Stephen A. Smith warns the San Francisco 49ers as Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey face big NFC test

Stephen A. Smith gave a strong reality check to the San Francisco 49ers after their 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night. The win pushed the 49ers to an 8-4 record, and they are trying hard to stay on track for the NFC race. But Stephen A. Smith said he does not think this team can win the NFC right now. He said there are too many good teams in the conference. He also said quarterback Brock Purdy has only eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in his four starts, which is not enough to carry the team. Smith said Purdy puts too much air under the ball and does not throw with strong zip. 

The 49ers also have big injury problems. They are missing two top defensive stars, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. They also do not have Brandon Aiyuk on offense. Smith said the team does not look as tough as before and feels a bit softer on defense. He said Kyle Shanahan is a great coach, but even that may not be enough right now.

Stephen A. Smith says Christian McCaffrey cannot carry the 49ers alone

Stephen A. Smith said the 49ers are depending too much on Christian McCaffrey this season. He said McCaffrey can only do so much, and the team puts him in danger by giving him the ball so many times. Smith said this kind of workload can lead to injury because McCaffrey is used in almost every drive. 

In the win over the Panthers, McCaffrey had 142 yards from scrimmage. Smith said this shows how talented he is, but also shows how much the team needs him for everything. He said the team needs to fix the passing game so McCaffrey does not have to do all the work.

The NFL catch leader through 12 weeks? RB Christian McCaffrey pic.twitter.com/Vx3NuYjeOs

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This season, Christian McCaffrey has run for 796 yards and seven touchdowns on 217 carries, which is the most carries in the league. He has saved the team many times, but Smith said the 49ers need more help around him. 

He said the team played well when they reached the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs because they had many strong players around McCaffrey after he came from Carolina. Smith said this team now does not have the same support because of injuries on both sides of the ball.

Stephen A. Smith’s message was simple: the 49ers are good, but they must get healthier, improve the passing game, and stop relying only on Christian McCaffrey if they want to win the NFC.