The San Francisco 49ers looked like the NFL's best team when they raced through the first five weeks when they were never really threatened through five straight wins.
SANTA CLARA The past three games showed some flaws as the defense struggled to generate pressure and in coverage, the offense couldn't manage to score more than 17 points and the Niners lost three straight.San Francisco got a bye week to regroup and now will hope for a repeat of the past two seasons when second-half surges carried the 49ers to the NFC title game. 'I think it is a mixed mood,' defensive tackle Arik Armstead said before leaving for the bye week.
Pass rush. The Niners have built their defense from the defensive line, but haven't gotten the results they expected from a group led by 2022 AP Defensive Player of the Year Bosa, big-ticket free agent Javon Hargrave and Armstead.Second-year player Drake Jackson hasn't stepped up and San Francisco had to reinforce the position by trading for Randy Gregory and Chase Young to improve a unit that is generating sacks on 5.5% of pass plays, down from 7.5% the past two seasons.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. The defense has regressed this season under Wilks, who was brought in after DeMeco Ryans got the head coaching job in Houston. There was the bad choice to call a blitz with 16 seconds left in the first half against Minnesota that led to a 60-yard TD and too many instances of soft coverage that have allowed QBs to get rid of the ball before the pass rush can do damage.
The Niners are hoping to get Williams and Samuel back after missing the past two games. ... LG Aaron Banks is expected to miss a few weeks.KEY NUMBER0-37. The Niners remain winless under coach Kyle Shanahan when falling behind by at least eight points in the fourth quarter in the regular season and playoffs. If they do want to win the franchise's sixth Super Bowl, getting better at playing from behind will be a key.
San Francisco begins the second half with a visit to Jacksonville on Nov. 12. After a home game against Tampa Bay, the Niners will have a tricky three-game stretch with both games against Seattle surrounding a trip to Philadelphia for an NFC title game rematch.
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