The San Francisco 49ers are 4-0 to start the 2026 season, and here’s the kicker, folks: their offensive line has allowed ZERO sacks through those first four games! Yeah, you read that right. It’s an insane start, making them the first team since the 2005 Indianapolis Colts to pull off that kind of protection. We’ve seen their offensive line get slammed, often unfairly, but Chris Foerster’s crew is straight up balling out, posting an NFL-best 13 percent pressure rate. That’s a huge leap from last year when they were 10th in the league at 19.5 percent. This isn’t just good, it’s “holy cow, what happened?!” good.
The Big Guns And The Quiet Achievers Stepping Up
Look, it’s no shocker that future Hall of Famer Trent Williams is out there playing at an elite level. The guy’s a beast. And Colton McKivitz, the right tackle, he had his best career season last year and has truly locked himself in as one of the best starters in the league. We also gotta give a nod to Brock Purdy’s pocket presence and mobility; that definitely helps keep him clean back there. But honestly, the biggest “whoa” moment for this O-line has to be the interior guys. Remember how everyone used to give center Jake Brendel grief? Turns out, it was probably unwarranted. He’s proving everyone wrong, big time.
The Interior Line’s Incredible Turnaround
Heading into the season, the big question marks were those two guard spots. Dominick Puni, the right guard, was dealing with lingering knee issues in 2025, and the left side next to Williams seemed, well, less than convincing. But Puni? He’s back and playing like the guy who had them hyped after his rookie year in 2024. The dude has only given up four pressures in a wild 231 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. And then there’s Connor Colby at left guard. He’s gone and made that role his own. While his pass protection might still be considered the weaker link, he’s more than held his own and is a total menace in the run game, especially when he climbs to the second level to block for those zone runs. This whole interior line, once seen as a major weakness for them, is now rock solid.
This kind of transformation from a perceived weakness into a dominant strength? That’s what makes a team seriously dangerous. It changes everything about how you game plan against them. With their O-line playing at this insane level, those guys are about to face their sternest test yet, and you know what? Everyone in the division will be watching to see if this incredible start is sustainable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
Leave a Reply