After nearly two months of futility against opposing running attacks, the 49ers defense held fast on Sunday.
San Francisco went into Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals as the NFL’s worst run defense, having given up at least 100 yards to an opposing running back for seven consecutive weeks, a league record.
Yet on Sunday, the Niners changed their script, holding the Cardinals’ David Johnson – the league’s leader in yards from scrimmage – to just 55 yards and 2.9 yards per carry.
Niners head coach Chip Kelly had explained the problem in previous weeks as being that players occasionally had been out of position.
“I think our guys were where they were supposed to be,” Kelly told the media after Sunday’s 23-20 loss to Arizona. “I think we had the right fits. Guys battled. They were lined up right.”
Overall, the 49ers allowed just 80 yards rushing on 23 carries. In San Francisco’s previous matchup with the Cardinals, Johnson had rushed for 157 yards and two TDs. This time, he was mostly ineffective.
“We showed the type of defense we really are,” linebacker Gerald Hodges told Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. “It’s not a fluke or anything like that. We’ve just got to make sure everyone is hitting on all cylinders.”
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Unfortunately, in coming up big against the run, the 49ers failed against the pass.
Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer completed 30-of-49 throws for 376 yards and a touchdown while also leading his team from its own 15-yard line to a game-winning field goal with time expired.
Wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (12 catches, 133 yards) and Michael Floyd (five for 101) consistently torched the San Francisco secondary for big plays.
The 49ers, now 1-8, rank last in the NFL in total defense, giving up an average of 429.7 yards per game.
San Francisco will play host to the 7-2 Patriots this Sunday at 1:25 p.m.
