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The 49ers were at a tipping point in Week 14. A loss could’ve been a disaster, but a win moved them up a spot in the NFC playoff picture and put them on the fast track to securing a postseason berth. Perhaps more impressive than the win itself was how they did it. Their performance in a 26-23 overtime victory over the Bengals was different from their typical formula, and moved them up two spots to No. 12 in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings.
A typical San Francisco win this season was highlighted by a relentless rushing attack and a stingy defense while questions loomed about their ceiling because of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. There were doubts they could win a game with the quarterback throwing it 40-plus times and needing to make multiple big throws with the game on the line.
Garoppolo did that Sunday by leaning on his best playmakers and added a new layer to a San Francisco offense that seems to be hitting its stride. From USA TODAY’s Nate Davis:
George Kittle deserves the headlines, the first tight end ever with consecutive games of at least 150 receiving yards and a TD. But credit WR Brandon Aiyuk, who’s turned his season around after being sparingly used in the first half of it.
Kittle and Aiyuk combined for 26 targets, 19 catches, 213 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winner from Aiyuk in OT. Star wide receiver Deebo Samuel had only one catch on one target.
This is a 49ers offense that’s always going to be tough to game plan for because of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s ability to design a run game and scheme players open in the passing game. Now San Francisco is pairing that with a quartet of excellent playmakers when running back Elijah Mitchell is healthy.
If the 49ers have all four of those players available come playoff time they’ll find themselves among the NFL’s best teams when the games really count.
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