The San Francisco 49ers are heavy favorites to win the NFC Championship against the Detroit Lions. But while they are a well-balanced team with a Top 10 offense and defense, they aren’t without weaknesses.
NFL analyst Greg Cosell highlighted as much while sharing his preview of the showdown during the Ross Tucker Podcast. He noted that third-down defense is a big problem for the Niners, and it could expose them when they play a Lions team that is equally good offensively.
“The Niners are not very good in third down defense. A lot of people might not be aware of that. They’re in the bottom third of the NFL in third down defense. The Packers concerted quite a bit on third down,” Cosell revealed.
Not only that, but the pass rush is another issue that could be problematic for the 49ers when they play the Lions. They were not able to overwhelm Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the divisional round and almost lost, and if they don’t elevate that part of their game, an elite QB like Jared Goff could very well punish them.
“They did not get a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which has been a little bit of a problem for them given the players they have. Chase Young has not looked particularly good since he’s been a 49er,” Cosell added.
The Niners defense is not what you think it is.
Allow @GregCosell to explain: pic.twitter.com/83fOrEFrOP
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) January 27, 2024
San Francisco 49ers Favorites Over Detroit Lions
If there is one thing going well for the San Francisco 49ers, it’s the fact that they have a really good offensive team led by Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
With the two leading the way, the Niners offense has been really hard to stop. They are MVP candidates for a reason, and they have proven that they can step up when it matters most.
The 49ers have over 74 percent chance to win the game, thanks in large part to their star-studded roster, a homefield advantage, and the fact that they have been on the said stage multiple times before.
Compared to the Lions that haven’t won a playoff game for 32 years until this postseason, that could make a huge difference.
It remains to be seen if the Lions can take advantage of the weaknesses that Greg Cosell mentioned, but sure enough, it should be an exciting showdown.
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