Thanksgiving marks Week 13 of the NFL season. There is a lot to be thankful for around the league such as great talent and the work that these players do off the field to better the community. In San Francisco, fans are thankful that their hometown 49ers are in contention once again.

The Niners are 10-1 on the season. They are coming off of a blowout win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football where they looked invincible. There are plenty of things to be thankful for if you are the 49ers, such as having a franchise quarterback like Jimmy Garoppolo and having young talent at skill positions.

Heading into Thanksgiving, here are two main things that the Niners should be glad they have.

2. Defensive Dominance

Defense wins championships. The Niners have certainly built a championship caliber defense led by Robert Saleh. During games, Saleh can be seen on the sideline being held back by another assistant coach so he does not run onto the field out of either excitement or anger. Saleh brings a certain toughness and attitude to this defense and that is what they show on the field.

Let's look at the personnel. Arik Armstead leads the team with 10 sacks. Fred Warner holds the team lead in tackles. DeForest Buckner has been a monster on the defensive line, while Richard Sherman is looking like an incredible leader in the locker room. Let's not forget that they landed arguably the top player in the 2019 NFL Draft in Nick Bosa who has a chance to be the Defensive Player of the Year.

San Francisco should be looked as a legit contender because of their dominance on the defensive end. They lead the league in total defense and have allowed the fewest passing yards per game with 136.9. This is a team that is primed for a deep playoff run.

Article Continues Below
More San Francisco 49ers News
Sep 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; =Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (0) looks on after a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
49ers’ Bryce Huff trade with Eagles officially completeJaren Kawada ·
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws a pass to warm up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Insider makes Sam Darnold comparison for 49ers’ Mac JonesZachary Weinberger ·
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) makes a catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.
Christian McCaffrey welcomes Saquon Barkley to the running back Madden familyMatty Breisch ·
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (0) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) after a catch during the second quarter.
Eagles’ Bryce Huff trade to 49ers finalized with full pick conditions revealedJosh Davis ·
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
49ers’ Christian McCaffrey lacking ‘5th gear’ at OTAs draws concernAlex House ·
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) signals from the line of scrimmage against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.
NFL rumors: Bills, 49ers among contenders that should seek Tyreek Hill tradeJaren Kawada ·

1. John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan

The day that the Niners hired John Lynch to be their general manager, the franchise was immediately in a great spot. San Francisco has not been to the playoffs since 2013. They have endured four straight losing seasons prior to 2019. When Lynch was brought in, there was no doubt that he was going to turn this team around. He is one of the top executives in the league and his head coach is pretty good too.

Kyle Shanahan took the 49ers' job in 2017. Prior to this season, Shanahan had been 10-22 in San Fran, but Rome was not built in a day. The 49ers simply did not have good players when he took the job. From his resume, there was no doubt that he would be a good head coach.

His days with the Washington Redskins are viewed negatively, but there is no denying how good that offense was in 2012 with a healthy rookie quarterback named Robert Griffin III. Shanahan also led an elite Atlanta Falcons offense to the Super Bowl.

Success in the NFL starts at the top. The York's have stepped out of the way and let Lynch run the show. Lynch has made it clear that Shanahan is the coach on the sidelines. The Niners are a well oiled machine and it all began when Lynch was hired.