Game Thread: Wildcard weekend

[Clayton]

Feels like it's worth mentioning the Chargers defense is 10th in dropback EPA allowed going into the game despite missing Bosa most of that time.

They were 2nd in EPA per play last year on offense IIRC. They're a sleeping giant. Or an injury prone one.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Who is the best team they've beat? A banged up Chargers team?

There’s no argument here. We both agree they’re the best team in the NFC.

Also, I could care less what happened early on because the niners were banged up all over the place and didn’t have McCaffrey. They blew out the bucs and blew out Seattle three times in the last few games. With the exception of the Raiders they blew out every team they played in the last seven. Actually, 8 including playoffs.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I feel I see that like twice a game since Nagy was the OC in KC back in 2017.


Purdy still screams fool's gold to me. There were people talking themselves into Jimmy G early on until he lost the wrong games.

What has Purdy done thus far to make you think he’s fools gold?

 

[Fountain City Blues]

They were 2nd in EPA per play last year on offense IIRC. They're a sleeping giant. Or an injury prone one.

The latter, imo. Kinda hard to take this seriously going on year 12 of this going back to 2010.

Chargers were 5th I believe on a per play basis at .088/play , and virtually identical to the 49ers if you only count regular season, amusingly. Pretty good. Big gap between them and the actual elite offenses that year which were all .124/play or better (counting postseason) in KC, BUF, TB, and GB.

 

[fightinfunbags]

The hell was that? 4n7 and Trevvy serves up a pick.

This is reminiscent of Hurts last year in his first playoff game.

 

[Golden Spur]

Man, 24-0. Chargers D game plan has been perfect.

 

[Clayton]

There’s no argument here. We both agree they’re the best team in the NFC.

Also, I could care less what happened early on because the niners were banged up all over the place and didn’t have McCaffrey. They blew out the bucs and blew out Seattle three times in the last few games. With the exception of the Raiders they blew out every team they played in the last seven. Actually, 8 including playoffs.

The cool thing is that this will play itself out. 'Niners with a QB' has always been the most fearsome idea. We'll see if Purdy holds up.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

What has Purdy done thus far to make you think he’s fools gold?

Pocket presence. Arm strength. Lot of the same complaints people have about Jimmy G, actually. Slightly worse maybe even.

Basically what I am saying is this isn't all that different from the early Jimmy G arguments where people unironically thought he was good. Maybe that's the best team in the NFC, but because of Purdy? Hard no for me.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Man, 24-0. Chargers D game plan has been perfect.

Chargers are a bad team to be down against. Their weak run D becomes less and less a factor as their leads grow.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

The 49ers have played a very soft schedule, and somehow even softer under Purdy

They played exactly two teams with a winning record in this winning stretch (both at home)

They have not travelled outside of the Pacific time zone since mid-October, and lost both times outside the PST.
11 straight PST games is an NFL record.
Teams tend to struggle when they travel coast to coast all the time. It is a good betting strategy at the sportsbooks.

Also, the 49ers did not play even a single road game versus a team with a winning record all season.

That being said, I believe they are very good.
But, you do have to look at the schedule just a bit as well....before you can accurately assess them.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Who is the best team they've beat? A banged up Chargers team?

They’re really good. That being said, they’d have won 13 in a row to make it to the Super Bowl. 14 to win the Super Bowl. That’s a tall task for even a great team to win that many football games in a row. Aren’t 2 of those 4 wins over playoff teams wins over Seattle who they have a great matchup against?

 

[Fountain City Blues]

This is reminiscent of Hurts last year in his first playoff game.

Chargers pass D is very undersold. Now their Run D is a joke and it's a bit surprising the Jags haven't bullied their DL physically. Game immediately started getting out of control on a DL identifying pass on a RPO and it turning into an INT.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Jags better put something/anything on the board before halftime.

Bolts are super charged right now.

 

[PDay8810]

Lawrence needs a tin cup

 

[Cedrique]

Geez, Trevor knows what team he's playing for, right?

 

[Tainthappening]

Well... this stat appears to be in jeopardy

 

[Golden Spur]

LEL pick #4. The O/U on Asante Samuel int's in the 1st half would have bought me a freakin' mansion in the sky.

 

[PDay8810]

And then...

 

[megalodon30]

Lawrence throws another interception.

Yikes!

 

[Wazmankg]

This is incredible.