The 49ers thrive on opening offensive and defensive statements.

 

 

With a tone-setting opening act, the 49ers demonstrated they were back on track against the Jacksonville Jaguars in exactly two series.

As front-runners, the 49ers are at their best. Get a head start, then dominate the tempo while slowly sucking the life out of their opponent like a boa constrictor. They’ve been like this for a few years, but they’ve taken it to the next level with a 6-3 record in 2023.

It was the 49ers’ sixth opening-possession touchdown in nine games when they forced a three-and-out on defense on the first series, then went 57 yards in four plays, culminating in an ill-advised but ultimately successful 13-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Brandon Aiyuk.

With a field goal on their first drive against the New York Giants, the 49ers have scored 45 points on their first drive while allowing only 13. The 49ers had a first-drive touchdown against Cleveland but lost 19-17, lost a fumble by Christian McCaffrey on their first possession against Minnesota and went three-and-out, then Cincinnati scored a touchdown in a 31-17 loss prior to the bye.

Possessions are like children to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who does not prioritize one above the other.

 

 

“Anytime you don’t score on a drive, you’re always feeling real frustrated,” he remarked. “You want to start out great and do it on the first as much as possible, but I’ve never sat there and made a big emphasis to our team about that being more important than any other one.”

Purdy is 26 of 31 for 295 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in nine games on first drives. Three of the five incompletions came against the Giants in Week 3, during a drive in which they settled for a field goal the first time they had the it.

Purdy paused for a moment in front of his locker Wednesday after learning he has only two incompletions on opening drives other than against the Giants and a 145.9 passer rating (158.3 is perfect).

“Wow. “That’s insane,” Purdy exclaimed. “I didn’t realize that. We simply go out there and execute the plays. “I had absolutely no idea.”

McCaffrey, who has 26 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns on opening drives, as well as five receptions for 51 yards and another score, approaches the game snap by snap.

“Obviously, Kyle’s really good at calling plays,” McCaffrey explained. “It’s been a long time. Each drama, in our opinion, has its own life. That’s the way I see things. You can’t really foresee anything in this league, so you simply have to trust the play-caller, who is really good at what he does. You can’t go wrong.”

The 49ers made it clear in Week 1 that they were a force to be reckoned with, responding up a defensive three-and-out against Pittsburgh with a 54-yard touchdown drive that ended with Purdy nailing Aiyuk from eight yards out.

Their two other impressive wins this season, 40-12 over Dallas and 34-3 over Jacksonville, also began with first-drive touchdowns and a defensive stop.

 

 

Opponents know what they’re in for if the 49ers start fast.

“We did everything we talked about not doing all week,” Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence said after the game Sunday. “We started with a three-and-out, which gave them momentum, and they scored.” That’s not how you want to start a game against this team. They’re incredibly good, especially when they’re ahead.”

The six first-drive touchdowns match the number from last season’s 20 games, including the playoffs. Last season, the 49ers outscored opponents 53-48 after each team had a possession. In 2021, they had five touchdowns and a 41-30 advantage in 19 games, with the greatest point under Shanahan being seven touchdowns and a 64-34 edge in 2019, when they proceeded to the Super Bowl.

So six first-quarter touchdowns and a field goal in seven games with a 32-point lead is quite impressive.

“Obviously you want to set the tone for the game, but at the same time, it’s usually plays we’ve run in practice and we know those plays a little better than ones we hadn’t run multiple times,” Jake Brendel, the team’s center, said.

Brendel suggested on the first drive that negative runs, sacks, and penalties were essentially non-existent.

“We probably never went backwards, and that just comes down to being dialed in, knowing the snap count and having the operation at 100 percent,” he added.

The 49ers haven’t had a penalty on offense in any of their initial drives, and their only sack has been a 4-yard sack of Purdy in Week 3 when they settled for a field goal.

 

 

Defensively, the 49ers had four three-and-outs, two interceptions, two field goals, and the lone touchdown versus Cincinnati.

While linebacker Fred Warner is all for a fast start, he also believes the 49ers must win in other ways.

“I’m sure it’s something other teams talk about because they know if we get going hot from the start that it’s going to be hard to stop us once we get rolling,” Warner told reporters. “I’d like to see who we are when we’re not together.”

Week 1 at Pittsburgh: Aiyuk 8-yard pass from Purdy (Moody kick), 54 yards, seven plays

Week 2 at L.A. Rams: McCaffrey 14-yard run (Moody kick), 75 yards, 11 plays

Week 3 vs. N.Y. Giants: Moody 28-yard FG, 64 yards, 15 plays

Week 4 vs. Arizona: McCaffery 1 run (Moody kick), 62 yards, eight plays

Week 5 vs. Dallas: Kittle 19-yard pass from Purdy (Moody kick), 75 yards, seven plays

Week 6: at Cleveland: McCaffrey 13-yard pass from Purdy (Moody kick), 84 yards, five plays

Week 7 at Minnesota: Lost fumble at Vikings 12-yard line

Week 8 vs. Cincinnati: Three-and-out

Week 10 at Jacksonville: Aiyuk 13-yard pass from Purdy (Moody kick)