TThe 49ers season ended after… Week 6 loss to Tampa Bay. Yes, the score was 4-2. Yes, they tied the Seahawks and Rams and already won head-to-head games against both. But that's when they hit rock bottom. All Pro linebacker Fred Warner was the last victimnext in the footsteps All Pro edge rusher Nick Bos suffered a season-ending injury. Brock Purdy has also battled injuries. George Kittle was injured in Week 1. Both were expected to be out for several games. Brandon Aiyuk wasn't planning on playing anytime soon, at least not for San Francisco. By Week 7, the only big names in the game were Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams.
Even though the 49ers looked terrible on paper, they held their own. It helped that the Cardinals, Falcons, Giants and Panthers were on their upcoming schedule. They beat all four of them, losing only to the Texans and Rams in the next few weeks. However, none of the victories inspired much confidence. The Cardinals outgained the 49ers by 200 yards. Purdy threw three interceptions against the Panthers.
Finally, on a windy day in Cleveland, the 49ers looked like they were in the playoff conversation. Sunday's 26-8 win It was the franchise's first game in Cleveland since 1984. There was nothing that stood out statistically, just smart, error-free football against one of the best defenders in the league. Purdy was efficient, going 16-of-29 for 168 yards and one touchdown. He launched another reading of the third goal.
Purdy had a solid defense and was only sacked once by Myles Garrett, which is a big accomplishment this season. Robert Saleh's defense dominated as Clelin Ferrell and Keyon White broke through with key sacks. And Sky Moore 66 yard punt return The first quarter set the tone for the game.
How the 49ers beat up a reporter David Lombardi notesThe 49ers' last win in Cleveland came a week after Joe Montana's four-interception performance. The 49ers won the Super Bowl that year.
This prospect is an exaggeration for this group. Purdy is no Montana, and the current 49ers roster doesn't have a healthy defensive player of Ronnie Lott's caliber. This group was 15-1. This team is 9-4 and in seventh place in the playoff standings. There is a lot of patchwork left in the composition.
But the modern 49ers have one clear advantage – there is no outstanding team in the league. NFL this season. It's no longer certain that Patrick Mahomes will lead the Chiefs to a dramatic comeback, no matter what. Or that Josh Allen can control the game with his feet. Or that Bo Nix and Drake Maye can handle the pressure during the playoffs. In the NFC, the once magical Lions have no personality and a lot of problems on defense. The Rams are the deepest team in the NFL, but they don't have a solid offense. The Eagles are well ahead of Ben Johnson, and the Bears, the No. 1 seed at the moment, are missing a lot of pieces.
The only sure thing about the NFL in 2025 is the insight of a handful of coaches. 49ers Kyle Shanahan is, of course, among them. So are Johnson and Sean McVay. Mike Vrabel, Sean Payton and Brian Schottenheimer are also coaches your team shouldn't face in the playoffs. That's what's so strange about this season. Some listings are much more attractive than those in San Francisco. But there is no quarterback who plays like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Mahomes in their prime. Thus, competitive advantage may ultimately lie in coaching. Factors like preparation, aggressiveness and team chemistry will likely matter much more this season.
If that happens, don't count the 49ers out.
MVP of the week
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers. In the Panthers' wild win over the Rams, Young reminded us why he was once the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL. Young went toe-to-toe with Matthew Stafford and the Rams' sensational offense and team-leading defense. In the 31-28 upset win, Young threw three touchdowns, no interceptions and was 15-of-20 for 206 yards. He brought the magic when it mattered most, going 2-for-2 for 76 yards and two touchdowns on fourth down. His third touchdown came on third-and-8. There is no more grip.
Young's play was inconsistent (see game against San Francisco last week), and one performance with the lights off won't convince the skeptics. But against the Rams, Young showed Carolina all his intangibles, especially his heart. With this win, Young has a real chance to get a taste of the postseason. The Panthers, at 7-6, are a half-game behind the NFC South-leading Bucs, and the two teams face each other twice before the end of the season.
Statistics of the week
76. Thank goodness for Josh Allen's legs because his arm failed to recover on Sunday. Allen's eight-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter not only sealed the Bills' 26–7 victory over the Steelers, but also gave him sole possession of the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 76. He was previously tied with Cam Newton.
The game's star cornerbacks Allen and Aaron Rodgers struggled to organize the offense. Allen finished the first half with just 51 yards passing and an interception. A head collision with Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward appeared to propel Allen and the Bills to a much cleaner and more efficient second half. Allen hit Keon Coleman and scored on a successful pump fake. But it was James Cook's 144 rushing yards that sealed the win for the Bills. With this win, the Bills remain in seventh place in the AFC. They next face the Joe Burrow-led Bengals.
Video of the week
“I know you guys are hungry for more, right? The city of Chicago is hungry too,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said in the team's bustling locker room after Friday's win over the Eagles. Then he tore off his shirt.
The heated players surrounding Johnson knew why. Bears fans too. Free hot dogs for everyone! Wiener Circle, a hot dog stand turned Chicago institution, promised free hot dogs if Johnson took off his shirt after the Bears won.
To say Johnson prevailed over Chicago would be an understatement. The Bears are 9-3, winners of five straight games, leading the NFC North and currently in first place in the NFC after losing to the Rams. The confidence Johnson inspired was on full display in Philadelphia. Chicago bullied the Eagles, especially in the trenches. The game “Run Bears” achieved success thanks to the combination insightful joke and elite blocking. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each rushed for over 100 yards, marking the first time since 1985 that the Bears had two 100-yard rushers in a game. The defense held its own, limiting Saquon Barkley to 56 yards on 13 carries. They also stopped the fourth-down push. The Bears were sharper, controlled the tempo and just seemed to want it more. This is the Ben Jonson effect.
Elsewhere in the league
The Bucs picked up Tristan Wirfs, all 320 pounds of him, providing a spark of fun. pulled out his first touchdown in his team's 20–17 win over the Cardinals. The big guy's touchdown came after two other touchdowns on the same drive were canceled out by penalties.
Extra-point drama in the Colts-Texans game! No, your eyes didn't deceive you. Texas forward Kaimi Fairbairn obviously missed an extra point left, but the referees considered it good and the play was not subject to review. “Because the ball was over the post, it couldn't be seen,” referee Clay Martin said after the game. The touchdown was also aided by a phantom pass interference call by Colts cornerback Kenny Moore. The Texans won the game between two teams fighting for the AFC South title, and the matchup didn't need such shoddy officiating.
Northern Ireland's Charlie Smith, a graduate of the NFL International Training Program, is off to a good start in his professional football career. The former Gaelic footballer kicked his first NFL try 56 yards and also recovered a kick as his side lost 21-17 to the Dolphins. Smith found out he was playing only late, and had to rush his family across the Atlantic to Miami to watch the game. “If we had to wait another three or four hours, I don't think it would have been possible,” Smith said, saying his parents and sisters were delayed along the way. “It was so great to have them here.”
Continuing our special teams debut special, Jaguars nose tackle Davon Hamilton replaced his team's wide receiver after Ross Matisczyk was injured in the first quarter. He made a successful field goal, extra point and three punts. “It was very interesting,” Hamilton said. “It's definitely not something I want to do day in and day out. I'm going to leave it to Ross. But it's been fun.” Hamilton's snaps helped the Jags to a 25-3 win over the Titans, putting them in first place in a tight AFC South race over the Colts and Texans.
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