The San Francisco 49ers are absolutely feeling themselves right now, tearing out of the gate and looking like one of the NFL’s best teams already. You could practically feel the confidence radiating off their sideline early against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday afternoon. And what did they do with that confidence? They unleashed a straight-up trick play for their first touchdown that had everyone in the league buzzing.
Shanahan Pulled Off Some Absolute Mad Science
Seriously, Kyle Shanahan, that guy, had the nerve to call a wild hook-and-ladder on the 49ers’ very first drive against the Cardinals. This wasn’t some conservative, safe call to test the waters. This was 3rd-and-12, man, in their own territory! They needed a big chunk of yards to keep the drive alive, and what does Shanahan dial up? An 80-yard touchdown that instantly snatched them the early lead. That’s just audacious playcalling. This dude has been orchestrating one of the most creative offenses in the entire league ever since he first took the head coach job way back in 2017. If you ever doubted his genius as an offensive playcaller, this play is just more undeniable proof of how effective he truly is. You gotta grudgingly respect the guts it takes to pull that off, even if it’s coming from the Niners. That’s the kind of play that makes you rewind the tape a few times just to be sure you saw it right.
Deebo Samuel Took It To The House, Again!
So, picture this: Quarterback Brock Purdy drops back and hits Mike Evans for what looks like a totally normal, short gain. You’re probably thinking, “Okay, that’s fine, maybe they’ll get closer.” Nope! Evans, in a flash, quickly flips the ball back to Deebo Samuel. And then Samuel, who’s always a threat to take it the distance, just absolutely toasted Arizona’s defense. He blew right past them, taking the ball a full 80 yards for the score! Can you believe it? That wasn’t just any touchdown either, it marked Samuel’s second touchdown of the season. Even more impressive, it was his longest play from scrimmage since the 2021 season. Hook-and-ladder calls on third-and-long are somewhat common, yeah, because you need that space to execute it. When they work, you usually expect them to go for maybe 10 or 15 yards at best. But a hook-and-ladder that turns into an 80-yard touchdown? That’s not typically how this play is drawn up. It’s truly wild to see a play like that executed so perfectly, completely flipping the field and the scoreboard in one fell swoop.
The Niners are clearly off to a scorching start this season, showing everyone why they’re already considered one of the NFL’s elite. Pulling off a trick play like this, with such confidence and flawless execution so early in the year, sends a loud and clear message to the entire league. The NFC West is definitely on high alert after seeing that kind of offensive firepower.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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