New Orleans Saints Vs. San Francisco 49ers: Five Keys To 49ers Upset
Today, on Monday Night Football, the New Orleans Saints will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
Even though the defending champions are the heavy favorites to win the game, I believe that the red and gold still have a good chance as well.
Therefore, here are the five keys to a 49ers upset tonight.
Better Offensive Line Play
1 of 5
An cirtical ingredient to efficiency on offense is stability amongst the offense line. Failing to provide adequate protection for your quarterback or the inability to pave running lanes for your ground game can hinder even the most towering talents in the league.
Last week, I observed that the 49ers' poor offensive line play was the root cause to their struggles.
Sure, they have injuries and multiple new starters along the unit which could take some time to adjust to. However, in this case, they don't have time.
If they want any chance at avoiding an 0-2 start, or even worse, they will need to fix that issue immediately.
Stingy Red Zone Defense
2 of 5
Capitalizing on every opportunity in the NFL is important, which is why being able to score in the red zone is such a valuable trait. Last season, the New Orleans Saints ranked fifth best in the league in red zone efficiency, as they managed to score 61.25 percent of the time.
On the flip side, the 49ers limited their opponents to scoring only 38.64 percent of the time, which ranked atop the league.
This should make for a very intriguing matchup, and it may as well be a key determining factor in the game's outcome.
Generate Pass Rush
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The 49ers pass rush is one of the most underrated in the league, and many don't realize that they ranked tied for fourth-best in the league, and also were tied for third with 44 sacks last season.
Instead of relying on a single dominant force off the edge, they're able to wreck havoc in the opponent's backfield through a cumulative effort from various sources.
It has been well-documented that generating an effective pass rush is one of the few successful methods to containing a potent passing attack, and the 49ers will need to bring their A game if they hope to do so to Drew Brees & Co.
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Playcalling
4 of 5
Super Bowl-caliber teams, such as the New Orleans Saints, are well-prepared and have a intricate understanding of the game.
Without designing complex packages, schemes, and gameplans, a team is nearly guaranteed to lose to them.
Therefore, they need to dial up aggressive looks on defense while spreading the ball to their wide array of playmakers on offense.
More importantly, there's absolutely no way they can win if Frank Gore only gets four touches in the second half and if Alex Smith is asked to throw the ball 45 times.
On defense, if they're able to confuse Drew Brees and keep him on his toes, it will give them a golden opportunity to force turnovers and possibly come away with a victory.
Mentality
5 of 5
An integral key to success in the NFL is mentality, and every great player and team must possess it.
Despite getting pummeled and embarrassed by the Seahawks last week, the 49ers need to rebound and play with intensity.
Moreover, the 49ers desperately need to improve their overall focus and discipline. Penalties have been a pressing issue for this team, and they will need to address it tonight.
In general, this will be a great test of their mental strength, and it'll be interesting to see if the 49ers come out motivated or demoralized.
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