You should forgive me if I’ve up and long past to Carolina in my thoughts. The 49ers glance to construct off a large divisional win as they head east to Charlotte to tackle a suffering Panthers staff. DraftKings Sportsbook these days has the 49ers as a 6.5 level highway favourite, odds that mirror a insecurity in Carolina up to it does a sturdy trust in the 49ers
Here are a few things to watch for in this matchup.
(*5*)Pressure bursts pipes
The 49ers these days lead the league in pressures with 91 thru 4 video games. The contributions are coming from in all places the protection, with ten other avid gamers recording a power. Seven of the ones ten have recorded a couple of pressures, led by means of DPOY candidate Nick Bosa who has a league-leading 30 of his personal.
Carolina’s offensive line has allowed a decent 31 p.c power fee, which is slightly below the league moderate of 32 p.c. Still, considerably not up to the 44 p.c power fee the 49ers’ protection has generated.
A matchup to watch might be 2022 first-round select Ikem Ekwonu towards Bosa, and this tenacious 49ers move rush. Ekwonu had simplest noticed one move rusher of Bosa’s caliber early in his NFL profession when he confronted off towards Myles Garrett in Week 1.
Garrett recorded six pressures and two sacks in that sport, giving the rookie take on a very early style of what it’s like to sq. off with an elite edge rusher at this stage. It is price noting that Ekwonu has seemed significantly better since, however in all probability Bosa might be in a position to profit from the inexperience of a proficient however very uncooked participant in Ekwonu.
Keeping Jimmy Garoppolo upright
The 49ers’ offensive line did a nice task protecting Garoppolo on either one of his ft in their win over the Rams, permitting simply 5 pressures. San Francisco’s offensive line has surrendered simply 28 pressures all season which is the fourth fewest in the league.
Their 26 p.c power fee allowed is amongst the supreme in the NFL as smartly, with the quantity shedding to 22 p.c in case you isolate the snaps since Garoppolo took over halfway thru the 2nd sport.
Carolina does supply a just right litmus take a look at in this one, as they’ve had 16 other avid gamers document a power paced by means of the 20 Brian Burns has logged. Burns is arguably the supreme edge rusher the 49ers’ offensive line has confronted this season and will have to supply a tricky problem for an offensive line lacking its foundational piece in Trent Williams.
Take benefit of the mismatch
Sometimes it’s supreme now not to overanalyze things heading into a matchup like this. The Panthers these days have the Thirty second-ranked offense in the NFL, whilst the 49ers have the top-rated protection in the league.
The 49ers are permitting a paltry 3.8 yards according to play, which is fewer than any staff in the league, and these days boast the league’s 2d-ranked passing and dashing defenses. There is not any goal weak spot in this aspect of the ball for San Francisco, and they’ll fit up with a Panthers passing assault this is ranked in the backside 5 in the league.
Carolina is averaging simply 4.9 yards according to play on offense, and the 56 first downs they’ve recorded rank lifeless closing in the league. In addition, quarterback Baker Mayfield has had a tough get started in his new house, posting a 54 p.c of entirety fee and an uninspiring 6.4 yards according to strive.
Mayfield’s 53.3 of entirety share when blitzed is sort of an identical to the 54.8 p.c he’s posting when now not blitzed, which will have to give the 49ers and their ferocious entrance 4 a number of alternatives to disrupt things whilst shedding seven into protection.
Mayfield has additionally had extra balls batted down at the line of scrimmage than some other quarterback in the NFL this season, one thing to control if the entrance 4 for San Francisco is in a position to get into a rhythm telegraphing Mayfield’s passes.
The “money” down
They name it that for not anything. Third-down potency most often makes or breaks a staff’s possibilities at victory in any given sport, and the 49ers’ protection has a vital merit over the Panthers’ offense in that space this season.
Carolina is these days changing simply 25.5 p.c in their 3rd down makes an attempt on offense, which ranks lifeless closing in the league. The 49ers’ protection, on the different hand, is simplest permitting groups to convert 32.7 p.c in their 3rd down makes an attempt, which is the sixth-best mark in the league.
Things are a lot nearer on the different aspect of the ball, the place Carolina’s protection permits combatants to convert 39.1 p.c in their 3rd downs, placing them proper in the heart of the pack at seventeenth.
The 49ers’ offense is twenty second in the league in changing 3rd downs at 37 p.c, a quantity this is closely weighed down due to their abysmal appearing in Denver, the place they went 1/10 on the cash down.
Red zone protection
This is one among the simplest spaces the place Carolina has the merit getting into this sport. The Panthers protection permits touchdowns on simplest 37.5 p.c in their opponent’s pink zone journeys which ranks fourth in the league.
The 49ers’ offense has struggled in the pink zone this season, changing simply 40 p.c in their pink zone journeys, rating thirty first in the league. However, on a sure be aware, the 49ers’ protection is ranked 5th in pink zone protection, simply at the back of Carolina, and the Panthers’ pink zone offense hasn’t been significantly better than the 49ers, the place they’re these days ranked twenty eighth in the league.
Bottom line
The 49ers are the extra proficient staff and will have to win this sport. The simplest manner I see Carolina making this aggressive and stealing this one is that if the 49ers’ offense implodes the manner it did in Denver and presents the Panthers plus box place by means of an egregious turnover or two deep in their very own territory.
I do suppose there’s a likelihood this one is a bit nearer than it will have to be in response to the 49ers’ inconsistencies on offense and the truth the Panthers’ protection has extra skill than it will get credited for. Ultimately I be expecting the 49ers to draw back and head into week six over .500 for the first time this season.