SANTA CLARA – Security Ji’Ayir Brown learn Bryce Younger’s younger eyes and intercepted two passes in Monday night time’s 49ers victory. Then Brown learn the room, that being Levi’s Stadium’s auditorium throughout his post-win press convention.
Standing on the podium after that 20-9 defense-led victory over Carolina, Brown didn’t strut, although he simply performed the perfect sport of his three-year Niners profession in coach Kyle Shanahan’s eyes.
Brown’s two interceptions helped bail out Brock Purdy, who received intercepted on three consecutive drives earlier than halftime. But fairly than indulge in any heroic glory, Brown used the highlight to evangelise workforce unity. So did others.
“There ain’t no bailouts,” Brown mentioned. “We see turnovers occur. It’s all a part of the sport. If it was good, individuals wouldn’t watch it as a lot. Simply having the offense’s again (this sport) like they’d ours the earlier weeks, it’s complementary soccer.”
The 49ers (8-4) received their earlier sport by outscoring Arizona 40-22 whereas the Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett set an NFL file with 47 completions. This sport was received by the 49ers protection denying the Panthers greater than three factors on these three takeaways earlier than halftime.
“The vibe across the locker room is all people exhibiting love they usually received our backs and also you undergo powerful issues,” Purdy mentioned. “We’re all on this collectively. So, love our locker room, love our workforce, and we’re good.”
Listed here are 10 issues that caught my eye:
1. PURDY’S STOICISM
Purdy didn’t require a serious pep speak amid his interception spree, nor did he get one, and Christian McCaffrey mentioned something of the type can be disrespectful to an expert after apparent gaffes.
“If I’ve a drop and any person says ‘Catch the ball,’ it makes you wish to knock them out,” mentioned McCaffrey. “There’s actually nothing to say. You simply carry on taking part in. It’s an extended sport. You don’t say something to him.”
Added middle Jake Brendel: “The man’s been level-headed his whole profession. He’s not younger now, however I performed with him when he was younger and he was tremendous stoic when he was a rookie. I’m not anticipating him to freak out and go within the tank. And he is aware of we’ll have his again.”
Purdy mentioned there wasn’t a particular pick-me-up provided by teammates apart from George Kittle advising to maintain ripping passes, and Purdy certainly discovered Kittle for a game-long, 25-yard reception after the three picks.
2. QUARTERBACK PRESSURE
No, Shanahan mentioned, he didn’t contemplate pulling Purdy after the three interceptions and sending in Mac Jones, who went 5-3 within the beginning position whereas Purdy was out with a toe damage (an appendage Purdy insisted is okay and never impacting his means to drive the ball.)
This quote from Purdy, about his confidence, is a credo for any quarterback, and price declaring in gentle of the Panthers’ Bryce Younger cracking Monday night time and Shedeur Sanders’ first residence begin upcoming in Cleveland on Sunday: “You’re feeling slightly little bit of stress and stuff, however because of this we’re put on this place. I can deal with this,” Purdy mentioned. “As a quarterback, you may’t lose confidence in your self. You possibly can’t shrivel again after which swiftly take a bunch of checkdowns and stuff. You continue to should learn the play out and keep aggressive and be higher. You’ve received to be taught out of your errors too.”
On the horizon within the 49ers’ remaining two residence video games are No. 1 general picks the previous two drafts: Cam Ward (Titans, Dec. 14) and Caleb Williams (Bears, Dec. 28).
3. BIG GAME BROWN
Ji’Ayir Brown entered with 4 interceptions, together with one off Patrick Mahomes within the Tremendous Bowl. His just one final season got here Oct. 27 in opposition to Dallas. How did he pull of Monday’s day by day double?
“Seeing Bryce wanting down the center of the sector, it seemed like he’d scramble at first, then stopped, so I learn his eyes and jumped it,” Brown mentioned. “The second, identical factor, simply studying his eyes. It was tight protection by Renardo Inexperienced, I jumped in entrance of that and made a play for the workforce.”
Brown had 10 interceptions in 35 video games at Penn State, engaging the 49ers to seize him with their prime 2023 draft choose, albeit within the third spherical.
“Large ups to Tig’. Very pleased with him,” Jauan Jennings mentioned of his locker-mate. “We would like extra for him, as a result of that’s what it’s about, a man making a reputation for himself.”
4. SAM O’S WISE WORDS
Defensive finish Sam Okuayinonu delivered an inspiring message Saturday night time to teammates, maybe culling from his prime-time efficiency final season through which he had a sack and three quarterback hits in defeating Dallas.
“Sam O. spoke about alternative and numerous guys felt that story,” Brown mentioned. “Tonight was an evening to have a chance to indicate the world what the 49ers’ protection is, you understand, being down a few of our greatest gamers. The blokes did a fantastic job doing that tonight.”
