Now that they've won back-to-back games after coming away with a dominant victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers are starting to look like Super Bowl contenders once again. Coming off an injury-plagued season where they were running on fumes, it was widely expected that the 49ers would be back with a vengeance and ready to reclaim their stake as the kings of the NFC.
As they work tirelessly to get back to title contention and reassert their authority as one of the league's best teams, the 49ers have shown what they're capable of when they're fully healthy and getting big contributions from their star players.
With all of these going for the 49ers, let's take a look at three key takeaways from their lopsided Week 11 win over the Jaguars.
3. Deebo Samuel has established himself as one the best flex players
In most situations, Samuel is utilized as the 49ers no. 1 wide receiver and one of the league's most prolific deep threats, but given their lack of depth in the backfield these days, playing him at the running back spot was a move that paid off in a major way. Between a productive day running the ball against the Jaguars and a ton of highlight-worthy catches throughout the season, Samuel has proven to be a vital part of the 49ers offense.
This isn't the first time he's been a huge playmaker in their rushing attack, but he definitely has been getting more touches running the ball as of late and with his ability to catch any pass thrown his way, Samuel's contributions will definitely be needed on a consistent basis if they want to extend their winning streak.
2. Brandon Aiyuk might become the 49ers' new no. 1 receiver
With Samuel transitioning into the role of flex player, this may pave the way for Brandon Aiyuk to become the team's new no. 1 wideout. The 49ers will need him to take on a bigger load while George Kittle still works his way back to full strength. There's no doubt that Aiyuk can take on this role with ease, and he proved this in Sunday's blowout win against the Jaguars.
After getting back to .500 with a much-needed win, Aiyuk displayed that he's more than capable of leading the charge in the 49ers' passing game. So keep an eye out for more exciting changes like this on the offensive side of the ball for Jimmy Garoppolo and company in the second half of the season.
1. Balanced attack on defense
When fully healthy, the 49ers boast one of the league's most fearsome defensive units, but after dealing with several injuries and horribly inconsistent play on that end of the field, things are finally starting to look up again in the Bay Area. In their continued efforts to play winning football and climb the ranks of the ultra-competitive NFC West, the 49ers will have to keep this up.
After witnessing Sunday's dismantling of the Jaguars by their deep and talented defensive unit, it seems like the 49ers are starting to get their groove back. Led by Fred Warner, Jimmie Ward, and Nick Bosa, it's safe to say that their D is way too talented to be consistently playing subpar football. As they continuously search for ways to stay ahead of the competition in this year's tight-knit postseason race, the 49ers will need their defense to have a major impact for them in the coming weeks.
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