The San Francisco 49ers finished the regular season with a 13-4 record, clinching the second seed in the NFC after winning ten straight games to finish the regular season. The 49ers playoff journey begins on Saturday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium against their NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks. These are the five most essential 49ers playoff keys to success during this year’s tournament.
49ers Playoff Key: Control Line of Scrimmage
Football is decided by the team who controls the line of scrimmage. The team who controls the line of scrimmage will maintain the momentum and dictate the flow of the game. If they can control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense, the 49ers playoff journey will be a success.
If the 49ers’ offensive line can create holes and move defenders, they can control the game’s flow on offense. If the 49ers’ defensive line can rush the quarterback and disrepute the flow of the opposing offenses, they will be in great shape and hold opponents to minimal production on offense. The 49ers playoff success will be determined if they can control the line of scrimmage.
49ers Playoff Key: Play Clean Football
The 49ers’ playoff road will consist of teams that are the best of the best in the NFL. These teams are talented on both sides of the ball, offense and defense, and are well-coached. However, in playoff games, sometimes the deciding factor in a close game is whoever commits the least amount of penalties.
The 49ers need to play clean football and limit the penalties during the playoffs. Playoff games are so close and tightly contested that the slightest edge can be the difference between moving to the next round or being eliminated. Therefore, the 49ers need to be disciplined and not commit penalties that will stop a drive on offense or keep an opposing team’s offense drive alive. If the 49ers can play clean penalty-free football in the playoffs, they will be in great shape in their games.
49ers Playoff Key: Run the Rock
One way the 49ers can dictate the tempo and pace of the game in the playoffs is by controlling the clock and keeping the ball in their possession. The way the 49ers can do that is if they run the ball effectively. Therefore, another critical element for the 49er’s playoff success is if the offense can run the football and control the clock.
The 49ers have a bevy of running backs that can be lethal while running the football, led by superstar Christian McCaffrey. The addition of McCaffrey has elevated the 49ers’ offense from great to prolific. If the 49ers can run the ball effectively, dictate the tempo, and control the line of scrimmage, they will have success in the playoffs. If the 49ers’ offense can run the ball in the playoffs, they can scheme off the run and throw to wide-open skill position playmakers like George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Kyle Juszczyk.
The 49ers running backs, led by McCaffrey, are a deep group that is one of the team’s strengths. Opposing defenses have to game plan against many different looks, with guys like Mitchell, Jordan Mason, and Tyrion Davis Price all having experience running the ball in big-time situations. Look for McCaffrey to set the tone early and Mitchell and Mason to close the game late with McCaffrey in the slot receiver position.
The run game is so valuable to the 49ers because not only does it wear down the opposing defense, it allows the 49ers to chew the clock and maintain possession of the ball, but most importantly when the 49ers run the ball, they can keep the ball away from opposing offenses who have high powered offenses and dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks. The 49ers’ playoff success determines whether they can run the ball effectively.
49ers Playoff Key: Limit Turnovers
There is one great equalizer in all of football, turnovers. The 49ers playoff success will ultimately determine if the offense can play clean, turnover-free football. One central question that looms over the 49ers is how rookie seventh-round quarterback Brock Purdy will be able to perform in his first playoff game. Prudy, who will forever be linked to Mr. Irrelevant’s nickname for being the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, is playing like a ten-year veteran on the field.
Purdy has passed all the regular season tests, but what happened in the regular season doesn’t matter in the playoffs. Ultimately, the 49ers’ playoff journey will be determined if Purdy can limit the turnovers, not throw interceptions or fumble the football, and be able to get the football to the 49ers’ dynamic playmakers on offense like McCaffrey, Kittle, Samuel, and Aiyuk.
49ers Playoff Key: Play Complementary Football
The most critical factor for the 49ers’ playoff success is if they can play complementary football. The 49ers must play complementary football in all three phases of the game, offense, defense, and special teams. Playing complementary football begins with the special teams unit. Kickoff and punt coverage need to pin the opposing teams back in their territory and not give up big chunk plays to set up the opposing offenses.
The 49ers’ defense needs to create turnovers and limit the opposing offense’s chances of scoring drives while getting stops on critical third downs. The 49ers’ offense must execute and score touchdowns, not field goals, on drives to complement the special teams and defensive unit. If the 49ers can play cohesive, complementary football, the 49ers’ playoff journey will end in Glendale, Arizona, with them hoisting the Lombardi trophy.
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