Fortunately for the 49ers, the first half of their 2024 season ended up being a pass/fail attempt. And despite their best efforts, they succeeded. Over the course of these eight weeks—and, naturally, Sunday’s sloppy but relieving 30-24 victory over the reeling Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium—they have frantically navigated through waves of injuries, suffered heartbreaking last-minute losses, improvised wildly, made far too many mistakes, and largely just avoided encroaching disaster.
Consider that a pessimistic assessment of the 49ers’ relative NFC standing heading into their bye week after stumbling back to 4-4? Most likely not. Late Sunday, the 49ers’ words and facial expressions all sent the same message: Thank God it’s over. It’s time for them to rest, start playing football that is of a high calibre, and create a stir in November, December, and possibly the playoffs. “Everything is in front of us,” Fred Warner remarked. “We are free to be whoever we choose. In terms of players, we have everyone we require. We’re obviously injured, but perhaps some men will return after a week.
“At this stage, it’s simply about improving. We cannot continue to get up for a game, lose it, and then try to figure out how to win another one. Let’s simply improve. That’s the reason that minor mistakes at the conclusion of the game were so annoying. Because such are not made by the best teams. As Warner noted, the 49ers had a 27-10 lead going into the fourth quarter and should have easily won their bye week, but the vaunted defence allowed two quick touchdown drives from the Cowboys, and it was almost panic time once more.
As Warner noted, the 49ers had a 27-10 lead going into the fourth quarter and should have easily won their bye week, but the vaunted defence allowed two quick touchdown drives from the Cowboys, and it was almost panic time once more. The 49ers couldn’t win this game easily, of course. This season’s first half had to conclude with a game on the precipice. Although the 49ers officially have 53% of their regular season left, I’m considering this the first half. The 49ers are also seeing this in that manner.)
When it was absolutely required, the 49ers defence forced four consecutive Dak Prescott incompletions to get the stop. The game was won by the 49ers. No one on the squad referred to this performance as outstanding or a template for what they hope to do in the upcoming months. However, it was necessary. Everything about the 49ers’ 2024 season would have begun to fall apart if they had lost this game, if they hadn’t recovered from a sleepy, penalty-filled first half, if they hadn’t scored 21 points in a row in the third quarter, or if they hadn’t finally sealed the deal.
Nick Bosa remarked, “We felt like the better team and we just needed to kind of execute better.” We were making mistakes in a couple of areas. We should beat teams that are superior to us if we just execute for a longer period of time.
Although Bosa’s “MAGA” moment on the NBC postgame set is already causing its own set of festivities and fallout, I don’t think it will have a significant impact on the team or locker room. As one of the league’s top players and a real team leader, his political views are well known in the building, and he won’t face any reprimands for voicing them. It’s okay if fans think he’s great or terrible for interrupting his teammates’ interviews to say this. On national television, he did it. The goal was to elicit a response.)
Even though they outperformed the Rams in Week 3, the 49ers still lost. In Week 5, the 49ers outperformed the Cardinals. and yet lost. We could have overturned all those conclusions if they had thrown away this game as well: Perhaps the 49ers aren’t good enough to believe they’re better than anyone. A holding penalty that stopped Brock Purdy’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel and another that stopped a big run were among the six violations for 49 yards that the 49ers received during the first half of Sunday’s game.
Shanahan then made a half-joke about having only one message at halftime: “Stop making penalties.” The 49ers, however, were gaining ground. They were performing. With the exception of one lengthy Dallas drive, the defence was holding the Cowboys at bay. All they had to do was quit making mistakes. Trent Williams remarked, “When that occurs, it’s not like you come in frustrated [at halftime].” “Because it’s all of us and nothing they’re doing is involved.”
After that, the 49ers recorded ten first downs to the Cowboys’ zero in the third quarter. The 49ers then made it through the fourth quarter.
They are now tied with the Seahawks and Cardinals for first place in the NFC West. Additionally, Christian McCaffrey should return to the 49ers sometime next month, which will boost an offence that has been severely lacking in power. Dre Greenlaw could return shortly as well, and he might have a similar impact on a defence that has appeared to be sluggish at times this season. Purdy had a fantastic game, helping them recover from his poor performance against Kansas City the previous week. He has every reason to be one of the league’s top quarterbacks for the remainder of the season and possibly for another ten or so years, barring the occasional clunker.
They also recall that in several recent seasons, they have excelled in the second half. The 49ers don’t want that to happen this season, but they know it’s everything out there for them at.500 after fighting through this victory.
According to Kyle Shanahan, “you always go into a season expecting to win them all.” “You’re not quite where you’d like to be.” However, we knew this was a significant game going into it. With your backs to the wall like that, we didn’t want you to be 3-5 heading into a bye week. It was huge to get the win. We didn’t start with the 4-4 record we wanted, but when you look at our division and everything, you feel like we’re in a fantastic place. Additionally, the 49ers have a 2024 draft class that looked promising during training camp, started to produce in Week 1, and is currently developing into one of their best and deepest rookie crops to date.
Additionally, the 49ers have a 2024 draft class that looked promising during training camp, started to produce in Week 1, and is currently developing into one of their best and deepest rookie crops to date.
The standout player on Sunday was Isaac Guerendo, who replaced Jordan Mason, who injured his shoulder again after just six rushes, and ran 14 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. Naturally, throughout the season, Dominick Puni has been a mainstay at right guard. As a starting safety, Malik Mustapha hits players all over the field. The third cornerback is Renardo Green. Additionally, Ricky Pearsall made his debut last week and already appears to be a seasoned player; on Sunday, he had a 39-yard carry and caught four catches on four targets for 38 yards.
“That’s an incredible rookie class,” Warner remarked. “I don’t believe you can discuss it enough. It’s so difficult to be a rookie in the NFL, and it’s incredible to watch all those players perform at such a high level right now. November 5.