{"id":101143,"date":"2020-01-01T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T15:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=101143"},"modified":"2021-01-01T08:01:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T13:01:24","slug":"san-francisco-49ers-week-17-milestones-within-reach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/01\/01\/san-francisco-49ers-week-17-milestones-within-reach\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco 49ers Week 17 Milestones Within Reach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Francisco 49ers<\/a> Week 17 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> will be devoid of any playoff implications for the 49ers. However, in the spirit of giving 49ers fans some details to pay attention to in an otherwise inconsequential game, numerous milestones are within reach. Paying attention to these potential 49ers Week 17 milestones can liven up a game that has no ability to send the 49ers onto postseason play.<\/p>\n

San Francisco 49ers Week 17 Milestones<\/h2>\n

C.J. Beathard Can Move up Franchise Passing List<\/h3>\n

C.J. Beathard<\/a> <\/strong>will get his second consecutive start. He was impressive in San Francisco’s victory last week against the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>.\u00a0The 49ers are a franchise that boasts multiple legendary quarterbacks during their storied history. Beathard is far down on statistical lists relative to those icons. However, he still has an opportunity to creep up the rankings.\u00a0The hypothetical stat line to watch for with Beathard is 18\/31 passing with one touchdown pass and 294 passing yards.\u00a0He will move up the franchise record books if he matches those attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yardage marks.<\/p>\n

Throwing 31 passes would tie him for 15th in franchise history with Jim Plunkett<\/a><\/strong>. He is most famous for winning two Super Bowls with the Oakland\/Los Angeles Raiders<\/a>.\u00a0Plunkett spent two years as the 49ers starting quarterback in 1976 and 1977 before reaching loftier heights with the Raiders, including being named MVP of Super Bowl XV.<\/p>\n

Beathard is also within reach of a former 49ers quarterback who became the starter for the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>. It is not Joe Montana<\/a><\/strong>, Steve Bono<\/a><\/strong>, or Alex Smith<\/a><\/strong>, though. Beathard can tie Elvis Grbac<\/strong> <\/a>for 15th in franchise history in completions if he connects on 18 passes. He can also tie him for 16th in touchdown passes if he tosses one touchdown. Grbac was the backup for Steve Young<\/a><\/strong> from 1994-1996. His play while substituting for an injured Young allowed him the eventual opportunity to start for the Chiefs. He made a Pro Bowl with the Chiefs in 2000.<\/p>\n

Beathard can also tie Shaun Hill<\/a><\/strong> for 14th in franchise history in passing yards if he can accumulate 294 yards through the air.
\nHill was on the 49ers from 2006-2009. He played in 18 games during that stretch and started 16 games.\u00a0Beathard will hit free agency this offseason. If this is his last game with the 49ers, he has the opportunity to move up in those franchise record books. Many of the 49ers Week 17 milestones are involving Beathard’s performance.<\/p>\n

Jeff Wilson Can Reach Personal Rushing Milestone<\/h3>\n

Jeff Wilson<\/a><\/strong> is coming off a career game last week in which he ran for 183 yards on 22 carries against the Cardinals.\u00a0That impressive output has all but officially assured that he concludes this 2020 season as the 49ers leading rusher. Raheem Mostert<\/a> <\/strong>will not play this final game due to injury. He is the only one who could challenge him for that top rushing total.<\/p>\n

Wilson needs 105 rushing yards this upcoming game to reach 1,000 yards for his career with the 49ers.\u00a0Those 105 rushing yards would also make him the 42nd person in franchise history to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards during their tenure with the team.\u00a0The next logical goal for Wilson going forward is reaching 1,000 yards in just a single season. He seems more than capable of it if given enough touches.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see what the 49ers do at the running back position next season. Their entire offense starts with a thriving running game.\u00a0Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong> and Jerick McKinnon<\/a><\/strong> will hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Wilson will be a restricted free agent.\u00a0Coleman has been ineffective in limited playing time this year. McKinnon has shown no evidence that he can handle a heavy workload.\u00a0The performance of Wilson has earned him the opportunity to be that second option behind Mostert next season.<\/p>\n

George Kittle Can Continue Producing During Injury-Plagued Season<\/h3>\n

George Kittle<\/a><\/strong> is the biggest weapon in the 49ers passing game. His return to action last week further emphasized how he tremendously impacts this offense.\u00a0He caught four passes against the Cardinals for 92 yards. That yardage total ended up being the most for anyone in that game.<\/p>\n

