The 49ers did not come away with a tenth victory Thursday night, but they still had some notable performances. We'd trade them all for a win, but that's just not the way life is, so we'll just have to live with it.
The 49ers defense did manage to run their touchdown and 100-yard rusher streaks a game further. They have no allowed a rushing touchdown in twelve consecutive games and they have no allowed a 100-yard rusher in the last 33 games. The touchdown streak appeared in jeopardy when the Ravens got down to the one-yard line, but the defense stopped Ray Rice on second and goal at the one for a four yard loss. They followed that with a stop of Joe Flacco as he seemed intent on running a QB keeper.
The issue was that the Ravens picked apart the 49ers pass defense. They didn't put up monster passing totals, but they were having little trouble moving the ball for stretches of the game and it did not appear to be any adjustments to that. It's something the defense needs to figure out over the next ten days because teams will key on that as the playoffs approach.
Stifling Defense
- Dating back to last season, the 49ers defense has not allowed a rushing TD in 12 consecutive games, which ranks 2nd in team history.
- The 49ers defense is the only team in the NFL to not allow a rushing TD in the first 11 games of the 2011 season. The current 11-game streak to not allow a rushing TD ranks t-1st in the NFL since 1970.
- The 49ers defense has not allowed a TD in the first half in each of the past 5 games, which is the longest streak in franchise history and the most in the NFL since the Dallas Cowboys had 5 consecutive in 2008.
Run Defense Continues Streak
- The 49ers run defense has not allowed a 100-yd. rusher in the last 33 games, which marks the longest active streak in the NFL. Since the start of the 2000 season, the 49ers streak of 33 games without allowing a 100-yd rusher ranks third in the NFL.
- The 49ers defense registered 3 PDs on the day vs. the Ravens, giving them 80 for the season. The 80 PDs rank first in the NFL this season.
- The team is on pace to record 117 PDs on the season, which would be the 2nd most by the team since the stat was first tracked in 1991 (120 PDs – 1998, 112 PDs – 1993, and 110 PDs - 1995).
What a Weapon
- K David Akers connected on a 52-yd. FG in the 3rd qtr. at Bal., marking his 6th 50+ yd. FG this season. Akers joins Cle. K Phil Dawson (6-6) and Jax. K Josh Scobee (5-5) as the only kickers in the NFL to be perfect from 50+ yds. (min. 4 atts.).
- With 6 FGs made from 50+ yds. this year, Akers is t-1st in the NFL [Oak. K Sebastian Janikowski (5-6), Jax. K Josh Scobee (5-5)] for the most FGs from 50+ yds., trailing only Cle. K Phil Dawson (6-6).
Pro Bowl Punting
- P Andy Lee punted the ball 5 times at Bal., averaging 57.6 yds. per punt, marking the 3rd highest average in the NFL this season (min. 4 punts) for a single game.
- Lee had a net punting average of 48.0 which is the 5th highest in the NFL this season.
Extending Their Streaks
- TE/LS Brian Jennings has now played in 187 consecutive games.
- DT Justin Smith has now started 166 consecutive games, dating back to his rookie season in 2001. Smith's consecutive start streak ranks 3rd among defensive players and 5th among all NFL players.
- TE Vernon Davis has now started 70 consecutive games, which ranks 3rd in the NFL among TE's behind Tony Gonzalez (80) and Jason Witten (78).