Faithful to the Bay, it's about to go down. The 7-4 49ers host the 6-5 Panthers at Levi's Stadium on Monday Night Football. Both teams look to increase their chances of advancing to the playoffs. The 49ers are currently sitting at the seventh seed in the playoff standings. If the 49ers want to improve their chances and move to 8-4, they must stick to the Keys to Victory.




Run the Ball


The 49ers have their run game back after the return of quarterback Brock Purdy. Running back Christian McCaffrey averaged 6.2 yards per attempt against the Cardinals' 16th-ranked run defense.

The Panthers rank 17th against the run. Expect a huge game plan from head coach Kyle Shanahan involving the run game with McCaffrey against his former team. Don't be surprised if CMC gets the bulk of the touches. Mixing in a little Brian Robinson wouldn't hurt, as well.

If the 49ers run the ball successfully, they will control the clock and the tempo and be victorious.

Stop the Run


The 49ers' run defense ranks 12th in the NFL. The Panthers rank 9th in rushing this season, with Rico Dowdle leading them in the backfield. The 49ers' defense must limit explosive runs on the ground to keep the rushing yards to a minimum.

The 49ers' defense must play fundamental football, meaning 11 men to the ball and wrapping and tackling. With or without linebacker Tatum Bethune, the 49ers must stop the run to be victorious.


Generate Explosives


The 49ers play excellent football when they generate explosive plays both on the ground and in the air. They can attack the Panthers' defense in both ways. Expect Purdy to be efficient, but take his shots downfield against a struggling secondary.

The more explosive plays made, the more opportunities there will be to score touchdowns. If the 49ers can generate several explosive plays throughout the game, they will be headed to their eighth win of the season.


The 49ers have a lot riding on this game. Winning another conference game in primetime should boost their morale as a team and continue to give them something to fight for before they head into their bye week. Winning on Monday nights sends a message to the whole league.

If the 49ers want to be victorious, they must stick to the Keys to Victory.

Written By:

Wayne "Breezie" Brown


Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
All articles by Wayne "Breezie" Brown
@TheWayneBreezie
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