The funny thing about NFL players, even though they make millions playing the sport they love, nothing fuels their motivation when playing for a simple T-shirt and hat. The hats and shirts represent winning their division, which also means playoff checks, and a chance at the ring, yet players seem to raise their level of play when free gear is available. And last night, the 49ers showed everyone they have another echelon of play with a convincing road win, 21-13, against the Seahawks. If you took Seattle and the 3, or the 3.5, you knew from the start it might not cash as the 49ers' defense and their offense were by far the better team. The score wasn’t as close as the game.
When Bill Parcells was coaching the Giants with the great Lawrence Taylor rushing off the edge in 1986, once his team got a two-score lead, he was on the headsets telling his offensive staff to milk the clock. Check out any NFL Films clip and hear Parcells telling Ron Erhardt his offensive coordinator, “milk it, milk it.” It didn’t matter when the lead occurred; all Parcells cared about was reducing the game and letting his defense dominate. He knew teams couldn’t put two great drives together. Parcells knew his defense eliminated the big play, so the shorter he made the game, the quicker he would gain a win. The '86 Giants, winners of Super Bowl XXI, allowed only 14.6 points per game and controlled the line of scrimmage—much like the '22 49ers.
Examining San Francisco, they have been as dominating the last seven weeks, allowing 11 points per game, and only 15 points per game on the season. When healthy, the speed and quickness of the 49ers, along with their space tackling ability, make it hard for any offense to have consistent success. They are relentless in their pursuit and closing speed to the ball, requiring the offense to be precise with each throw. They fit the runs perfectly, forcing teams to be one-dimensional, and when the game becomes all pass—the 49ers' defense becomes better—much like those '86 Giants.