San Francisco 49ers' Fred Warner (54) intercept a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb (88) in the second quarter of their NFC divisional-round playoff game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers had no intention of chasing goodness on defense in 2023.
Aside from a sixth Super Bowl championship, the 49ers defensively aspire to be great. And while the defense has been an upper-echelon unit that has held up its end in a 4-0 start, stepping it up in that area would go a long way toward keeping the 49ers on track with the Dallas Cowboys in town Sunday night.
“We know how good we are,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said Wednesday. “But we know what we’re trying to get to.”
Depending on how things shake out, the 49ers may well need to be great on defense to beat Dallas. It’s not lost on the 49ers that the Cowboys are giving up the NFL’s fewest points per game at 10.3, with the 49ers tied for third at 14.5. Or that Dallas is also ranked No. 2 in terms of yards allowed with the 49ers at No. 5.
The Cowboys lead the NFL with nine takeaways. The 49ers have five. Dallas has 14 sacks to nine for the 49ers.
The defenses don’t play each other of course. But consider this — the 49ers have been held to fewer than 20 points only once in 11 games started and finished by Brock Purdy. The only defense to do it was Dallas, which held the 49ers to four field goals and a single touchdown in a 19-12 loss in the divisional round of the playoffs.
So it’s not inconceivable that Dallas, at 3-1, could be the first team to keep the 49ers’ offense in check.
That would put the onus on the 49ers’ defense to raise its level of play for a similar result. When you’re a team as good as the 49ers, nitpicking is not only allowed but encouraged, and there are a few red flags worth considering going forward.
“I think we’ve had some weak moments,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But they’re still playing real good football, I’m real happy with them, and we’re in Week 4 here, but we’re never satisfied.”
While “weak” may sound a little strong, it’s clear the 49ers haven’t exactly faced offensive juggernauts to start the season.
In the opener against Pittsburgh, the 49ers opened with five consecutive three-and-outs and took charge early. Then inexplicably gave up a 95-yard, 12-play drive in just 1:25 just before halftime en route to a 30-7 win.
In Week 2 against the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford had the 49ers on their heels with a quick rhythm passing game, piling up 16 first downs in the first half and completing 14-of-18 passes for 143 yards. Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua (15 receptions, 147 yards) was a game-long mystery. The 49ers won anyway, 30-23.
The 49ers sat on the New York Giants in their Week 3 home opener, a team without starting running back Saquon Barkley and currently with the NFL’s 31st-ranked offense.
Last week against Arizona, the 49ers did enough to win but there were issues which coordinator Steve Wilks and his team will be looking at closely in a 35-16 win. The Cardinals’ offense stayed on the field too often, completing eight of 15 third downs, averaged 5.4 yards per snap and the 49ers created no turnovers with just one sack.
In shades of Pittsburgh, the 49ers also gave up a 99-yard touchdown drive. No defense as formidable as the 49ers’ should give up 95- and 99-yard drives during the course of an entire season, let alone in four games.
“It’s one thing to look at the stats and numbers, but we’re really focused on looking at the film and the tape and figuring out where we can improve,” slot corner Isaiah Oliver said. “We’ve played some good games for sure, but when we go back and watch there’s a lot of stuff that jumps out that we can do better.”
The 49ers have a middle-of-the-road nine sacks but their 49 pressures are tied for second. Defensive end Nick Bosa, who has just one sack in four games after signing a five-year contract worth a maximum of $170 million, seems confident those numbers will go up.
‘We’ve had some really good defensive line performances in the last three games,” Bosa said. “I think if we just keep building off that they’re going to come.”
In last year’s playoff win, the 49ers intercepted Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott twice — once by Warner and once by Lenoir. K’Waun Williams intercepted Prescott in the wild-card game the previous year.
Great defenses not only take the ball away, but score themselves. The 49ers have just the five takeaways and have yet to score on defense.
“We’re never satisfied with a win or any type of performance,” Warner said. “A win is always the first thing, and alongside that the ball is everything. When we don’t take that away, it’s a big point of emphasis.”
More solid than spectacular, the 49ers defense has taken a backseat to an offense which has scored 30, 30, 30 and 35 points in four games powered by Christian McCaffrey and with Purdy running the show.
Beating Dallas could put the defense back on a pedestal on the only game of the night with most everyone in the NFL tuning in with interest.
“Personally, I’m juiced,” Lenoir said. “I’ve been waiting for this game. I’m ready to get this going.”
But if the 49ers are just good on defense, it may not be good enough.
Originally published at Jerry McDonald