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The Niners got an early holiday present when Fred Warner took Jared Goff’s pass to the house.
Jared Goff was having a strong first half for the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers. Then, he looked to throw a short pass and found … Niners LB Fred Warner.
Fred Warner read that route from the second it was snapped 😤 @fred_warner
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ZGgaxNeqUH
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 22, 2019
The Pick-Six turned the Rams’ lead into a 24-21 deficit in the final minute of the first half of an entertaining game.
Fred Warner came up with a huge pick-6 to give the 49ers a lead over the Rams.
The 49ers defense looked slow and off-balance all night against Jared Goff and the Rams. With LA driving, looking for points to close the half and extend their four-point lead, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner jumped a swing pass and took it 46 yards for a touchdown.
HOT HANDZZ ‼️@fred_warner with the pick 6! #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/OvfSkJM4m7
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 22, 2019
That’s a huge play for the 49ers defense, and it gave San Francisco a 24-21 lead going into the half.
The 49ers defense has passed all of its tests this year, but Michael Thomas, Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara are a different type of challenge.
The 49ers defense is two-for-two in passing tests on their recent three-game stretch. They shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, then held MVP-frontrunner Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to a season-low 20 points.
Now the tests keep coming against Drew Brees and the Saints. While New Orleans isn’t the offensive juggernaut they were in the earlier portion of the decade, they’re still top 10 in points scored, 13th in yards, and No. 6 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA.
The Saints’ defense is just as good as its offense, which means the 49ers will need to match them in what could be another low-scoring contest. Here are the six most important players for the 49ers defense Sunday:
The reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Month seems to have a Pro Bowl spot locked up, and may wind up getting an All-Pro nod in his second season. Warner has elevated his game to a new level with Kwon Alexander out for the season, and he’s begun dominating against the run and in coverage. The Saints offense has two extremely talented playmakers in Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, both of whom might wind up matched up with Warner. How Warner does in those matchups will play a significant role in getting stops for the San Francisco defense.
New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas was named Offensive Player of the Month for November, along with Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.
Big-time production warrants big-time recognition, and that’s what New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas earned after setting the league on fire in November. The NFL named Thomas as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month after posting up 37 receptions (on targets) and 415 receiving yards in the Saints’ four games, catching an otherworldly 86% of his 43 targets from quarterback Drew Brees. On the year so far, he leads the entire NFL in both receptions (11) and receiving yards (1,290).
He’s in rare company. The AFC Offensive Player of the Month is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a sensational playmaker who’s hounding defenses through the air as well as on the ground. And Thomas will play against his NFC Defensive Player of the Month counterpart on Sunday in San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
Here’s the total listing of November’s Players of the Month, by position group:
Thomas joins teammate Thomas Morstead as two Saints players to be recognized here this season; the Saints’ veteran punter was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the first such award of his long NFL career. The leadership and effectiveness of players like Thomas and Morstead have been a huge part of the Saints’ success this season, and they’ll continue to be foundational pieces for the rest of the team to build upon as they work to reach and win Super Bowl LIV.
🚨NFC Offensive Player of the Month 🚨@Cantguardmike 🙌
Retweet for #ProBowlVote#Saints pic.twitter.com/VrrcHd7KCa
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 5, 2019
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The New Orleans Saints will host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, and they’ll have to win several key matchups to finish out with a win.
The New Orleans Saints are set to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. C.T. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. After the Seattle Seahawks’ victory on Monday Night Football, the Saints now hold the number one seed in the projected NFC playoff picture heading into their clash with the 49ers. A victory here can go a long way towards sealing it.
Both New Orleans and San Francisco have a lot to play for this Sunday. The Saints could solidify their hold on the number one seed in the conference, while the 49ers will look to reclaim their lead in the NFC West and get out of a wild-card spot.
This game will come down to which side can win several key matchups. We’ve broken down a few that could have huge implications on the outcome:
Ryan Ramczyk has been an absolutely lockdown tackle for New Orleans this year. His continued success this season has allowed the Saints offense to run efficiently. This year alone, Ramczyk has made the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, and Shaquil Barrett look pedestrian.
Nick Bosa could pose to be Ramczyk’s toughest foe yet. Bosa is the leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year with his eight sacks, 24 tackles, and one interception. However, his contributions go well beyond just the statline. His ability to constantly put pressure on the quarterback disrupts the offense immensely. Ramczyk will have his work cut out for him on Sunday.
Who was good and who was bad in the 49ers’ loss to the Ravens?
The 49ers lost their second game of the season Sunday in a hard-fought game in wet, sloppy conditions in Baltimore. They played one of their best games of the season against arguably the best team in the NFL. The Ravens have now won eight in a row, but their 20 points were their fewest of the year, and their 288 yards were their second fewest.
Here are the 49ers’ studs and duds from Sunday:
Mostert was the best part of a 49ers offense that at times struggled to move the ball. He had a career day with 146 yards on 19 carries and a 40-yard touchdown run. It felt like a majority of his runs were chunk plays, and Baltimore’s third-ranked run defense struggled all Sunday with him. Mostert’s performance was huge for the 49ers offense with Tevin Coleman struggling for just six yards on five carries.
