Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers are packing up a 2-2 record and renewed confidence for their 10-day road trip that starts this weekend in Charlotte. What a difference a week makes among the 49ers Faithful, judging from these mailbag submissions to my Instagram and Twitter couches:
Nick Bosa, over/under 2 sacks? (@rober2o)
Per game? Sure, and take the over this Sunday in Charlotte. He leads the NFL with six sacks. His next target is an all-time favorite: Baker Mayfield, whose antics at Oklahoma are seared into Bosa’s Ohio State memory bank.
Three years ago, Bosa dominated Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns in prime time. Postgame, Bosa dryly quipped: “I was just screaming his name like, ‘Baaaaaker, Baaaaaker. You good? Come on, pick it up, we want a challenge.’” Bosa had 2 sacks that 31-3 rout (plus five QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery).
Can this defense reach the level of ’85 Bears, ’00 Ravens, ’02 Bucs? (@mattyb4949)
Congratulations for not yet crowning them after blown leads at Chicago and Denver. Bosa said Monday night the 49ers have the NFL’s best defense, a week after the Broncos’ Bradley Chubb made the same claim.
Statistically, the 49ers are allowing the NFL’s fewest points (11.5 per game), but still shy of the 2000 Ravens’ standard (10.3 ppg.). The 49ers could chase history if they miraculously keep allowing just 3.81 yards per play. They’re tied with the Buffalo Bills at 234.5 total yards allowed per game, which would be the NFL’s fewest since the 1991 Eagles (221.8 ypg).
Finally, they’ve allowed just four offensive touchdowns when you remove the Seahawks’ blocked field goal return. That is one fewer than their 2019 defense’s four-game start, the same as in 2009, and one more than 1997.
Why can’t the 49ers offense score in the second half? Only 16 points after halftime this year. Same as last season. (@rajojack37)
Indeed, the 49ers’ only second-half touchdowns: Jimmy Garoppolo’s fourth-quarter run in the home opener, and Talanoa Hufanga’s pick-six Monday night. They’ve been outscored 19-3 in the third quarter this season. Why? The 49ers apparently need better offensive adjustments not just at halftime but throughout the game – along with fewer second-half turnovers, better third-down production, and more clutch plays.
The thrashing Carolina is about to get should be illegal. (@jfalu)
Humble reminder: the 49ers are 0-2 on the road, and they’ve dropped their past three regular-season visits to Carolina, though Colin Kaepernick and the 2013 team won there in the divisional playoffs.
What challenges do the Niners have to look out for at Carolina? (@toxicsinner)
That the Panthers ownership might become enamored with DeMeco Ryans and try to hire him on the spot to replace Matt Rhule. OK, we can table that for a few months. The Panthers (1-3 overall, 0-2 at home) will send Brian Burns (three sacks) after Jimmy Garoppolo. Sacramento native Shaq Thompson is an eighth-year veteran with 600 tackles. Stanford product Christian McCaffrey had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games before a thigh injury and the Cardinals limited him to 27 yards in Sunday’s loss.
What is Hufanga’s contract and do we extend him NOW? (@_andrewo.o)
He is not eligible for an extension until after the 2023 season, per NFL rules regarding drafted rookies who sign four-year deals. He is making $825,000 in base salary this year, as part of a $3.7 million pact with just a $240,152 signing bonus. Safety Jimmie Ward, a free agent in 2023, will get a chance to cash in before Hufanga. The Chargers’ Derwin James reset the safety market in August (four years, $75.5 million).
Will they try Daniel Brunskill at tackle? (@matty__maff)
Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Brunskill is an option after Colton McKivitz’s injury, just as Brunskill was in seven starts at right tackle in 2019. But it’s asking a lot to try left tackle for the first time, after just making his season debut back at right guard in place of rookie Spencer Burford. Left tackle is Jaylon Moore’s role until Trent Williams gets healthy, presumably in the coming weeks. McKivitz’s knee sprain should shelve him two months. Blake Hance also is an option.
First time at Levi’s and a 49ers’ ‘W’ on my birthday! BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! (@_heypeterparker)
Javon Kinlaw might disagree, presuming you are not his alias. It was his 25th birthday, and the 49ers’ medical staff did not allow him to suit up because of an issue with his surgically repaired knee. Smart to err on side of caution the way that rout played out vs. the Rams. And happy birthday to all (in advance and in belated fashion).
Originally published at Cam Inman