The NFC West is wide open after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 36-24. Both teams are now 3-3, with the Arizona Cardinals following closely behind at 2-3.
The Cardinals will have an opportunity to join the 49ers and Seahawks at 500 if they beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau on Sunday. While the Los Angeles Rams are 1-4 on their bye week.
What did we learn?
Brock Purdy deserves more credit for his running ability. Since the start of the 2024 season, Purdy has consistently seen his o-line break down in front of him. More often than not opposing pass rushers are in the backfield at a moment’s notice.
With that, Purdy has had to react quickly using his feet instead of his arm. Through six games of the 2024 season, Purdy has 127 rush yards, averaging 21.2 yards per game on the ground. To put that number into perspective, the 49ers QB1 finished the 2023 regular season with 144 rush yards, only 17 yards more than his 2024 tally to date.
Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers wallks off of the field after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)” height=”395″ src=”https://img.vavel.com/b/gettyimages-2178122704-1024×1024.jpg” width=”611″ />
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 10: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers wallks off of the field after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Aiyuk has not been putting up the numbers the 49ers are used to seeing from him, with others stepping up in his place.
Jauan Jennings leads the team with 404 receiving yards compared to Aiyuk’s 351 yards. Jennings’ 25 receptions also lead Aiyuk’s 23 despite having five fewer targets.
Deebo Samuel only has 16 fewer receiving yards than Aiyuk despite playing a game less. Samuel is averaging 67 receiving yards per game whilst Aiyuk is averaging 58.5 yards. Deebo (62.5%) also only has three fewer catches than Aiyuk (56%) on nine fewer targets.
Aiyuk is also the only one of the starting weapons on the 49ers offense yet to find the endzone. Tight end George Kittle (5), Samuel (2), Jennings (3), Jordan Mason (3) and Kyle Juszczyk (1) have all scored touchdowns for the 49ers in the 2024 season.
The Seahawks have a dilemma at running back
Kenneth Walker had an explosive start to the season for the Seahawks in Week One. Walker rushed for 103 yards against the Denver Broncos. However, Walker picked up an injury and missed the next two games. Zach Charbonnet stepped up in Walker’s absence rushing for a combined 129 yards against the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.
Walker returned against the Detroit Lions in week four and chalked up 80 rush yards on 12 carries averaging 6.7 yards a carry. However, Charbonnet continued to make the most of his limited opportunities turning two carries into 15 yards. The number two back also hauled in all five of his targets for 39 yards.
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 10: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
In the Seahawks’ week five loss to the New York Giants Walker rushed five times for 19 yards (3.8 AVG), whilst Charbonnet rushed for 11 yards on two carries.
On Thursday night against the 49ers, Walker had 14 rushing attempts but only managed 32 yards (2.3 AVG) on the ground with Charbonnet rushing for 20 yards on only five attempts (4.0 AVG).
So far this season Charbonnet also has 13 more receiving yards than Walker on two fewer catches. Charbonnet has also averaged more yards per carry than the Seahawks RB1 across the past three games.
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