5. LEAGUE-LEADING CMC
McCaffrey may do one thing nobody has ever performed: lead the NFL in each carries and receptions. His 217 carries are 12 greater than the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (one much less sport), and his 81 receptions are another than the NFC West’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks), Puka Nacua (Rams) and Trey McBride (Cardinals). McCaffrey’s 12-yard landing run marked his twelfth landing this season, tying for the league’s third most.
An apparent storyline was McCaffrey behind additional motivated to face a Panthers workforce that traded him three years in the past, however, if you understand him like we predict you do since his Stanford days, he’s All-Professional Intense regardless of the opponent. “That’s a totally new workforce than after I was there, so it’s actually simply enterprise as soon as the ball is snapped,” McCaffrey mentioned.
6. LOW BLOW
When the NFL points self-discipline for late-game transgressions, Jauan Jennings’ advantageous ought to not be larger than that doled out to the Panthers’ Tre’Von Moehrig, who seemingly may even draw a suspension for punching his left hand into Jennings’ groin space after a McCaffrey run with 2 ½ minutes remaining. That defined why Jennings went after Moehrig after the sport and was pulled away by Panthers linebacker Krys Barnes.
Shanahan referred to as it “an affordable shot” and was pleased with Jennings’ preliminary restraint. As for the postgame scene, “I used to be simply responding, to me, some infantile habits,” Jennings mentioned. “That was simply out of nowhere. It’s most likely the historical past of me taking part in ball. I play laborious. I’m bodily stronger than numerous DBs.” Moehrig informed reporters Jennings had been “speaking loopy” after performs and pushed him within the again.
7. PENALTY TREND
Neither Moehrig nor Jennings drew a penalty throughout the sport. The 49ers received penalized twice: pointless roughness on Jordan Elliott on a point-after kick (that the Panthers made, then took away the purpose to strive in useless for a 2-point conversion), and a delay-of-game name on a three-and-out sequence within the fourth quarter. The 49ers have been penalized solely as soon as their earlier sport.
Of the Panthers’ 4 penalties, two have been for holding Bryce Huff and one other was for intentional grounding, reflecting nicely on a 49ers move rush that formally had only one sack (by Clelin Ferrell).
8. ROBINSON REFLECTS
Curtis Robinson mentioned he must sort out higher after notching simply three in his first profession begin at center linebacker, instead of the injured Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune. A 12 months in the past, nonetheless, Robinson was coming off reconstructive knee surgical procedure after an ACL tear simply days earlier than he would have changed Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles within the lineup.
Robinson mentioned of Monday’s beginning debut: “It meant the world to me. It’s been actually troublesome. I discussed this to the protection final night time. It’s been actually troublesome this entire week for me to not actually mirror on the entire journey and simply hold it concerning the workforce, hold it concerning the protection. It was an enormous second for me. And so to have the ability to come out the opposite aspect with an enormous win on Monday night time and eventually be capable to mirror on, you understand, how lengthy it’s been and what I needed to undergo to get right here. I’m grateful greater than I may ever clarify.”
9. BREAKING AWAY
Nonetheless, neighMcCaffrey nor any 49ers’ rusher has busted a run longer than 20 yards. “There’s numerous issues schematically we tried tonight that we have been one block off or two steps from springing a reasonably large play,” middle Jake Brendel mentioned. “We simply should get within the movie, get that stuff corrected.”
Brendel complimented the Panthers’ “stout” defensive entrance earlier than noting that the 49ers felt they “left numerous yards on the market.” Kittle, on ESPN’s postgame present, echoed that frustration and mentioned the 49ers must be scoring 30 factors routinely.
10. BROWNS ON DECK
Purdy was not sacked Monday. The 49ers have allowed only one sack the previous three video games and 19 all season (eighth fewest within the NFL). They’ll get Tuesday off earlier than their subsequent problem: win in Cleveland for the primary time since 1984, after shedding their previous 4 visits.
Sunday they’ll oppose the Browns’ Myles Garrett, who has 18 sacks on his personal (27 quarterback hits). Cleveland has collected 42 sacks in all, seven shy of the Broncos’ NFL lead. Defensive sort out Maliek Collins has 6 ½ sacks, after totaling 5 final 12 months for the 49ers earlier than his March launch.
“We now have to heal up and ensure everybody is able to go,” Brendel mentioned. “Yeah it’s a brief week however nothing we haven’t performed earlier than. We simply should get in right here and set up the sport plan and ensure everyone seems to be recovered bodily.”
The one damage reported postgame: Okuayinonu’s ankle, from which he briefly returned.
The NFC playoff image: The 49ers stay within the seventh and remaining spot. Nevertheless, their 8-2 file in convention video games is unmatched. The No. 1 Rams are 9-2 with a 4-2 NFC mark, which may come into play relating to tiebreakers.
