After seven-straight wins, in a season with three different starting quarterbacks, the 49ers have punched their ticket to the playoffs. Three games remain, with a chance to move up to the No. 2 seed if the Minnesota Vikings lose one of their next three and the 49ers win out.
It’s a team that is complete in just about every aspect, except quarterback. But Brock Purdy’s three-game stretch — with moments of off-schedule excellence and mostly positive execution of the offense — has offered cause for confidence.
Comparisons are naturally drawn to 2019, given that the 49ers were minutes from winning a Super Bowl.
But Joe Staley, who joined Papa & Lund on Monday, said he thinks this year’s group is a level above that 2019 team.
“Honestly, with the defense, I think personally it’s better,” Staley said. “This is better set up right now with this team. There’s so many weapons outside of the defense or the running game or the system. I think even with Purdy back there, he’s shown so much. Just in the situation that he came into, the early expectation of being a third-string quarterback, and the way that he’s almost elevated this team offensively.”
Staley highlighted the addition of Christian McCaffrey and the “tremendous” play of the offensive line in recent weeks.
He also agreed with Donte Whitner, who said that this 49ers defense is the best the franchise has ever had.
“I think he said that this has been probably the most dominant 49ers defense that this franchise has ever had and I tend to agree,” Staley said. “The way they’re playing not just these last few games, but just all levels with the cornerbacks, the linebackers, defensive line rotation, it is absolutely smothering.
This was a Seattle offense that came in and only had two games this whole year that they scored under 20 points. And those two games came against the 49ers.”
Staley believes San Francisco is on a collision course with the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC Championship.
“I think this is going to be a team that’s going to be remembered if they can lift that trophy at the end of the year,” Staley said. “I do see this being a collision course between probably the best offense in the NFL in the Philadelphia Eagles and the best defense in the NFL for the NFC Championship game. So that’s kind of where I see the season playing out the rest of the way here and it’s gonna be exciting.”
While Staley joined KNBR before the news of Jalen Hurts’ sprained shoulder dropped, the Eagles need just one win to clinch the top seed with three games remaining, meaning Hurts would likely get a full month of rest before playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
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