San Francisco 49ers ugly Week 7 win embraces new team identity
By Justin Fried
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Washington Redskins in an ugly 9-0 game on Sunday further embracing their new team identity.
The San Francisco 49ers‘ 9-0 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday was ugly. What took place was a 60-minute display of revolting, uninspiring competition that was passed off as a legitimate football game.
It was rainy, it was muddy, and it was downright unwatchable at times. But that game served to accomplish something, or rather enforce it. The 49ers embraced their true team identity by notching a victory in horrid circumstances.
As they say, weather can be the great equalizer in sports which is why a previously 1-5 team like the Redskins actually stood a chance against the undefeated 49ers. But the best of teams find ways to win no matter the outside factors at play.
The best of teams find ways to win ugly.
And that’s exactly what the 49ers did on Sunday when they managed just nine points — courtesy of three Robbie Gould field goals. But the true identity of this team continues to revolve around the defense.
The 49ers defense remains perhaps the best unit in the NFL and we saw that once again on Sunday. Redskins quarterback Case Keenum was held to just 77 passing yards marking the second consecutive week in which the 49ers defense has held the opposing quarterback to under 80 yards.
Weather aside, that’s downright unheard of in today’s NFL.
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That’s not even to mention that Baker Mayfield managed just 100 passing yards in the 49ers victory over the Cleveland Browns a few weeks back. That’s three games in a row in which the opposing quarterback finished the game with 100 or fewer passing yards.
We’re not sure of the specifics, but it has to have been decades since something like that has happened.
The 49ers continue to ride to coattails of their dominant defense but that doesn’t tell the whole story. This team plays as one collective unit on both sides of the ball. Their enthusiasm and appreciation for each other are evident with each and every play.
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When a player is tackled, four to five men rush over to pick him up. When someone makes a big play, his teammates are the first by his side to celebrate.
There is a legitimate sense of chemistry among this team that simply hasn’t been matched in years, maybe decades. And there within lies this team’s identity.
Sure, the 49ers rely on a dominant defense and a stout running game. Their offense does just enough to get by while their defense carries the load. But what’s more important is the psychological aspect.
The San Francisco 49ers are more than just a team. They are a family.
They play with one collective purpose and they rarely, if ever, waver from their intended goal. And that right there will help this team reach new heights this season. That is what makes them legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
The 49ers can win ugly, they can play dominant defensive football, and most of all, they continue to play as one collective unit.
Next. The San Francisco 49ers are officially the best team in the NFC. dark
They continue to play as a family.