Lamar Jackson’s pass to Mark Andrews was broken up by Fred Warner.
The Ravens are the NFL’s best offense on fourth down. They had a fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter Sunday and went for it from the 49ers’ 40-yard line.
Lamar Jackson looked to his reliable TE Mark Andrews, but Fred Warner had tremendous coverage to break up the pass and force a turnover on downs.
Get your #ProBowlVote in for @fred_warner 👏 pic.twitter.com/BzlLsnCVhG
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 1, 2019
The 49ers offense started with a bang, but a turnover allowed Baltimore to tie it right back up.
The 49ers offense started with a bang, but a turnover allowed Baltimore to tie things at 7. The defense played well in the first drive against the Ravens’ offense, but has struggled since.
It’s tied at seven after one. Here’s what stood out in the first quarter:
The 49ers had a tough choice early on with a fourth-and-2 at the Ravens’ 33-yard-line. It was either attempt a 51-yard field goal or take a chance a go for it. Kyle Shanahan not only chose the latter, but drew up a deep shot. Jimmy Garoppolo connected with Deebo Samuel in double coverage for a touchdown to give the 49ers an early lead. The weather will likely change play calls on both sides and Shanahan took advantage the first try he had.
"THAT'S MINE!" –@19problemz#SFvsBAL pic.twitter.com/EpBEzJcZhr
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 1, 2019
Warner is the hottest player on the 49ers defense and has been since Kwon Alexander went down four weeks ago. On a second-and-10, Lamar Jackson threw a pass toward Marquise Brown on an in route with the linebacker in coverage. Warner looked like a defensive back with his diving pass breakup to prevent the completion. The 49ers will need everything they can get from the defense and Warner’s play led to the Ravens first punt since Week 9.
Mike McGlinchey picked up a blitzing Jihad Ward, but released to pick up Matthew Judon around the edge. That move from McGlinchey allowed Ward to get to Garoppolo forcing him to the ground and allowing Chuck Clark to punch the ball out. The fumble was recovered by Baltimore. Lamar Jackson cashed in two plays later to tie the game at 7-7. Even though it’s wet and sloppy, the 49ers can’t afford turnovers like that to give Jackson an even shorter field.
The 49ers move to the second step of their three-game stretch of teams .800 or better with a visit to Baltimore.
The 49ers visit Baltimore on Sunday for the second phase of their three-game stretch against teams with winning percentages of .800 or better. They’ll have a tough task trying to slow down the highest-scoring offense in the league, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. San Francisco’s offense also faces a tall task against a Ravens defense that’s allowed just 11.5 points per game in their last four.
Here are the three matchups that matter most in Baltimore:
Saleh will have to figure out how to do something not many teams have been able to this season: put together a game plan to slow down Jackson. Slowing him is the key to keeping Baltimore from racking up 30-plus points– something they’ve done six times this season.
If there’s any defensive coordinator that can do it, it’s Saleh. Saleh was able to put together a plan last week that held Aaron Rodgers to just 104 passing yards and his worst-ever yards per attempt. It could be game of adjustments for Saleh and the defense, but they’ll need to play their best game of the season against Jackson and company.
Brown has been Jackson’s second-favorite target behind Mark Andrews, but Brown is by far his most explosive. It’s not easy to beat Sherman. Speed is one way teams have tried to attack the 31-year-old. Sherman has also had a penalty issue the past couple of weeks with five penalties, including three pass interferences, against Arizona and Green Bay. Sherman can thwart Brown’s speed with physicality, but that opens him up to those flags coming out.
Lost in Jackson’s MVP-caliber season is Mark Ingram’s importance to the Ravens’ offense. Ingram is averaging a whopping 5.2 yards per carry and has nine rushing touchdowns. The 49ers have struggled against the run game all season, allowing 100 or more yards on the ground in nine of their 11 games. Warner has been good against the run while putting together an All-Pro caliber season in the middle of the 49ers’ defense. He has a team-high 81 tackles and six tackles for loss. Not only will Warner be important against a running Jackson, but also Ingram while trying to contain the league’s best running team.
The 49ers defense has benefitted tremendously from Fred Warner’s rise to stardom.
Fred Warner was a terror against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. His dominant showing earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The 49ers needed a big game from their linebacker, and the second-year budding star delivered. He finished the contest with 11 tackles, 1.0 sacks, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble.
It’s been a breakout second season for the former third-round pick, and his play has elevated since fellow linebacker Kwon Alexander tore his pec and went down for the season. Warner’s taken on a more visible leadership role without Alexander on the field, and he’s backing it up with elite productivity.
According to a release from the 49ers, Warner is one of two NFL linebackers with at least 75 tackles (81), 4 pass breakups (4), 2.0 sacks (3.0) and 2 forced fumbles (3). Warner leads the team in tackles, and his 3.0 sacks and three forced fumbles are career highs.
There are several reasons the 49ers defense has been among the league’s best this season, but Warner’s rise to an All-Pro-caliber linebacker is near the top of the list.
