New Orleans Saints: Week 14 Rapid review and reactions, Niners stun Saints

Rapid Reactions

I only have three reactions right off the bat.

After a hard-fought well-rounded game on all sides of the ball from both teams, the 49ers came out on top, but both teams showed that they are capable of playing at an extremely high level and hopefully we see both of them in the NFC conference final in a rematch.

Eli Apple is very mediocre.

Jimmy G had a huge day throwing for over 300 yards. However, he seemed to straight target Eli Apple.

If it was man-to-man coverage, he threw it to Deebo Samuel who Apple was covering. If it was a zone coverage, they put Emmanuel Sanders on his side of the field and got him open every time. I think it is time for CGJ to climb the ladder over Eli Apple in the depth chart.

New Orleans is the real deal.

If there is one thing New Orleans proved today, it is that they are the real deal and no matter what the record, when healthy, this team is one of the most dangerous in the entire NFL. Let’s remember they’re still not healthy.

Penalties continue to be one of the Saints’ biggest problems.

In the third quarter on a crucial third down in a 35-33 game, it appeared the Niners fullback did not reach the line to get, but Gardner-Johnson was flagged for a forcible contact to the head giving them another four downs extending the drive leading to another touchdown, almost making it out of reach.

This same scenario happened two other times extending 49ers’ drives. The Saints killed themselves at moments throughout the game.