The San Francisco 49ers had been battling for postseason positions instead of their postseason life at this time in the previous two seasons.
The Niners enter a Thursday night division matchup against the Los Angeles Rams looking to play with the same level of urgency in a game they most likely need to win to advance to the postseason after ending a three-game losing streak with a decisive victory over Chicago last week.
“I think just across the board as a team, everybody had just a bit more of sense of urgency and I think we executed and played together as a team, and we didn’t let off,” Brock Purdy, the quarterback, said. “I thought that was great. However, that was last week, so how can we repeat that this week?”
The 49ers (6-7) played their most complete game of the season to maintain their postseason aspirations after losing to Buffalo and Green Bay by 53 points.
Linebacker Fred Warner stated that the reversal was more about execution than anything else, however some attributed it to a sense of desperation or remarks made by players like Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir.
“We didn’t say, ‘Let’s just pray that we win,’ when we went out there in Buffalo or Green Bay. “Believe me, I was extremely desperate before both of those games,” he remarked. Simply put, it didn’t work out. We decided last week that we wanted to, therefore it didn’t happen. This has been developing for weeks.
Regardless of the cause, the outcome was clear to those who watched, including the Rams (7-6), who had a standout game to increase their prospects of making the playoffs.
Los Angeles defeated Buffalo 44-42 to stay one game clear of the 49ers and Arizona in the crowded division and one game behind Seattle in the NFC West competition.
Sean McVay, the coach, is aware that his team needs to play similarly in order to defeat San Francisco and complete the season sweep.
“I saw they certainly had a very dominant performance,” he stated. “If you know anything, it’s that the league is week-to-week. It’s just a week away from humility. They have outstanding coaches, outstanding staff, and terrific plans. They will be prepared for transportation regardless of the actual course of the injuries.
With 33 catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns over the Rams’ last four games, Puka Nacua is in outstanding form. Last week’s 162-yard effort against Buffalo also marked his first rushing touchdown. In his first game against San Francisco last year, Nacua broke the NFL’s single-game rookie reception record with 15 receptions, and during his visit to Santa Clara in January of last year, he set the NFL rookie season records for both catches and yards receiving. However, Nacua was injured for these teams’ first meeting this season.
Nick Sorensen, the defensive coordinator for the 49ers, described him as a “tough football player.” There are guys who are merely competitive. He is large and difficult to defeat. He simply possesses some qualities that are impossible to quantify.
Deebo’s least effective four-game streak The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, Samuel, took to social media to vent about his career. Samuel claimed in a since-deleted post on X, then known as Twitter, that he wasn’t getting the ball and wasn’t struggling, which is why he only collected 97 yards from scrimmage during the previous four games. He will soon return to his All-Pro form, according to his coaches and teammates.
“I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy stated. “I want him to do all in his power to shatter every record. I want Deebo to act in a Deebo manner.
The Rams defense dropped to 27th in total defense after being thoroughly outplayed by Josh Allen’s Bills and Saquon Barkley’s Eagles twice in the last three weeks. LA’s renowned youthful pass rush, which is led by rookie Jared Verse, had only three sacked in its last four games and none in the last two. Given that Purdy led the Niners to 425 yards in their first meeting of the season without Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, or Samuel, it may take another strong performance from the Rams’ offense to overcome the shortcomings of its defense.
The 49ers have had to come up with pass rushes from other sources because Nick Bosa has missed the last three games. Last week, they recorded a season-high seven sacks, with Leonard Floyd recording two and Yetur Gross-Matos receiving three. In his last four games, Floyd, 32, has racked up 5 1/2 sacks.
“Leonard’s just an Energizer bunny,” Shanahan remarked. “It’s crazy with him being one of the older guys and stuff and how many different teams he’s been to, but I’ve played against him enough and felt that.”
Bosa is listed as questionable and has the opportunity to return this week.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.