SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For a San Francisco 49ers defense that could be described in many ways heading into last week's game against the Chicago Bears, there was one word that would probably stand above the rest: overworked.
Yes, the Niners defense entered that contest leading the league in snaps played, a product of its own inability to get off the field consistently on third down and, even more, the offense's inability to stay on it by converting on third downs.
Suffice to say, that one-point win in Chicago offered a welcome respite for a defense in need of some rest.
“It was awesome to be able to sit back and watch the offense go to work," defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. "You don’t get many opportunities at that. I don’t care what team you play for. You just don’t get opportunities to be able to be a spectator as much. So, it was pretty cool.”
Indeed, the Niners defense might as well have paid for a ticket as it wasn't on the field much longer than the fans sitting in the stands. When the game was over, the 49ers defense had played a season-low 36 snaps and was on the field for just 21:13, which was easily the lowest amount it had played in a game this season.
Before that game, the defense's previous lows in snaps and time on the field had been 60 and 29:31, respectively. The Niners also gave up just eight first downs, well below the previous low this season of 19.
Taking it a step further, the 36 snaps played were the fewest by a defense this season and the fewest played by a defense since Miami played just 35 in Week 2 of 2009.
The key to that success, aside from the defense doing its job, was an offense that was finally moving the chains consistently behind quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The Niners were 10-of-18 on third down against the Bears as Garoppolo repeatedly found the likes of receivers Trent Taylor and Marquise Goodwin to keep drives alive.
“It is contagious," Saleh said. "When the offense is moving the ball you could hear our guys on the sideline. It was the urgency at which they felt they needed to get the ball back for the offense because they were doing so well. It’s a team game. It’s no different that the defense is getting three-and-outs. The offense is going to feel like they need to get going. If the offense is staying on the field, the defense is going to feel like they need to get them the ball. Then special teams doing what they’ve been doing all year, and they’ve been playing great ball. The whole thing, it’s always about team ball. Last week was a pretty cool example of it.”
The excitement Garoppolo has generated has been hard to ignore, even for a defense that traditionally doesn't concern itself with what's happening in other meeting rooms.
“We’re in our own cocoon, we are," Saleh said. "But you can’t help but notice. The first couple of weeks when he was working on seven-on-seven, he’s got a really cool demeanor to him. He’s got a really good arm. I don’t know what goes on on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t know anything else except for what I see. Guys are excited. Like we talked about earlier, there was an urgency on the sideline to get the offense the ball. I get the quarterback is a big deal, but the rest of the offense seemed like they were playing really good ball. The O-line looked like they had their best day. The receivers were making some really good plays. The running backs were doing a really good job. It all comes down to team ball, as you guys know."