49ers vs. Eagles: 5 realistic goals for San Francisco in Week 8

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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 11: A referee picks up a penalty flag in the first half as the Buffalo Bills play the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers Commit 5 Penalties or Less

If there was one good thing emanating from San Francisco’s ugly defeat in Week 7, it was the team had only two penalties on the game.

Both against cornerback Rashard Robinson, though.

The 49ers are still tops in the NFL in penalties through seven weeks (58), which is tied for the Cleveland Browns (both teams are 0-7, so you shouldn’t be surprised). But the two-penalty effort on Sunday could be a sign of things to come.

Let’s hope so.

Penalties almost entirely fall on the coaching staff, and this means Kyle Shanahan from the top on down. While Robinson’s seemingly weekly gaffes might just be the reality of his abilities, ensuring the Niners avoid the pitfalls of false starts, illegal formations, holding calls and others, especially on offense, would go a long way in suggesting the team is cutting down on its own self-inflicted wounds.

Considering the lack of talent, these kinds of mistakes are largely to blame for the winless start.

So if San Francisco can keep up the recent trend of avoiding penalties and keep the number at five or below, it certainly would be a welcomed sign moving forward.