Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

2 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

2 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

3 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

3 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

3 days ago
49ers Turn Their Focus to Playoffs After Losing a Mostly Meaningless Finale
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
January 10, 2024

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — When the San Francisco 49ers arrived at training camp back in July, the bitter taste of last season’s postseason disappointment still lingered over the team.

Now that they have finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the NFC following a mostly meaningless 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, they can really start turning their attention to changing their playoff disappointments.

“We’re right where we want to be,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “We’re the No. 1 seed. Obviously it’s never perfect. We’re still going to try to improve with the opportunities we have and go out there whenever we play the week after next and try to keep the season alive.”

The 49ers’ past two seasons ended with losses in the NFC title game. They fell to the eventual champion Rams in the 2021 season and then at Philadelphia last season in a frustrating loss because quarterback Brock Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive and San Francisco was forced to play a large portion of the game without a functioning quarterback.

Purdy returned this season and played at an even higher level, throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 TDs and a league-best 113 passer rating.

Purdy was one of several key players who got the day off on Sunday, when the focus was on staying healthy for the playoffs.

Shanahan was wary of the lack of urgency for the season finale, so he stressed hard practices last week to keep his team sharp.

“Our goal was to get the No. 1 seed, that was our first and foremost goal. We did,” Shanahan said. “It was just a little bit weird this last week, but I like how our guys handled it. I loved how our year went. We set out to do this. I was real happy with a number of guys. I thought guys got better throughout the year, but as our players have been saying, we still feel our best football’s forward.”

The Niners (12-5) will get some rest early this week, then plan on two hard practices late in the week before finding out their opponent in the divisional round.

“I feel like this is just going to be a great week for us to just get better as a team so we make sure that we’re the best version of ourselves for when that moment comes,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “Whoever has to come to Levi’s (Stadium), I want us to be ready. I want us to be our best version of ourselves when that time comes.”

What’s Working and What Needs Help

Staying healthy. The Niners’ main goal in the season finale was staying healthy and they mostly did just that, with the only notable injury coming when defensive end Clelin Ferrell left in the first half with a knee injury that could sideline him for at least the playoff opener.

Kicking game. What was mostly a strong rookie season ended on a bad note for kicker Jake Moody. He missed a 38-yard field goal for his first missed kick of any kind since Week 7 at Minnesota. He then missed his first extra point of the season after making his first 60. Shanahan said there are no plans to look at other kickers before the playoffs.

“He’s been great all year,” Shanahan said. “He was rough on those two today, but no, we’re good with Jake.”

Stock Up and Stock Down

RB Elijah Mitchell. For a second straight week, Mitchell carried a big load with Christian McCaffrey out with a calf injury. Mitchell led the team with 52 yards rushing and scored a TD for the second straight game. McCaffrey doesn’t take many plays off when he’s healthy, but Mitchell is showing he can be depended on if Shanahan wants to change the look.

RG Spencer Burford. The second-year guard has struggled at times this season and could be in danger of losing his starting spot in the playoffs with left guard Aaron Banks healthy again and backup Jon Feliciano having played well in relief.

Injuries

McCaffrey should be back for the playoff opener. … DT Arik Armstead is hopeful of returning after missing the final five games of the regular season with a foot injury.

Key Number

76 — The 49ers finished the season with 76 points scored on the opening drive of the game, with 10 TDs and two field goals. That’s the most points scored on the opening drive for any team since at least 2000, topping the 73 scored by Green Bay in a 16-game season in 2020.

Next Steps

San Francisco hosts a team in the divisional round on Jan. 20 or Jan. 21. The Niners will play the lowest remaining seed out of Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, the Rams and Green Bay.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

UP NEXT

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

UP NEXT

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

UP NEXT

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

3 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

3 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

3 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

3 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

1 day ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

1 day ago

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

2 days ago

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

2 days ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

2 days ago

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

2 days ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol motorcycle and tow truck along Highway 99 near North Avenue, missing ...

2 hours ago

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
2 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
3 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
3 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk gets in a Tesla car as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

A search dog operates at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 5, 2025. (Reuters/Sergio Flores)
3 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

2024 Democratic National Convention
3 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

Solar Farm in Riesel, Texas
1 day ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend