Golden Nuggets: This can’t be good for our health

I don’t know about you, but the last couple months of 49er football (aside from the Green Bay game) has been really taxing on my heart. It all started during the first game against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers were winning, but watching the little guy turn it on against our defense and almost lead a comeback was not something I liked watching. Then the Seattle Seahawks came to town and led us on an emotional roller coaster that resulted in a heartbreaking overtime loss. Each game since then has come down to the final seconds (again, not including Green Bay) and I can’t help but wonder how many years this season has taken off my life.

The 49ers have lost too many bodies on the defensive line, and the linemen we have are just too worn out to generate any real pressure, which just makes it harder for the DBs to do their jobs. The offense needed to step up in place of the defense, but the loss of Weston Richburg has slowed down any momentum they had coming out of the game in New Orleans. The result has been a wild and crazy ride to the playoffs, and I’m loving every minute of it (injuries be damned). We all waited long enough for this team to be good again. Now all they have to do is go beat the Seahawks and give Dee Ford, Jaquiski Tartt, and Kwon Alexander more time to get healthy.

Now on to those links...

What 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan was doing during Seahawks-Cardinals game (Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports)

NFL odds: 49ers open as slight favorites for Week 17 tilt vs. Seahawks (Josh Schrock, NBC Sports)

Seahawks will be without three key players vs. 49ers (Josh Montero, KNBR.com)

49ers at Seahawks Flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 17 (Keiana Martin, 49ers.com)

How Seahawks were exposed by Cardinals in tune-up for 49ers rematch (Brian Witt, NBC Sports)

Grading the 49ers Top Performers from Week 16 Win over Rams (Keiana Martin, 49ers.com)

Why Kyle Shanahan believes 49ers’ Ahkello Witherspoon will ‘redeem himself’ (Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports)

Who was good, who was bad in the 49ers’ 34-31 win vs. Rams (Kyle Madson, Niners Wire)

Brother of 49ers quarterback killed in double murder (Jordan Freiman, CBS News)

Around the league...

What we learned from Sunday’s Week 16 games (NFL.com)

2019 NFL playoff picture: AFC, NFC standings, seeds, scenarios and outlook in Week 16 (Kevin Seifert, ESPN)

NFL investigators probe for connection to Patriots football operations in Spygate 2 (Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk)

Sources: NFL may simplify coin toss rules for 2020 after Dak Prescott near-gaffe vs. Rams (Adam Schefter, ESPN)

NFL insider notes: Handing out season awards both real and fake, including MVP, Best Game and more (Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports)

Picking one player from every NFL team with something to prove in Week 17 (ESPN)

Andrew Whitworth: ‘My intention is to play’ in 2020 (Adam Maya, NFL.com)

... I have spoken