Enemy Reaction 2018: San Francisco 49ers

Hey, what a familiar sight! The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers yet again, and it was their highest point output of the season. It’s been awhile since the Seahawks played a really bad team, and they were able to take care of business at home, such that even all of that penalty sloppiness and poor tackling still yielded a 27-point rout.

Also a familiar sight? Enemy Reaction. We’re checking in on the folks over at Niners Nation once more, and hopefully we’re doing this again on December 17th after beating them in Santa Clara.

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Jaron Brown wide open for a 45-yard gain (0-0)

Jaron Brown opens the scoring with a third-down touchdown (6-0 SEA)

Tyler Lockett beats Malcolm Smith for a 52-yard touchdown (13-0 SEA)

Jeff Wilson Jr has the ball ripped away by Bobby Wagner (13-0 SEA)

Richie James can’t handle Michael Dickson’s punt, Neiko Thorpe recovers (13-0 SEA)

3rd and goal at the 1, Doug Baldwin is wide open for the score (20-0 SEA)

After big Tyler Lockett kick return, Rashaad Penny scores on a 20-yard toss (20-0 SEA)

Dante Pettis wiggles his way in for a 49ers touchdown (27-10 SEA)

Kyle Shanahan gets flagged after being naughty towards the officials (27-10 SEA)

Jaron Brown with another touchdown, this time in front of Richard Sherman (34-10 SEA)

Dante Pettis gets his second TD of the game (34-16 SEA)

Bobby Wagner with the pick-six (43-16 SEA)

Jarran Reed preserves Scorigami! (43-16 SEA Final)

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Post-Game: The 49ers have no excuse for being this bad (Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News)

When Garoppolo tore his ACL in Kansas City in Week 3, it was clear that the 49ers’ season was lost.

But ten weeks later, there’s simply no excuse for the Niners’ being this uninspiring, this undisciplined, and this consistently overmatched.

There’s just no excuse for them being this bad.

While injury and inexperience are valid and well-cited factors in the 49ers 2-9 record, they can’t explain away all of this team’s sins.

No, there’s clearly another factor in play — one that’s apparently uncouth to bring up: ineptitude.

And it can be found at every level for this team.

Post-Game: If the defense doesn’t improve, Robert Saleh should be fired (Chris Wilson, Niner Noise)

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan called an offensive game plan that resulted in a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. Shanahan was forced to improvise due to the team’s lackluster rushing attack and injuries to both of San Francisco’s running backs, but by the time changes were made, the game was already out of hand. Again, the 49ers failed to produce on second-and-long when they ran the ball, which continues to be one of Shanahan’s blind spots as an offensive play-caller. No one can accuse Shanahan and the 49ers of intentionally tanking this season, as the fired-up coach was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after getting a bit too fired up at an official late in the game.

On the defensive side of the ball, there isn’t much positive to say about 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. While Saleh’s excuse is San Francisco’s roster doesn’t have the personnel needed to run his preferred defensive system, the young DC is either unable or unwilling to scheme pressure against opposing quarterbacks, and the 49ers suffer because of his deficiency. Saleh hasn’t proven to be a good talent evaluator, as opposing offenses continue to find and target weak links in the Niners’ defense. If the 49ers’ defensive woes extend to the end of the season, Saleh should be looking for a new job in January.

Grade: D

No post-game video, this is the only fan video you need to see:

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Bonus Enemy Reaction! The crazy ending to Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers

Enemy Preaction: Minnesota Vikings

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Now we turn our attention to Monday Night Football, the Seahawks’ penultimate primetime appearance this regular season. The Minnesota Vikings are 6-5-1 and badly need a win or else they might find themselves in even more danger of failing to make the playoffs. For the Seahawks, a fourth straight victory would all but assure them of a wild card spot, something that didn’t seem nearly as likely when they were 4-5. I’m looking forward to this matchup, and we might be in for one of those special nights at CenturyLink Field.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!