The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their year with a convincing win against the Los Angeles Rams last Thursday night, immediately setting their sights on a 2-0 start with a game against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. Week 1 is always a wild ride, right? It can set a whole tone for the season, or it can be a total mirage. Figuring out which early trends actually mean something and which ones are just noise is always part of the fun. But one thing is for sure: you always want to be 1-0 after Week 1. Now, let’s dive into some numbers that scream “pay attention.”
Under Center Shift: A New Look on Offense?
According to SumerSports, the entire NFL saw a big jump in under center (UC) formations in Week 1 this year, hitting a 42% UC rate compared to just 29.2% in 2025. What was the result? A massive leap in dropback rate from under center, going from 14.6% in 2025 to 32.2% this year. And the efficiency? The UC EPA per dropback is up to 0.149, a real boost from 0.103 last season. But here is the kicker for the 49ers: their offense was under center for a whopping 57.8% of their snaps! That’s leading to a solid 0.20 UC/EPA. Their overall offensive success rate hit 56.2%, climbing to 58.3% late in the game, which matches their success rate on dropbacks. The overall offensive EPA sits at 0.17, but the real storyline developing here could be that massive shift to playing more under center. This is a strategic move that could have a huge impact if they keep it up.
Pressure Without Sacks, and an O-Line Holding Strong
Hold up, zero sacks for the 49ers defense? Yeah, that’s what the stat sheet says. But don’t let that fool you. Their pass rush and blitz packages were definitely felt by the Rams on Thursday night. The Niners brought 14 pressures, seven hurries, and seven QB hits, getting pressure on 37.5% of the Rams’ dropbacks. Nick Bosa was back and looked excellent, but the additions of Osa Odighizuwa and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris clearly paid instant dividends for a pass rush that felt non-existent last season. Predicting a better pass rush wasn’t exactly a bold take given how poor it was last year, but the disruptions are there, and the sacks will absolutely come. As long as they keep disrupting at this level, that defensive line is going to eat.
And speaking of no sacks allowed, the 49ers offensive line was great too. They allowed pressures on only 25% of Purdy’s dropbacks. In fact, the Rams barely got any “quick pressure,” only managing it on 5.7% of the 49ers’ dropbacks. A game plan with quick throws helps, sure, but the offensive line was dominant at times and gave the Rams’ defensive line fits. It will be exciting to see if this continues, or if it was just an early season anomaly. Can they keep protecting like that against a fresh opponent?
Next up, the 49ers are at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. With that 1-0 start secured, they’ll be looking to go 2-0 and solidify some of these impressive early season trends. Let’s see if that under-center magic keeps rolling.
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.
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