3 things SF 49ers must improve on during Week 11 bye
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers must improve on third-down conversions
One could make the argument games are won or lost on two key stats: red-zone scoring and third-down conversions.
Surprisingly, the Niners have been good in the former category, which hasn’t always been the case under Kyle Shanahan, scoring touchdowns on two-thirds of their red-zone appearances — eighth-best in the NFL entering Week 11.
Yet San Francisco hasn’t been quite as prolific on third downs, which was one of its best attributes a season ago.
Through 10 weeks, the SF 49ers have a third-down conversion rate of just 42.4 percent, which is 16th in the league but down from the No. 5-ranked 44.4 percent last season. More troubling is their third-down conversion rates from these past three losses:
- Week 8 @ Seattle Seahawks: 6-of-13 (46.2 percent)
- Week 9 vs. Green Bay Packers: 3-of-10 (30 percent)
- Week 10 @ New Orleans Saints: 7-of-16 (43.8 percent)
Many of the conversions in Weeks 8 and 9 came in garbage time, too, which skewed the numbers.
It also doesn’t help quarterback Nick Mullens‘ third-down passer rating this season is 79.6, which is the lowest out of any downs by a noticeable margin.
If San Francisco wants to keep offensive drives alive to stay in games, getting more consistent production on third downs will be a key item after the bye week.