Kittle has only played in seven games this season but averages 80.9 yards per game. That not only leads the team but also exceeds his per-game output from last season.\u00a0Kittle needs nine receptions this game to reach 50 on the season. That would be an impressive accomplishment given how much time he has missed.<\/p>\n

Kittle can also tie Roger Craig<\/a><\/strong>, Anquan Boldin<\/a><\/strong>, and Ken Willard<\/a><\/strong> for 20th in franchise history in touchdowns receptions if he hauls in two touchdowns this game.\u00a0Kittle is arguably the best tight end in the league when healthy. A full season of him within this offense opens up so many more dimensions of what this passing game can do. Kittle can definitely accomplish both of these potential 49ers Week 17 milestones.<\/p>\n

Kendrick Bourne Can Build Upon His Best Season<\/h3>\n

Kendrick Bourne<\/a><\/strong> has admirably spent this season stepping up his game in the face of the numerous injuries that have impacted his fellow wide receivers.\u00a0Bourne has played in 14 games this season. He has grown into an expanded role due to missed time from players like Deebo Samuel<\/a><\/strong> and Brandon Aiyuk<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Bourne has set career highs in both receptions and yards this season. He needs six more catches this game to reach 50 receptions on the season. Bourne is also set to hit free agency this offseason. Whether he remains with the 49ers or goes elsewhere, he can be a reliable option in a passing attack.<\/p>\n

Kerry Hyder Can Reach Significant Sack Milestone<\/h3>\n

The absence of Nick Bosa<\/a><\/strong> has severely impacted the potency of this 49ers pass rush. However, an encouraging development has been the emergence of Kerry Hyder<\/a><\/strong> on the defensive line.\u00a0Hyder is yet another 49ers player set to hit free agency. This season has lined him up nicely for a massive pay raise based on what he has earned this season.<\/p>\n

Hyder needs 1.5 sacks this upcoming game to reach 10 sacks on the season. That would be the 28th time that a 49ers player recorded at least 10 in a season.\u00a0Hyder has been one of the few positive storylines on a team that has been devastated by injuries.<\/p>\n

Fred Warner Can Set a New Personal Tackles Mark<\/h3>\n

Another plus of an otherwise forgettable 49ers season has been the continued evolution of Fred Warner<\/a><\/strong>. He has become perhaps the best overall middle linebacker in football.\u00a0Whether it is in pass coverage or sniffing out running lanes, Warner has excelled. He has helped keep this defense afloat despite all the injuries on the team.<\/p>\n

Warner needs nine tackles this upcoming game to tie his career-high for combined tackles in a season. There is no doubt that he is a building block for this team.<\/p>\n

Kyle Shanahan Involved in One of the 49ers Week 17 Milestones<\/h3>\n

Kyle Shanahan<\/strong> will officially coach in his 64th game with the 49ers. He deserves credit for helping to engineer this resurgence that saw a fully healthy squad make it to the Super Bowl last season.<\/p>\n

That 64th game will conclude his fourth season at the helm of this franchise. That 64th game will tie Jim Harbaugh<\/a><\/strong> for the seventh-most games coached in the history of this organization.\u00a0Shanahan and Harbaugh have been the two most successful coaches in the last decade and a half for the 49ers.<\/p>\n

San Francisco 49ers Week 17 Milestones From Defensive Unit<\/h3>\n

The defensive unit as a whole has remained one of the better ones in the league. If they’re not elite like they were last season, they are certainly still above average.\u00a0This defense has a chance to finish this season by allowing the fewest rushing touchdowns in the league. That is quite a feat due to the amount of time missed by crucial players.\u00a0The 49ers have allowed 11 rushing touchdowns so far this season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> have allowed the fewest with nine rushing touchdowns.\u00a0If the 49ers can stop the Seahawks scoring on the ground and the Buccaneers can give up a few to the Atlanta Falcons<\/a>, this 49ers defense has a chance to finish the season by allowing the fewest rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n

The unit also has a chance to finish this season with the least amount of missed tackles. It’s an evident sign of not just their solid fundamentals but great coaching.\u00a0The 49ers as a team have missed just 68 tackles this season. The Indianapolis Colts<\/a> have missed the fewest in the league at 66.\u00a0If the 49ers can play a clean, crisp game on defense against the Seahawks, and the Colts have issues wrapping up the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, this 49ers defense can boast that despite all the injuries, they still managed to miss the fewest tackles of any team in the league. The potential 49ers Week 17 milestones involving the defense would be quite an accomplishment from such a tumultuous season.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>