To call this past Sunday’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks a roller coaster ride would not only be an understatement, it would be unfair to theme parks in general. Theme parks, and more specifically roller coasters, are designed to simulate danger to evoke adrenaline and joy. The 49ers 27-7 home victory over their hated rivals did manage to evoke plenty of joy and adrenaline but it also did a few things that are decidedly not what you’d like to get out of a roller coaster ride.
At the conclusion of the affair the Niners had righted the previous Sunday’s wrongs and came away victors. Some familiar faces put their stamp on the game especially on the defensive side of the ball with DPOY hopeful Nick Bosa leading the way with 2 sacks and constant pressure on Geno Smith all afternoon. Early in the game 2nd year DB Talanoa Hufanga stood out with elite instincts and seemed to be wherever the ball was every snap. The defense in general looked like a top 5 squad and delivered the type of performance you hope for when facing a lesser team. On the other side of the ball we saw some other things we have grown to expect, such as Deebo ripping off a 51 yarder on a play no other player in the league would have turned into a 51 yard gain. The real bright spot on the Niner’s offense, however, would have to be the two young guards. Sophomore Aaron Banks and rookie Spencer Burford both churned out performances that landed them top 10 PFF pass blocking grades. They also anchored a rushing attack that netted the 49ers 189 yards at 4.2 yards a carry.
These things probably brought most of the 49ers faithful a lot of excitement and joy. I wish the article ended here and I didn’t have to address the caveat associated with Sunday’s outing but unfortunately the W, like so many things in life, came with consequences. Consequences not typically associated with the adrenaline and excitement of amusement park rides. On the 49ers second drive of the game Trey Lance carried the ball up the middle for a short gain into a cluster of bodies. When the dust settled the young QB stayed down and an entire fanbase got sick to their stomach’s. From the TV broadcast going into break there wasn’t much clarity on what had happened, but the way Trey was holding his head with both hands one could speculate he may have a concussion. After a long commercial break, we were back in Santa Clara and there was already a cart on the field. The speculation became suddenly grimmer. We have officially gone off the rails and this is where it’s probably best to end the roller coaster analogy.
Trey Lance had broken his ankle and that likely would end his 2022 season. We didn’t have long at all to digest this information before a very familiar, polarizing face stepped onto the field to captain the 49ers once again. It was a surreal experience watching the rest of the game unfold after that point. We saw mostly things we wanted to see. The defense dominated, the run game moved the ball and controlled the clock and at the end of the day the Niners had downed their foe. I’m surehowever, most fans cheered and celebrated with a cloud of somber acknowledgment that no matter what happens going forward, unsettled waters are ahead.
On a more positive note the ultimate goal of an NFL football team is to win a Super Bowl and if we step away from the situation and suspend the speculation for the offseason and just look at what we have in front of us, we have a squad very capable of bringing home a Lombardi. This year. There’s a defense that will fight for top rank in the league, a potent rushing attack that keeps chugging along regardless of the new faces and love him or hate him there’s a quarterback who has been there before. So here’s to hoping this past Sunday’s victory is a microcosm of the whole season to come; a lot of excitement, a good bit of scary, some unavoidable loss, but in the end Niners are left standing.
Bang bang.
@reidcrowell
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