Finally, they face a team that can stand up to them and expose some of their weaknesses.
They are loaded, in the NFC that stinks, and should reach the Super Bowl. But in the end, they’ll face a team that can fight them back and expose some weaknesses — the Ravens and Browns have already done that to the 49ers.
Here 49ers’ top five touches in no particular order.
1. Jake Moody
He was excellent for much of the season but didn’t have to score many goals under pressure and missed the few he did try. He didn’t kick a game-winning field goal against the Browns, and last Sunday he had a 38-yarder and an extra point from both right tackles. Can he handle the postseason pressure? Weand will find out.
2. Run Defense
49ers are no longer committed to this. Steve Wilks prefers to play a light box with two deep guards to avoid the deep run. That leaves the 49ers vulnerable on the field. And while the return of Arik Armstead will help the interior defense, the loss of Clelin Ferrell will hurt the perimeter defense.
3. Offensive Line
The right side just isn’t good, and the 49ers need to work around that when facing a dominant defensive line. That means they have to ditch their run-first identity and instead throw quick, short horizontal passes out of the shotgun before the offensive linemen get beat. That strategy worked against the Eagles but failed against the Ravens.
4. Brock Purdy
He is a great quarterback if all goes according to plan. But when he lags, sometimes he melts down and takes the 49ers with him. Heand has a personal mission to prove he’s more than a playmaker, and that mission sometimes causes him to take risks he shouldn’t. The 49ers are undefeated this season without an interception, so that should be his goal. Do not throw the picker. Dominate the game. Serve the team, not your ego.
5. Kyle Shanahan
He’s the one who chokes in big games on the 49ers. He can train well for months and save the worst for the big moments. He lost not one, but two Super Bowls in which he led by double digits in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to do. Everyone knows his story and designs, including him. Can he break it this year?.
