49ers schedule: 3 games in 2nd half San Francisco can’t afford to lose
By Peter Panacy
49ers schedule must-win game No. 2: Week 10 vs. Chargers
Let’s get the No 2 must-win game on San Francisco’s remaining schedule out of the way this weekend: Week 10 against the 5-3-1 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
True, this prime-time bout will be a challenge for the 49ers if for no other reason than the Bolts’ quarterback, Justin Herbert, is rapidly solidifying himself among the ranks of the league’s young and elite passers.
Too bad Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has completely mismanaged everything the Bolts have wanted to do to regain relevancy in the AFC, and Staley’s defense-first mindset certainly hasn’t traveled over.
Putting it simply, Los Angeles has a terrible defense, particularly against the No. 1 way the Niners want to win games: the run.
Here’s what the Chargers have given up on the ground in the last 6 weeks:
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) November 7, 2022
36 carries, 151 yards
14 carries, 131 yards
31 carries, 213 yards
23 carries, 98 yards
34 carries, 213 yards
35 carries, 201 yards
Only team that didn’t gain 100 yards rushing was Denver.
Beyond that, San Francisco is coming off a bye week and should be getting a slew of now-healthy players back from injuries.
If the 49ers can’t win Week 10 in a relatively decisive fashion, it’ll spell plenty of problems moving forward.