The 49ers will take on one of the NFL’s top offenses in Sunday’s Week 13 showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey are considered top-10 candidates for MVP. Tight end George Kittle is one of the best at his job. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are his one of the top receiving tandems in the NFL.
And the 49ers’ offensive line is usually called Trent Williams and four others.
The players in the attacking positions must also be doing the right thing.
The 49ers rank third in the NFL with 386.1 total yards per game and are tied with the Eagles for third with an average of 28.2 points per game.
“We play our part in the success of our offense,” 49ers center Jake Brendel told NBC Sports Bay Area. “This doesn’t get as much headlines as other things. But that’s OK. It’s just the offensive line’s play.”
Sunday’s game will pit the top two teams in the NFC against each other. Both teams have rosters with tons of star power. And the 49ers offensive line is widely considered to be unlike any other team when it comes to play at the line of scrimmage.
Philadelphia has built a solid offensive and defensive line. The 49ers have invested heavily on their defensive line, acquiring edge rusher Chase Young at the trade deadline.
But the 49ers’ offensive line, with the exception of Williams, is a largely obscure group that even the closest NFL followers would be hard-pressed to pin down.
“For sure,” 49ers right tackle Colton Mackiewicz said. “They have a great group, a lot of big names.”
Mackiewicz was named to multiple All-Pro selections along with center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson. The Eagles also have a strong left side with tackle Jordan Mailata and guard Landon Dickerson.
“But our group consists of Trent and a few guys,” Mackiewicz said. “We had some prime-time games and I think we showed a little bit of what we can do. This is just another step in that.”
That’s not all another Step, this is a big step.
That’s because the task may not be any more difficult for the 49ers’ offense this season.
The Eagles see this as an opportunity. But if the 49ers’ lineup can give Purdy time and open holes for McCaffrey, a win and more respect for an unheralded unit is sure to come.
Philadelphia has one of the best defensive lines in football and will challenge everyone on the 49ers’ offensive line. Plus, playing at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles’ raucous home stadium, is no easy task.
Mackiewicz will primarily compete against edge rusher Haason Reddick, who had 16 sacks a year ago and leads the Eagles with 8.5 sacks.
Redick ended the 49ers’ hopes of winning in the NFC Championship Game in January when he took a corner against then-49ers tight end Tyler Loft and hit Purdy in the arm as he was throwing. Purdy suffered a torn ligament in his elbow and underwent major surgery in the offseason.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for me,” Mackiewicz said. “Haason does a lot of great things with his outside arm, so you can’t rely on that. He also has the ability to change edges and get inside. I think a lot of people are worried because it’s a tough test. Masu.
“But yeah, it’ll be a fun challenge.”
Mackiewicz has faced top pass rushers in nearly every game this season, starting with his Week 1 stint with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt. Mackiewicz had three sacks in a loss after making his first start as a replacement for Mike McGlinchey, who signed a lucrative contract with the Denver Broncos in free agency.
Since then, Mackiewicz has two sacks and two QB hits in 10 games, according to Pro Football Focus.
After a tough start, Makiewicz’s play quieted outside criticism.
“I’m pretty hard on myself, but overall the product has gotten better,” he said. “I’m happy with that, but I also know I can get better to get to where I want to be in this league. Consistency is the key.”
And Mackiewicz vs. Redick is just the beginning of the challenges the 49ers will face along the line of scrimmage.
The Eagles also have quality edge rusher Josh Sweat and veteran Brandon Graham, as well as strong young linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. Veteran Fletcher Cox is listed as questionable with a groin injury.
Williams will primarily be fighting Sweat in one-on-one situations. Left guard Aaron Banks, Brendel, and the duo of Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano will be tasked with opening holes in the run game and holding up in pass protection against the Eagles’ strong defensive tackles.
The 49ers offensive line has received far more criticism than praise outside of the building. And even offensive line coach Chris Forster thinks this group is a work in progress.
“We were fine,” Forster said. “We’ve been productive. The offense has been productive in terms of running the ball and protecting us. But there’s a lot of things we can do better. We’re not there yet.
“Each individual gets a little bit better every week. That’s what I noticed during the bye week, and it’s continued the last three weeks after the bye.”
With the exception of Williams, the 49ers’ offensive line has not received favorable individual ratings from PFF. Brendel said he believes it’s more a function of the complex and unique blocking techniques the 49ers deploy. After all, the 49ers’ outside zone blocking scheme has not yet been widely implemented within the NFL, making it virtually impossible for an outsider to pinpoint a particular lineman’s assignment on a particular play.
“Our offensive line’s style of play is not flashy. It’s not flashy,” Brendel said. “We know what a huge role we have in all of this. And we’re definitely proud of what we’ve done so far and we have to continue to do that.” .”
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