Going into New Orleans, the San Francisco 49ers defense was second in points allowed with 15.25 averaged per game. They surrendered 46 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Sure the 49ers won by two points with that 48-46 final score, but this once fearsome defense was non-existent on Sunday.
So what the hell happened? Is this a cause for concern for the rest of the season? Should I bring back the Heat-O-Meter for Robert Saleh after that performance?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: I don’t have any statistics or data to back this next take up, just common sense. And that is if you go to the Superdome and play Drew Brees, whether you’re the 49ers or anyone, you are going to get points laid on you. If, in addition, you plan on going strike for strike with him, as Jimmy Garoppolo did, then this outcome isn’t anything out of the ordinary at all. Outside of the Atlanta Falcons, which is a divisional game (and those are bizarre) and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Drew Brees-led Saints were scoring around 30 points a game. This includes defenses like the Chicago Bears, which is not the weak link with that team. 46 isn’t 30, but it’s still nothing surprising.
It’s just going to happen. It was one of those games where the defense couldn’t contain one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game, and Jimmy Garoppolo had to do the equivalent of saying, “Give me the [site-decorum] ball, I’m going to go take care of this.”
The fact the 49ers gave up 46 points is not concerning. The thing to be concerned about is the loss of Richard Sherman for a couple of weeks as well as Dee Ford, along with all their other injuries That are concerning, the performance isn’t.
Those injuries are what may make the defense take a step back, but their performance Sunday shouldn’t be something to make you give up hope. But some of you could be concerned that this once-vaunted defense almost allowed a 50-burger. And obviously those aren’t good no matter what defense you are.
Are you concerned with the defense after what they gave up against the New Orleans Saints?
Poll
How concerned are you with the 49ers defense after the Saints game?
This poll is closed
-
7%
1: Terrified, this is not good. At all. It’s 2018 again.
(208 votes) -
11%
2: They can slow some things down for the offense at least
(324 votes) -
33%
3: Not ideal, buuuuut
(951 votes) -
34%
4: It raised an eyebrow, nothing more
(980 votes) -
12%
5: What are we concerned with?
(344 votes)