49ers fans can be thankful for a lot of things in 2023, but these four reasons stand clear above the rest.
Following their Week 11 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the San Francisco 49ers look sharp and appear to have returned to form, they currently sit at 7-3 and are winners of two in a row with four division games left to play in their final seven.
Despite a three-game losing streak earlier in the season, San Francisco looks to run the table and clinch another postseason berth.
But, with Thanksgiving now on the calendar, here are the top four reasons the Niners and their fans are grateful this season.
No. 1: 49ers are in 1st place in the NFC West
Coupled with the Seattle Seahawks' loss versus the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers have a one-game lead in the division entering Week 12. They can increase that to two games with a win over the Hawks on Thanksgiving Day.
Then, the Niners will have three more division games, including a rematch against Seattle two weeks later at Levi's Stadium. In addition, they go on the road against a banged-up Arizona Cardinals squad and then a Week 18 faceoff against the Rams.
First place in the NFC is still up for grabs as the 49ers play the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
No. 2: Brock Purdy is back!
San Francisco displayed juggernaut-like strength over the NFC during the first five weeks of the season. Then, the 49ers dropped three games in a row.
Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a previously struggling quarterback in Brock Purdy threw for 296 yards on a 19-of-26 line and three touchdowns. He again threw as many touchdowns against the Bucs in Week 11.
Purdy posted a perfect passer rating (158.3) with 333 yards on 21 completions out of 25 attempts. On the season, he now has 2,662 yards thrown and a touchdown to interception ratio of 18:5.
With a pair of statement wins against two Florida-based teams, San Francisco is certainly grateful to see its star quarterback leading a high-octane offense.
No. 3: Christian McCaffrey is still scoring!
A week after failing to continue his touchdown-scoring streak, running back Christian McCaffrey nevertheless rushed 21 times for 78 yards against Tampa Bay. He also caught the ball five times for 25 yards and a score, hopefully starting a new streak that'll finally get to 18 games in a row.
Whether it be by land or by air for San Francisco, McCaffrey has scored either a rushing or receiving touchdown in nine of his 10 games this season. In fact, in four of those games, he has tallied multiple touchdowns.
The 49ers' star running back has 825 yards on 174 carries and nine rushing touchdowns so far this season. In addition, McCaffrey has 364 yards on 43 receptions and five touchdowns.
How can you not be thankful for that?
No. 4: 49ers defense looks sharp once more
San Francisco has only allowed 17 points combined over its last two games. The 49ers held Jacksonville to three points in Week 11 and Tampa Bay to 14 points last Sunday.
Against the Buccaneers, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner tallied 12 total tackles and two pass deflections, while edges Nick Bosa and Chase Young each recorded a sack.
With the addition of Young at the NFL trade deadline last month, the Niners look sharp at limiting any opposing team's offense. And the numbers suggest it, too, as they have recorded nine sacks and three interceptions over the past two games.
If San Francisco is to return to the NFC Championship game and/or Super Bowl, it will be on the heels of performances like these. The 49ers' losing streak ended, they appear to have regained playoff form after their bye week and now sit atop the NFC West.
Not a bad way to ring in Thanksgiving, and the crowning achievement for the holiday will be beating the Seahawks on Thursday night.