Well, Week 3 was a straight-up rollercoaster, wasn’t it? Our Seattle Seahawks took a tough wire-to-wire 31-33 loss to the Commanders, and now the San Francisco 49ers are sitting pretty atop the NFC West. Talk about a punch to the gut for the Emerald City faithful, especially when you consider nearly every game outside of two was decided by a single possession. This league is wild, and what we thought we knew last week? Forget it. It’s a whole new ballgame every Sunday.
Niners’ Unstoppable Protection and Week 3 Chaos
The 49ers are doing something wild: they haven’t allowed a single sack in three weeks. That’s a Brock Purdy stat, folks! It’s the first time any team has pulled that off since the 2015 Bengals, and for the Niners, it’s a franchise first in that stretch since 1979. Meanwhile, the Rams racked up a ton of yardage against them but had to run 82 plays to do it. The key for Kyle Shanahan against the Broncos could be simple: possess the ball, keep that injury-riddled defense off the field, and let the chaos of the NFL sort itself out. Oddsmakers are already bracing for another nail-biter in Week 4, with the 49ers opening as just 2.5-point favorites over the Broncos at FanDuel, and a total of 46.5 points.
Injuries Mount as Broncos Bring Pressure
That short line isn’t just because the Broncos are tough, though they definitely are; they were ninth in the NFL in pressure percentage heading into Week 3. San Francisco is facing some serious injury concerns. Trent Williams is battling a stinger, and if Mike Evans can’t shake his rib injury, the 49ers’ wide receiver corps will be at a disadvantage, especially going up against Pat Surtain. And think about it: if you take away Nick Bosa, Williams, and Evans, you’re looking at three of their best players potentially compromised. Dre Greenlaw’s situation means Garret Wallow plays an entire game. We even saw cornerback Riley Moss get beaten deep on a double move. This Denver team is a step up in class, and these injuries are a real factor.
What’s at Stake in the Mile High City?
The Broncos aren’t exactly slouches, either. They’re above league average in passing success rate and EPA per pass. We saw the Rams run the ball effectively against Denver, but Sean McVay got pass-happy, throwing 55 (!) times with Matthew Stafford even when their starting running back was averaging nearly six yards per carry. You can’t rely on YOLO balls like that! I don’t think Kyle Shanahan will be nearly as reluctant to get Christian McCaffrey involved in the game plan. The Emerald City is watching this one closely. With the 49ers already leading the division and our Seahawks taking a tough loss, this Week 4 matchup has huge implications for the entire NFC West. What happens in Denver could shape the early season narrative for us all.
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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