolo threw for 3,978 yards and posted a 27-13 TD-INT ratio. He went 13-3 this season and as of now, has a career record of 21-5 as a starting quarterback. When he has needed to make THE throw, he has made THE throw. He threw the game-winning touchdown in week 3 vs. Pittsburgh. In week 9, Jimmy G threw 4 TDs in a near perfect performance Halloween vs. the Cardinals. In that game, he threw some gutsy passes, came through repeatedly on 3rd down, and elevated them to victory. In week 14 in New Orleans, Garoppolo out-dueled Drew Brees. On 4th and 2 on the final drive, Jimmy G hit George Kittle, who then went on an incredible run after the catch. Kittle kept running as New Orleans grabbed his face-mask, and as he was surrounded by multiple Saints trying to pull him down. The 31-yard run after the catch by Kittle and the 15-yard facemask penalty he drew were enough to set up the Niners for a GW-field goal. These were Kittle’s heroics, but Jimmy G threw him the ball. Clutch stuff from both gentlemen. In week 16 vs. the Rams, Garoppolo completed a 46-yard pass in the middle of the field to Emmanuel Sanders on 3rd & 16 from the Niners’ 31-yd-line. The game was tied and that pass set up the Niners for the eventual GW-field goal. It was a clutch throw. It was third down, it was a big strike, and it ended up winning the game. In the NFC Divisional game against Minnesota, the run game was largely responsible for the Niners’ success on offense, but Jimmy G had an incredible opening drive, and converted on 3rd down time and time again. A lot of credit should be given to Kyle Shanahan for Garoppolo’s success, as Jimmy G fits in well in Shanahan’s system, throwing precise passes perfectly in rhythm within Shanahan’s system. Shanahan has Garoppolo throw a lot passes in the middle of the field and gets guys open for him. But, let’s also give Jimmy Garoppolo credit for his ability to get it done, his leadership, and his poise. I never see Garoppolo look defeated after making a mistake or when his team is trailing. There was a moment in their second matchup with the Rams where they were losing and I was freaking out as a fan. I saw Garoppolo smiling and laughing on the sidelines, and was yelling at the TV, “Why are you laughing? Let’s go!” But, I was the one in the wrong. The Niners came back to win the game and later, I realized that it was good Garoppolo was staying loose even when losing. That shows his confidence and his poise. He’s not freaking out about trailing in the game; he knows football games are long and that practically no deficit is insurmountable. It’s one play at a time. When trailing, it usually takes a big play or two down the line to really turn the game around. Jimmy G comes from the New England Patriots and I gotta think some of his calmness, poise, and leadership skills come from seeing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady go to work every day for three and a half years.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? They can win in so many ways. A lot of other teams win and lose by their passing game, win and lose by their running game, win and lose by their defense. The Niners can win games with Jimmy G throwing a lot and tearing it up. The Niners can win games with their running game racking up tons of yards. The Niners can win games with their pass rush terrifying quarterbacks and shutting down offenses. The Niners have also been in every type of game and came out victorious. They have won in routs (beating the Bengals 41-17 in week 2, beating the Browns 31-3 in week 5, beating the Panthers 51-13, and beating the Packers 37-8 in week 12), they have won close games (beating the Steelers 24-20 in week 3, beating the Cardinals 28-25 in week 9, and beating the Seahawks 26-21 in week 17), they have won low-scoring, defensive games (beating the Redskins 9-0 in week 7), and they have won high-scoring duels (beating the Saints 48-46 in week 14 and beating the Rams 34-31 in week 16). A lot of teams have one way to win and if they don’t have that clicking in a game, then they’re going to lose. The Niners can win being carried by various players and units (passing game, running game, defense). They can afford for their QB to struggle, their run game to struggle, their front seven to struggle, and still win, sometimes even easily. That’s impressive.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? This one may not be proof, but it does say something. They have A LOT OF FUN. This is a team that takes care of its business, but they also have a great time doing it. The guys seem to genuinely enjoy one another, which is a testament to the team’s culture. They have one another’s back and celebrate other guys’ success. They have signature celebrations. Nick Bosa has his shrug and Arik Armstead has his rubbing of his stomach to indicate his hunger. Bosa has given us some great moments in celebration of great plays. The miming of the flag plant against the Browns in a retort to Baker Mayfield’s college celebration. The sliding onto a rain-soaked field in Washington D.C. And most recently, the Undertaker-esque getting up after having the wind knocked out of him against Minnesota in the NFC Divisional round; trainers had come onto the field and the Niners’ faithful chanted “BOSA, BOSA, BOSA.”

So, was this post biased? Yes. But, was there a lot of truth in it? Yes. The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. And, it feels great, baby.