Deafening silence, or unceasing noise? For centuries, people have wondered which is preferable. Here's how this applies to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
Silence can be comforting, soothing, a blanket of contentment washing over a person when it’s wanted. But, in the instances where the silence isn’t welcome, and you’re unwillingly left to your just your own thoughts, there are few more maddening environments.
Meanwhile, all that noise? The constant flow of sounds from anywhere, from the people around you, music on the radio, whatever is on TV? It’s a cacophony of modern life that’s often lamented.
But, what about the times when that noise is jubilation? What about the times when that noise is in celebration from like minded individuals, friends, family, brothers, that you’ve reached a shared goal with?
Times like that are rare in life, to be saved and savored in our minds. After pulling off a wild overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, that’s exactly what the San Francisco 49ers did on Thursday night.
Going into the game, there were plenty of questions about who was even left healthy on the 49ers that could step up and provide such a memorable win. Yes, Christian McCaffrey was still around but he’s just one man, and injuries kept out every other offensive skill starter, plus Brock Purdy.
But, Kendrick Bourne was able to turn back the clock by posting ten catches for 142 yards, Mac Jones avoided an injury scare and threw for 342 yards, and two touchdowns without turning it over, and kicker Eddy Pineiro nailed all four field goal attempts, including a 59-yarder with three minutes left in regulation, as well as what would prove to be a game winning 41-yarder in over time.
Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without the defense stepping up multiple times. Yes, they let Matthew Stafford throw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, but they did force two turnovers while also stuffing Kyren Williams just short on a fourth and one carry deep in their own territory to end the game.
On the other end, the Rams have to feel like they got punched in the gut. After fighting back from a 14-0 deficit, they had the ball in their hands during over-time with a chance to pull off the huge divisional win, only to fall just inches short.
As someone that’s been on both ends of a game like in my years in football, I feel confident in saying that there’s a strong chance that very little was said in the Rams locker room after a loss like that.
Probably a few short words by the head coach going over the schedule for the rest of the week, letting them know when the training table opens up the next day, but nothing too substantial.
Instead, outside of questions from reporters, most players and coaches likely kept to themselves, lost in their own thoughts. A true, deafening silence after an emotional game.