Five 49ers players to watch on ‘Monday Night Football'
The true race for a playoff spot does not begin until your team reaches the .500 mark ... unless you’re in the NFC East, of course.The 49ers play a “home game” against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night in Glendale, Ariz. And it’s a big one. At 5-6, the 49ers are on the spectrum of teams in contention for spots in the NFC playoffs. With a victory Monday, the 49ers would take a huge step forward in their bid to return to the postseason with games remaining against Washington, Dallas, Arizona and Seattle.The 49ers will have to be on top of their game to beat the Bills, who are in first place in the AFC East and closing in on ending the New England Patriots’ 11-year reign as division champions.In order for the 49ers to enter Week 14 with a .500 record, they are going to need big performances from the following five players to watch.
Hyder is on the verge of eclipsing his single-season personal best of eight sacks, which he set in 2016 with the Detroit Lions. He leads the 49ers with 7.5 sacks with five games to play. Nobody else on the team has more than two sacks.
Hyder will be matched for most of the game against Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins, who is having a fine season as the protector for quarterback Josh Allen’s blind side. Dawkins is equally solid in pass protection (he’s allowed four sacks) and as a run-blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hyder and the 49ers’ pass rush must remain disciplined when getting after Allen, who is adept at breaking out of the pocket to make big gains with his legs. Allen has rushed for 311 yards and six touchdowns.
The 49ers have experienced a lot of moving parts on the offensive line, and Brunskill is beginning to settle into his new position after starting the first eight games at right guard.
This will be Brunskill’s fourth consecutive start since taking over for struggling Hroniss Grasu, who was initially inserted in place of Ben Garland, who took over for Weston Richburg, who will not play this season after complications from ACL surgery of last year.
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Brunskill has a chance to be the 49ers’ long-term answer at center, but this position is every bit as mental as it is physical. The 49ers’ offensive line and pass protection have to be on point with all of their assignments against the defense of head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
Every point will matter in a game. It figures to be a battle for every yard.
Gould played a major role in the 49ers’ Week 12 victory over the L.A. Rams. He booted a 44-yard field goal with three minutes remaining to tie the score. Then, he was perfect on a 42-yarder as time expired to deliver a crucial 23-20 victory and the season sweep over the Rams.
Gould ranks No. 16 on the NFL’s all-time scoring list with 1,713 points -- eight behind David Akers.
Of course, the 49ers would prefer that Gould trots out for extra points, but he could have another game in which field goals win the game.
Gould ranks seventh in NFL history with a field-goal accuracy of 86.87 percent. So it is difficult to find anyone more reliable.
Mullens makes his sixth start in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, whom the 49ers hope will be available for the final couple of games of the season after recovering from a high-ankle sprain.
The 49ers are 2-3 in the games Mullens has started this season. Mullens will have most of the 49ers’ offensive weapons available to him -- with the notable exception of tight end George Kittle, of course.
Mullens’ job is simple: Get the ball in the hands of the 49ers’ playmakers. That means, primarily, feeding Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
If Mullens is sharp with his pre-snap reads, makes decisive throws and avoids turnovers, the 49ers’ offense should be just fine.
Sherman, who acts as his own agent, revealed in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area on Saturday that he expects the end of this season will bring about the end of his tenure with the 49ers.
He said he feels as if there is unfinished business, and he knows he might not have any more chances with the 49ers. He believes a shrinking salary cap and the fact the 49ers have 40 players who are unsigned for next season will make it difficult for the sides to continue their union into 2021.
Sherman returned to action last week after missing nine games with a calf issue. He resumed his normal duties at left cornerback, while also being used to blitz as well as play an occasion deep middle as a safety.
Sherman will find himself lined up on occasion against Stefon Diggs, who leads the Bills with 80 receptions for 945 yards and four touchdowns.
Diggs is Allen’s favorite target, and Sherman will try to set up Allen throughout this game in order to pick his time to pounce to add to his career total of 40 interceptions.
