The San Francisco 49ers have gotten off to a strong start this season, winning six of their first seven games and establishing themselves as one of the more productive teams in the NFL. However, a closer look at their performances shows a concerning trend that could become a bigger problem as the season progresses.
The 49ers have been considerably more dominant in the first half of games than they have been after halftime. While their offense has maintained a relatively consistent scoring output, the defense has struggled to keep opponents from getting back into games.
Through seven weeks, San Francisco has scored 99 points in the first half and 98 in the second half. That consistency on offense is encouraging, but the same cannot be said for the defense. Opponents have scored 50 first-half points against the 49ers compared to 89 after halftime.
As a result, San Francisco's point differential drops from +49 in the first half to nine in the second. The 49ers are still outscoring opponents after halftime, but the advantage they establish early in games has become much smaller, especially in the last few games.
The fourth quarter has been the most concerning. San Francisco has scored ...