Now that 13 weeks of the 2022 NFL season are in the books, certain things are seemingly chiseled in stone and undeniable at this point.
There are two things that seem to stick out the most right now, and they could be significant factors in what happens come playoff time.
The San Francisco 49ers Can Win With Any Competent Quarterback
Early in their Sunday showdown versus the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo for the season when he sustained a foot injury.
Of course, they had already been without Trey Lance, who had been designated as their QB1 in the preseason, ever since he suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Week 2.
Brock Purdy, the last player chosen in April’s draft, stepped in and played fairly well, throwing two touchdown passes and going 25 of 37 overall for 210 yards as San Francisco won 33-17.
Not only do the 49ers have a strong running game, but they also possess the best defense in football.
THIS 49ERS DEFENSE 🤯pic.twitter.com/hZPxWjP5KB
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 5, 2022
As the old saying goes, defense wins championships, and a team with an elite defense will almost always have a shot to win any game.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Season Is Over
The Rams’ hopes for a repeat Super Bowl championship were already hanging by a thread coming into Week 13, but on Sunday, that thread was severed when head coach Sean McVay revealed starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will miss the rest of the season with a spinal cord injury.
Los Angeles has had problems all year, including some injuries and lots of issues on offense, and with a 27-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, it now holds a 3-9 record, virtually ensuring it will miss the playoffs.
NEXT: The Cowboys Nearly Made History Destroying The Colts