The San Francisco 49ers lost their first game of the 2019 season but don’t think for a second this team isn’t still a contender out of the NFC.
Entering their Monday Night Football matchup with the rival Seattle Seahawks in Week 10, the San Francisco 49ers were the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL. When the left the field at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night, though, that was no longer the case. Their NFC West foes handed them a 27-24 overtime defeat off of a last-second field goal.
Throughout their hot start, the 49ers have had their share of critics. A common theme among the criticism has been the schedule that San Francisco had played prior to falling to the Seahawks on Monday. And with the loss, that might seem truer still.
Yes, the 49ers lost to the best team that they’ve faced in the 2019 season. They also took that team to overtime, had a chance to win a game in the extra period that was blown by a backup kicker signed off the street and did all of this without some heavy hitters on their offense.
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Tight end George Kittle, San Francisco’s leading receiver through nine games, missed the contests entirely against Seattle. Meanwhile, running back Matt Breida and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders were both forced out of action due to injury on Monday night. As good as Kyle Shanahan is and as deep as the 49ers weapons are, those are tough things to overcome.
Teams have to deal with injuries every year, to be sure. Having said that, is taking an overtime loss to a very good team not dealing with those injuries? This team weathered some misfortune and still held Russell Wilson largely in check, limited Chris Carson and even survived some turnover woes (one interception in particular that was very much not Jimmy Garoppolo’s fault but rather his receiver’s).
So while some people may look at the Niners loss to the Seahawks and say that it proves they are not as good as their 8-0 start would say, there are actually signs that it might prove San Francisco is a viable NFC contender. A short-handed group went up against another viable playoff team and took them to the absolute limit.
The 49ers defense remains an elite group, the offense at full strength can be frightening and has room to grow, and the coaching staff has very much proven their merit this season.
At the end of the day, there is still no reason to doubt the San Francisco 49ers. If they slip up against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11, maybe then you can question them. But anyone drawing conclusions from a fantastic game against the Seahawks where they happened to end up on the losing end is just grasping for straws to try and disprove what the Niners are this season.