Warner identifies root cause of 49ers’ famous second-half surges originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers are playing oddly better during the second half of NFL seasons.
And San Francisco’s star linebacker, Fred Warnerthinks he knows why.
“I hope we win more before the bye as well,” Warner told reporters on Wednesday. “But, for some reason, we like to make things harder on ourselves, you know. There’s something about playing desperately that makes you play a little better, I guess.
Sometimes the hardest path is the most rewarding. After all, Warner helped San Francisco work its magic many times during his seven years in the Bay.
Last season, the 49ers started 5-3 before winning six straight games en route to a 12-5 mark – and an appearance in Super Bowl LVIII. In 2022, San Francisco was 3-4 before stringing together 10 straight wins. And in 2021, the 49ers were 2-4 before finishing 10-7.
Despair is often seen as a weakness; for San Francisco, this has been a strength. Regardless, the 49ers should be on the rise as the 2024 NFL season ages.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey is practicing, and his return should give San Francisco a huge boost — a boost that any reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year who is coming off a season of 2,023 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns can give.
San Francisco also seems to have found a rhythm ahead of its short vacation. The 49ers faced the Dallas Cowboys, 30-24, in Week 8 at Levi’s Stadium, with the home team’s stars shining on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
And the 49ers general manager John Lynch recently shared optimism similar to Warner’s.
“I think it’s all of the above; Really,” Lynch told Greg Papa of San Francisco’s second-half success. NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan.” “I talked earlier about our culture – where we have improved over the season because of the way we work. I think we are finding our identity. …”
Lynch also revealed San Francisco’s motto, “WIT,” which stands for “What.” He. Takes.
The 49ers are a disappointing 4-4. But they still find ways to compete, and the Faithful should expect San Francisco to put together yet another series over the final nine games.
No time is better than now. The 49ers’ “second season” begins Sunday morning against quarterback Baker Mayfield the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-5 at Raymond James Stadium.
