It’s hard to exemplify complimentary football better than the 49ers did it Sunday in Pittsburgh. That was particularly true through the first 28:25 of the first half. It got so bad for Pittsburgh that 49ers left tackle Trent Williams started pulling a little bit for the Steelers offense.
San Francisco’s defense started the game on fire, forcing four Steelers punts and an interception on their first five possessions. In that stretch Pittsburgh managed just one (1) yard in 15 plays and didn’t secure a first down.
Buy 49ers TicketsMeanwhile the 49ers offense was rolling. They scored on their first four possessions before finally punting with 1:35 left in the second quarter. The result was a lopsided time of possession where San Francisco’s offense had the ball for 21:06 of the first 30 minutes.
“At one point you just kind of wanted (the Steelers) to get a first down,” Williams said via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “There were all those three-and-outs and we kind of needed a break.”
The 49ers defense didn’t oblige until Steelers running back Najee Harris rumbled for 24 yards on a third-and-1 with 1:24 left in the second quarter. On that drive Pittsburgh had five first downs, including their lone touchdown of the game – a three-yard pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Things evened out a little bit in the second half, but the final two quarters were still dominant for the 49ers. They wound up winning the time of possession battle 37:23 to 22:37.
Ultimately the 49ers would love to put Williams in a position every week where he’s pulling for the opposing offense to extend a drive a little bit to give the offense a break from rolling down the field and scoring.
If they can play complimentary football all year at the level they did Sunday, the 49ers will find themselves in the thick of another deep playoff run.
