What's Better: The 49ers Offense or the 49ers Defense?

Let's take a close look at each side and compare.
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For years, the 49ers were led by defense. This season though, it's hard to say which side of the ball is best.

Let's take a close look at each side and compare.

THE OFFENSE

Averaging 33.4 points per game -- second best in the NFL behind the Dolphins, who are averaging 36.2 points per game. The 49ers also rank third in rushing yards and first in passer rating, which means their offense is multi-dimensional and almost impossible to stop. Most teams make it their business to shut down Christian McCaffrey, as the Cowboys did last week. But that just opens up the passing game for Brock Purdy, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers many offensive weapons. That's how they scored 42 points last week. Dallas overcommitted to stopping the run and the 49ers made them pay. The only position group that isn't a strength is the offensive line, which is serviceable. And the 49ers have been able to work around it effortlessly all season. This offense jumps on teams early and then cruises to victories late.

THE DEFENSE

Allowing just 13.6 points per game -- lowest in the NFL. Also allowing the second fewest rushing yards of any team. This defense somehow is better than last season when it ranked No. 1. That's due to the additions of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, plus the return of Arik Armstead, who was hurt for most of last season. Now, the 49ers defense has no weaknesses. It has two dominant defensive tackles who cave in the pocket. Two edge rushers in Nick Bosa and Randy Gregory who can sack the quarterback. Two linebackers who are elite in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Two safeties who are playmakers in Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga. And two cornerbacks who can shut down good wide receivers in Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. The only player on the defense who isn't outstanding is nickelback Isaiah Oliver, who's solid.

THE VERDICT

The 49ers offense has the starpower, but the 49ers defense has fewer weaknesses. For now, the defense remains superior.


Published
Grant Cohn
GRANT COHN

Grant Cohn has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily since 2011. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Santa Rosa Press Democrat where he wrote the Inside the 49ers blog and covered famous coaches and athletes such as Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Willis. In 2012, Inside the 49ers won Sports Blog of the Year from the Peninsula Press Club. In 2020, Cohn joined FanNation and began writing All49ers. In addition, he created a YouTube channel which has become the go-to place on YouTube to consume 49ers content. Cohn's channel typically generates roughly 3.5 million viewers per month, while the 49ers' official YouTube channel generates roughly 1.5 million viewers per month. Cohn live streams almost every day and posts videos hourly during the football season. Cohn is committed to asking the questions that 49ers fans want answered, and providing the most honest and interactive coverage in the country. His loyalty is to the reader and the viewer, not the team or any player or coach. Cohn is a new-age multimedia journalist with an old-school mentality, because his father is Lowell Cohn, the legendary sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1979 to 1993. The two have a live podcast every Tuesday. Grant Cohn grew up in Oakland and studied English Literature at UCLA from 2006 to 2010. He currently lives in Oakland with his wife.