That\u2019s about as complete of a game as you can ask for on a short week against your divisional rival without your top two running backs in the second half and top cornerback for the whole game.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0San Francisco 49ers\u00a0forced a pair of turnovers, turned the\u00a0Seattle Seahawks\u00a0over on downs, and scored on seven of its 11 drives, excluding the final kneel down, including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the offense needed to put the game out of reach.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get into the winners and losers from Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Winner<\/h2>\nNick Bosa<\/h3>\n
The 49ers’ offense was 17 yards shy of 500 yards and averaged almost eight yards per play, yet I was more impressed with the defense.<\/p>\n
Nick Bosa was a big reason why.<\/p>\n
Per Next Gen Stats, Bosa led all players in Week 6 with a 28 percent pressure rate. He was credited with 14 pressures, and one led to a turnover. Bosa was equally dominant as a run defender, redirecting Seattle\u2019s running back multiple times and setting the edge when the Seahawks ran his way. Bosa added four run stops to his ledger.<\/p>\n
Renardo Green<\/h3>\n
The Seahawks pose significant challenges to opposing defenses. Geno Smith teeters on the line of a great quarterback behind a shaky offensive line, and they have four competent pass catchers if you include tight end Noah Fant.<\/p>\n
No player was targeted in Week 6 more than rookie Renardo Green, yet he allowed one of the lowest passer ratings of the week at 39.6. Green only allowed 39 yards on those 11 targets, including a -5.5 EPA allowed (top 5 on the week).<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t help but appreciate how competitive Green was. He was even in position on the touchdown he allowed on fourth and goal. He only allowed 2.3 yards after the catch per reception. There was a lot to like from Green, who played a season-high in snaps.<\/p>\n
Jordan Mason<\/h3>\n
Mason would\u2019ve led the week in rushing had he gotten more than one carry in the second half before exiting with an\u00a0AC sprain in his left shoulder.<\/p>\n
Mason averaged 8.1 yards per carry, had 37 yards more than he expected, per Next Gen Stats, and an incredible 60 of his 73 yards came after contact. On only nine attempts, Mason forced four missed tackles and had two rushes of 10+ yards, including the 38-yarder to flip the field. Mason is improving as the season progresses, and these explosive runs are becoming a theme.<\/p>\n
Offensive line<\/h3>\n
When you have zero sacks in a game, that\u2019s a sign that your offensive line did its thing. Mason and Isaac Guerendo don\u2019t have the nights they do without the blocking. Over 220 yards rushing is a testament to the five guys upfront.<\/p>\n
Trent Williams said that rookie Dominck Puni has the makings of an All-Pro\/Pro Bowl-caliber player. Puni did not miss a block for the second game in a row and the third time this season. Jake Brendel and Colton McKivitz also had cheats, while Sports Info Solutions credited Williams with one blown block.<\/p>\n
The protection and run-blocking issues stem from the left guard. But watching the game back, Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford were tasked with executing difficult blocks, and there aren\u2019t many guards in the NFL who could pull off the plays they missed.<\/p>\n
Losers<\/h2>\nSpecial Teams<\/h3>\n
Mitch Wishnowsky had four punts for an average of 43.4 yards. He\u2019s 30th in net average on the season at 38.7 yards per punt. When the 49ers punt, they concede field position, almost an entire first down worth, with how short Wishnowsky\u2019s punts are going.<\/p>\n
Deebo Samuel came close to a big return. I still think he\u2019ll break one sooner rather than later, but the kick coverage teams continue to be abysmal. Kicker Matthew Wright could be lost due to injury after needing to make a tackle. That should not happen, yet it has twice this season.<\/p>\n
Yes, Darrell Luter Jr. forced a fumble. That\u2019s great. But it was quickly erased after Laviska Shenault Jr. took a kickoff return for 97 yards. Dee Williams had a 37-yarder on Wright\u2019s tackle.<\/p>\n
Find a kicker who can kick it out of the end zone.<\/p>\n
As a unit, the 49ers have the second-worst special teams, according to DVOA.<\/p>\n
Red Zone play-calling<\/h3>\n
Kyle Shanahan is starting to figure out what the 49ers can and can\u2019t do in the scoring zone, but he has not moved off the idea that he has to run the ball.<\/p>\n
At one point, Shanahan ran the ball on first down in Seattle\u2019s territory four times. The 49ers gained ten yards. Seattle had loaded the box, yet the offense continued to waste downs and run into bad looks.<\/p>\n
The long-developing screen passes to the fullback should receive a bold red line moving forward. You\u2019re asking your line to do things you usually wouldn\u2019t. Why start when you need to gain yards more than ever?<\/p>\n
On the first couple of trips in the red area, Shanahan relied on Deebo Samuel to win. He did not on two routes: A short crossing route or a fade in the end zone.<\/p>\n
If only there were a 6\u20194, 250-pounder who runs a sub 4.5 40-yard dash and just mossed three defenders last week in the end zone on the roster. If only.<\/p>\n
Sure enough, Kittle won on an out route, then on a gorgeous design when he was 1-on-1. We\u2019ll have a standalone article about the 49ers in the red zone, but the process is the root problem, so it\u2019s no surprise the results have been subpar to date.<\/p>\n
Winners<\/h2>\nFred Warner<\/h3>\n
No Javon Hargrave or Charvarius Ward means that the Niners need their best players to ball out. Average performances aren\u2019t good enough. The Niners got the best versions of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
I had Warner down for four game-altering plays. He finished with 11 tackles and seven run stops, but the play to beat a block and get off the field after stopping a screen was next level effort from Warner:<\/p>\n