Prior to the contest, NFL Network's Mike Silver showcased a video feature, which touted the 5-0 Niners -- the only remaining undefeated team in the NFC -- paying close attention to just how dominant San Francisco's defense has been over the course of the year so far:
Silver compared two different goal-line stands. The first, being the legendary stand against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, which was an integral part of the 49ers' 26-21 victory and first championship. Then, Silver looked at the third- and fourth-down goal-line stands last week against the Los Angeles Rams, which turned momentum almost entirely in favor of San Francisco. The Niners would go on to win that game 20-7.
The league's only other undefeated team entering Week 7 is the 6-0 New England Patriots, who visit the New York Jets this week. And according to Silver, the path is open for a 49ers and Patriots Super Bowl this February.
"Could the defensive-driven Niners, with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo directing a balanced offense, be the last NFC team standing?" Silver said. "Could they be on a collision course with the league's other remaining undefeated team, led by the living legend, for whom Garoppolo once served as an understudy -- a six-time champ, who grew up in the shadow of Candlestick Park, bleeding scarlet and gold?
"A Super Bowl showdown with Tom Brady? That's one goal that suffocating Niners defense will try to track down."
To get there, the 49ers and their defense will have to take care of business against Washington first.
Written By:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
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