The Baltimore Ravens will pit themselves against the other best team in the NFL when they take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. With a 10-1 record, the 49ers sit atop the NFC currently and are built pretty similarly to the Ravens. That makes it the toughest test of the 2019 season for both squads.
To get some more insight on what’s gone well and how to potentially defeat San Francisco, I’ve turned to Niners Wire managing editor Kyle Madson. He gratefully answered my questions with the insight only someone covering the team closely could give.
1) How can you stop Nick Bosa and the 49ers pass rush?
Stopping Nick Bosa specifically requires multiple players. The 49ers haven’t faced a left tackle yet that’s stonewalled Bosa consistently one-on-one. Using a running back, tight end or receiver to chip him early in his rush has been an effective strategy on the rookie.
As for the 49ers pass rush as a whole, the Ravens have a lot of weapons that should allow them to go the same route the Cardinals went. They simply got the ball out quick when they passed, and kept the defensive front honest with a heavy dose of their run game. Stretching San Francisco horizontally has worked in spurts, but the Ravens have the personnel to make it effective for 60 minutes. If Lamar Jackson is holding the ball for more than a second or two, the Ravens could be in some trouble.
2) What happened to give San Francisco their lone loss?
A missed kick in overtime is the biggest culprit, but the thing that often gets overlooked in the evaluation of that loss is who wasn’t available for the 49ers. George Kittle didn’t play in that game, and Emmanuel Sanders left in the second quarter. It’s not a coincidence Jimmy Garoppolo’s worst game of the year came without the team’s two best pass catchers. Deebo Samuel has been good since that loss to the Seahawks, but he can’t be the only pass catching threat. The 49ers dropped nine passes, including two on third downs deep in the red zone. Another was deflected for an interception. That game likely goes differently if the 49ers have a full stable of pass catchers, or a non-rookie kicker making his debut with the team.
3) By the look of the stats, it appears the 49ers defense struggles with mobile quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson. Is that accurate and why/why not?
Their elusiveness helps mitigate some of the impact of the 49ers’ pass rush. Wilson escaped a sack on a third-and-long in overtime that gave him time to convert on a throw down the field. He also threw a touchdown pass on a play he kept alive with his legs.
Murray’s success was a little different. His first stat line was a touch inflated because of an 88-yard touchdown pass that was aided by multiple mistakes in coverage and tackling down the field. However, his accuracy on short throws and the threat of escaping the pocket keeps the 49ers’ pass rush at bay. Their secondary is good, but it’s at its best when it can play aggressive behind a dominant defensive front. Murray and the Cardinals offense was better at keeping them off balance with throws to the sidelines.
Another thing Arizona did that led to success vs. San Francisco was line up Christian Kirk on Richard Sherman. Sherman stays on the left side and committed three pass interference penalties on the speedy second-year WR. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Hollywood Brown get some run against Sherman on Sunday.
4) I’d expect the Ravens to send pressure early and often this week. How has Jimmy Garoppolo and this San Francisco offense handled the blitz this season?
Garoppolo actually does okay against the blitz for the most part, especially when he has Sanders and Kittle available. He trusts those guys and isn’t afraid to uncork throws into tight windows with the rush coming.
However, he’s also susceptible to some mistakes for that same reason. Fitting a throw into a tight window requires accuracy that may go by the wayside while facing a blitz. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Garoppolo sends a pass right into a defender’s chest.
Where Garoppolo gets into the most trouble is when he holds the ball and doesn’t trust what he sees. That’s when he takes bad sacks or makes errant throws that arrive late or into the wrong hands. Blitzing Garoppolo is probably the best way to throw off the timing in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, but it’s dangerous with the playmakers they have and their ability to generate yards after the catch.
5) What’s your final prediction for this game and which 49ers have the biggest positive and negative impact on the final score?
If the 49ers are going to have success against Baltimore, it all starts on defense. DT DJ Jones and DL Arik Armstead are two unsung heroes on the defensive line. Linebacker Fred Warner is playing at an All-Pro level and needs to have his best game of the year. If they can create havoc inside and keep the Ravens from running rampant, San Francisco should come away with a win.
It feels like the 49ers ride or die with Garoppolo. It’s a significant problem if he starts turning the ball over. Giving the Ravens additional possessions is a one way ticket to a blowout win for the home team.
I think the Ravens get out to a fast start Sunday and cruise in a game that isn’t as close as the final score.
Ravens 31, 49ers 23
