Biggest Takeaways from San Francisco 49ers' Week 6 Win

First takeaway from the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 6 win: They’re still alive.

That is amazing, considering how miserable they played to start the season. Now, they’re just a game-and-a-half behind the Minnesota Vikings for the second Wild Card spot.

Don’t call the Niners playoff contenders just yet, though. Their record is merely 2-4, and they’ve been outscored by 60 points. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars have been outscored by more points than San Francisco this season.

The Niners’ Week 7 opponent—the Seattle Seahawks—have outscored opponents by nine points this season but own a record of 2-4, as well. Their offensive line is no good, and quarterback Russell Wilson is running for his life.

If the Niners win Thursday night, they most certainly will be playoff contenders.

Here are five more takeaways from Week 6.

The Strengths of the Defense Are the Starting Cornerbacks

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It may seem odd that cornerback would be the strength of a defense that ranks dead last against the pass.

But if cornerback isn’t the strength of the Niners defense, what is? The defensive line that generates no pass rush? Or the linebackers that can’t cover? Or the safeties that also can’t cover?

The Niners cornerbacks win by default. Starters Tramaine Brock and Kenneth Acker are quietly having solid seasons.

Brock plays on the left side of the defense, and Acker plays on the right—they’re the outside corners. On throws that have traveled outside the painted numbers this season, the Niners are allowing just 5.4 yards per attempt, a completion percentage of 54.0 and a passer rating of 78.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

The starting corners definitely aren’t the problem.

The Strengths of the Offense Are the Wide Receivers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

It also may seem odd that wide receiver would be the strength of a run-first offense.

But running back isn’t the Niners’ strength—they don’t have two good ones. They have Carlos Hyde, who has a bruised foot.

Tight end isn’t the Niners’ strength, either. Vernon Davis is missing in action, and backup Vance McDonald can’t be trusted to hang onto the ball. Third-stringer Garrett Celek might be the best of the bunch.

But he’s nowhere near as good as either of the Niners’ starting wide receivers. Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are an excellent starting duo, and No. 3 receiver Jerome Simpson should return to the team in the next few weeks after serving a six-game suspension.

The Niners’ passing game should revolve around those three for the remainder of the season.

Red-Zone Offense Is a Major Weakness

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

For the most part, the Niners had no problem moving the ball down the field against the Ravens defense in Week 6, but they couldn’t score touchdowns in the red zone.

If the Niners didn’t have Shareece Wright to pick on (he gave up two touchdown catches in Week 6, per Pro Football Focus), the Niners probably would have scored only field goals, which would have been no good, regardless of how many yards they gained.

On the season, the 49ers are scoring touchdowns in the red zone just 36.8 percent of the time—fourth-worst in the NFL.

The problem? No dominant tight end. Vernon Davis was supposed to be that guy, but he’s a ghost.

Pass Defense Is a Major Weakness

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The starting cornerbacks are playing well, but opposing teams can still pass on the 49ers defense. The middle of the field is wide open.

On throws over the middle this season, the Niners pass defense is allowing 10 yards per attempt, a completion percentage of 84.0 and a passer rating of 115.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning passed over the middle against the Niners 34 times in Week 5 and completed 30 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus.

Why would any team do anything other than pass over the middle against the Niners defense?

Colin Kaepernick Is Maddeningly Inconsistent

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It’s too early to say that Colin Kaepernick is improving.

Sure, he played well the past two games. He also played two of the six worst pass defenses in the NFL the past two games. Let’s keep things in perspective.

Kaepernick threw for 340 yards against the Ravens on Sunday. Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown threw for 457 yards against the Ravens the week before. Let’s keep things in perspective.

Kaepernick has played three good games (Weeks 2, 5 and 6) and three bad games this season (Weeks 1, 3 and 4). He easily could have another bad performance next week, then a good performance the week after.

Kaepernick is Even Stevens.

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