The San Francisco 49ers are on the doorstep of the postseason, and Monday Night Football in Week 16 offers them a chance to walk right through it. A win over the Indianapolis Colts would officially punch their playoff ticket, but standing in their way is a Colts team that’s anything but a pushover - especially with Jonathan Taylor running the show.
Taylor has been, without question, the most dominant back in football this season. He’s the engine of Shane Steichen’s offense, which has quietly become one of the most efficient units in the league.
The Colts don’t just run the ball well - they scheme it up with precision and physicality, and their offensive line gives Taylor room to work. That’s a problem for a 49ers defense that’s been a bit of a mixed bag this year.
Let’s talk about that defense. San Francisco has had its moments, but consistency hasn’t been the calling card.
Statistically, they’re sitting below average in several key categories - they’re not stuffing the run, and they’re not getting after quarterbacks like they used to. And yet, somehow, they’re keeping teams off the scoreboard.
The Niners are giving up just 20.9 points per game, good for 11th in the league - a number that’s helped them stay in the thick of the NFC playoff race despite some glaring issues.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh isn’t sugarcoating anything. He knows the run defense hasn’t been where it needs to be - and he’s owning it.
“There has been some good, some bad,” Saleh said this week. “Didn’t like the way we finished last week. I take responsibility for that fourth quarter.”
He’s referring to a late-game sequence where the 49ers, up three scores with nine minutes to go, shifted into more of a pass-prevent look - and got gashed for over 100 total yards, including 50-plus on the ground.
“That’s on me,” Saleh said. “It’s got to be firmer.”
And it has to be firmer fast. The next three games - starting with Indy, and including a rematch with Seattle - feature teams that can run the ball with authority. Saleh knows exactly what’s coming, especially with Taylor and that Colts offensive line looming.
“Every week is a challenge,” he said. “But this week, with Jonathan Taylor and the way they do things - they’re pretty darn good at running the football. And we’ve got to be good.”
But Saleh isn’t getting lost in the numbers. For him, it all comes down to one stat: points allowed.
“I gave up on yardage a long time ago,” he said. “It’s about winning football games, keeping points down.”
And that’s where this defense has found its identity. They’re not dominating the box score.
They’re not leading the league in sacks or tackles for loss. But they’re doing just enough - bending without breaking, playing situational football, and finding ways to keep teams out of the end zone.
That’s been especially impressive considering the injuries they’ve dealt with. Losing cornerstone defenders like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for the season would tank most teams.
But the Niners have found a way to keep the wheels turning. It hasn’t always been pretty, but it’s been effective.
Now comes the stretch that will define their season. Three games left.
A playoff berth within reach. And the No. 1 seed in the NFC still on the table, if everything breaks their way.
It starts Monday night against a Colts team that nearly knocked off Seattle last week in a tight 18-16 loss. If the 49ers take care of business, they’ll hold onto the No. 5 seed and stay within striking distance of the Seahawks - setting the stage for a massive Week 18 showdown that could decide more than just bragging rights.
For San Francisco, it’s time to tighten up, dig in, and play their brand of football - opportunistic, resilient, and just gritty enough to get the job done.