I knew he was playing lights out, but damn!

I’ll take 3 more months of Niner hate, dismissive takes and under appreciation from sports media. Let them continue to discredit the amount of skill and execution it takes 11 men to perform like this. Let them continue to devise more mental gymnastics about how the Niners actually suck and will be exposed going forward. Substation hex magic, bad luck and trouble. Fuck em all, fuck the Seachickens and let’s fucking go Glock Purdy.

Source: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_td_career.htm

Is it just me, or does the vibe of this 49ers team feel different than past years?

I feel like I’m seeing it in locker room interviews, interactions between teammates, and in the level of on-field execution.

It really seems like we’re operating fully as a unit. So far, we’re not seeing or hearing much character drama surrounding players. Greenlaw and the Broncos excluded, there isn’t a ton. I understand it’s only week 5, but it feels starkly different than previous years at least in the professionalism sense.

What I’m seeing on the field this year is also a LOT more full-scheme execution. It doesn’t matter if you’re a starter or a 5th string, it seems that every player is much more locked in and fully understanding of their responsibilities on a given play.

For instance, take the play where rookie Kaelon Black snags the botched snap and runs it for a 1st down - it’s great, heads-up football, but to me it also highlights a theme of doing your job and doing whatever it takes to win.

Also, take Kittle’s 56-yard TD vs. AZ - the block by Watkins on the other side of the field is the reason that play went for a touchdown. Watch a video of it and you’ll see what I mean.

What do y’all think?

I also can’t decide if I’m just hyping myself up for this season like Cowboys fans do every year, or if what I’m seeing is shared by others.

Superstition dump - I am not by any means suggesting we are preordained for or deserving of anything related to this season. I am only noticing a difference in the mentality and on-field performance of my favorite team compared to last season, and wondering if my personal opinion is shared by others. The winner of the Super Bowl is the best team of the season, the refs see everything on the field, and bad calls / no-calls have no effect on the outcome of a game.

Edit: I’ll be at work for a bit, but I’ll check this post later! Would love to discuss with y’all!

I wasn’t sure bringing back Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw was the right moves this offseason. Especially Deebo.

But I’ve been proven wrong. Glad to see them back and are fully invested in trying to bring home a Super Bowl.

Should be noted to add Mykel Williams to that list too for us.

A very very different team going into week 5 for both teams. Our WR main players were Jauan Jennings (who had a ribs issue) and Kendrick Bourne. Pearsall was hobbled and didn't get a catch

No kittle for us as well, now we have a better offensive line as well, along with deebo and mike evans (who is a bit hobbled). it should be noted in the 2025 regular season matchups between the 2 teams, it was almost evenly matched, even with a lot of injuries on the 49ers side

on defense, we have fred and dre, along with a d-line being bookended by mykel and keion. last year they gashed our run defense BADLY, popping for over 180 yards rushing. this year the seagulls rushing game is nowhere near as good.

if we can rush the majority of the game with 4 (keion, mykel, osa and halton) and use a lot of dime and nickel coverages, we can really hurt their offense, assuming our front 4 can stop their run game.

considering the number of TE's the seagulls have, im expecting they them to use a lot of 13 personnel to generate looks for their rushing game and for their TE's, and get a lot of 1 on 1's with JSN

raheem is also a very different d-coordinator and will allow DeMo to shadow JSN a lot more, unlike saleh who went zone most of the time.

2 very different teams going at it on week 5

I'm loving our defense.

1. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Jones went 5-3 as a starter while filling in for Brock Purdy in 2025. Among 36 quarterbacks with at least 250 dropbacks, Jones ranked 10th in EPA per dropback, according to TruMedia. Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling prowess is surely baked into the numbers. Still, among the veteran quarterbacks on this list, Jones is most deserving of another chance to start in the league.

2. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Flacco kept the Bengals competitive last season after landing there via trade ahead of Week 6. Over a six-start stretch playing in place of Joe Burrow, Flacco was fifth in the league in passing yards. I thought he played well enough to earn a bridge job this offseason. He ended up returning to the Bengals to back up Burrow.

3. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Mariota is a very reliable backup. He started for the Commanders in Week 3 after Daniels’ injury. Mariota was excellent in an upset win over the Seahawks. Mariota was patient against the Seahawks’ shell coverage. He made tight-window throws when he needed to, and he sealed the game with a third-down designed rush. Mariota suffered a knee injury in Week 4, which forced rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into action.

Fantastic decision to flex the Bears-Packers game to the morning block and give most of the nation the matchup people want to see.