Unpack the 49ers' surprising season, explosive offense, and Brock Purdy's stellar play, as they battle for the top NFC seed.
On this episode, Jason Aponte and Rob Staser look back at the 49ers’ 2025 season through one lens: the path that’s put San Francisco on the doorstep of the NFC’s No. 1 seed, with a massive Week 18 matchup vs. the Seahawks carrying real stakes for home-field advantage. The tone is appreciative of the ride, but also sharp, with the hosts pushing back on narratives that have followed the team all year.
Week 18 vs. Seattle is everything
They make it simple early: the Seahawks game is the one that decides whether the 49ers secure home-field. It’s not just another rivalry week, it’s the final step in turning a great season into the best possible playoff setup. (1:28)
This season was supposed to be messy, and it wasn’t
A big theme is how enjoyable this year has been because expectations were “stripped down” compared to past seasons. The hosts talk about the adversity — injuries, setbacks, weird stretches — and how the 49ers still kept finding ways to win, which made the season feel more fascinating than a typical “front-runner” year. (3:08)
The offense has been special, and they go full 1994 comparison
Jason and Rob spend time on how explosive the offense has been, even comparing it to the iconic 1994 49ers offense. Their point isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake — it’s that this team’s scoring pace has been elite, and they note the current group is averaging more points per game with Brock Purdy than those historic teams did. (1:56)
Purdy gets his flowers, and the “Avengers” argument gets rejected
Purdy is at the center of the episode. They credit him for stepping up and carrying the team, especially when the defense was dealing with injuries and the overall roster wasn’t always at full strength. They also dismiss the “Avengers” narrative around Purdy — the idea that he’s always surrounded by a perfect collection of stars — arguing that he’s often been operating without the full complement of weapons people assume he has. (5:02, 6:18)
Injury check: CMC back, but big names are in question
They run through the injury landscape heading into Week 18. Christian McCaffrey’s return is noted as a major boost, but there are concerns about Keon White (groin), Kyle Juszczyk (hip), and Trent Williams (hamstring). On Williams specifically, they’re skeptical he’ll play given his injury history, and they treat that as a meaningful variable for the offense. (7:01)
Revisiting key games and how they “aged”
A fun part of the show is looking back at early-season games and how they feel different now:
- Week 1 vs. Seattle: they call out how important that win was for setting the tone, and they reflect on Seattle no longer feeling like a “House of Horrors” for San Francisco. (15:40, 19:01)
- Week 2 vs. New Orleans: a game that didn’t seem like much at the time, but looks more important now given how the Saints improved later. (23:01)
- Week 3 vs. Arizona: they frame it as a huge win that came with a cost — losing Nick Bosa — joking about the “soul for a soul” sacrifice. (27:19)
- Loss to Jacksonville: once a frustrating result, but it’s “aged like wine” as the Jaguars proved they were legitimately strong. (30:46)
The “easy schedule” narrative doesn’t hold up
They close by taking aim at the idea that the 49ers had some cakewalk schedule. Their argument is that schedules evolve — teams change over the season, injuries happen, confidence swings — and what looked easy in September doesn’t necessarily look easy in December. They also hit the Coach of the Year discussion, saying Kyle Shanahan should be right there in the mix if the 49ers finish the job and win the finale. (31:54, 29:56)
Listen to the full episode
If you want a big-picture season lens with real Week 18 urgency, this one delivers. Jason and Rob mix the stakes (No. 1 seed on the line), the Purdy discourse, the injury reality, and a strong debunking of the narratives that don’t match what the 49ers have actually navigated all season.