The 49ers are competing with two MVP candidates for NFC West champions

The 49ers are competing with two MVP candidates for NFC West champions – Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey earned teammate and MVP nominations after another dominant performance for the San Francisco 49ers. Both have valuable cases as they continue to gain yards and touchdowns at a lightning pace that elevated the Niners to the league’s most dangerous offense after Sunday’s 45-29 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Seedling#039; is a major luxury for the 49ers (11-3). andquot;That means the offense is playing very well,andquot; left tackle Trent Williams said. andquot;We have the best quarterback in the NFL, so I think he’s going to get MVP attention. Same with Brock, he played ass and to have him in the conversation and to have him as a teammate, I couldn’t be more proud of both of those guys.” Purdy threw four more touchdown passes Sunday and led the NFL with a league-best 119 passer rating and 9.9 yards per attempt. McCaffrey had 187 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. He leads the NFL with 1,801 yards from scrimmage and is tied with 20 TDs. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes as offensive tackle Trent Williams blocks Arizona Cardinals defensive end Dennis Gardeck (45) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws against Trent Williams and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Dennis Gardeck (45) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/). ). Matt York) The dynamic duo helped San Francisco win the NFC West for the second straight season, but the Niners have much bigger goals than division titles or MVP points after losing in the NFC title game the last two seasons. San Francisco could earn the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with wins in the final three games of the season, which would facilitate the ultimate goal of winning the franchise and its first Super Bowl since the 1994 season. . andquot;I think winning the division is obviously very important. This is a big step for us, andquot; McCaffrey said. andquot;I think everyone knows where we want to be. We know you have to give your best every week. You get the best of everyone. So the standard must continue to rise.andquot; WHAT’S WRONG I pass the ball to McCaffrey. The All-Star running back had 18 carries for 115 yards and a TD, five catches for 72 yards and two scores. It gave him seven straight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage, which would tie the franchise record held by Frank Gore (2007-08) and Roger Craig (1988). McCaffrey had seven TDs in two games against Arizona, the most by a single player in one season against one opponent since Billy Cannon had eight TDs against the New York Titans in 1961. WHO NEEDS HELP Run defense. The 49ers totaled 234 yards on the ground, the most in a game since giving up 265 to Dallas in 2017 in coach Kyle Shanahanand#039’s first season. San Francisco hasn’t allowed that many receiving yards since 1955. According to Pro Football Focus, catching has been a big problem with the Niners’ 16-season deficit. andquot;Defensively, we have a standard here and we didn’t meet it,andquot; linebacker Fred Warner said. STORE CB Charvarius Ward. Despite being hampered all week with a groin injury, Ward came up big against the Cardinals. He had a pick-6 in the first half and added another interception to give him four on the season. Ward leads the NFL with 22 sacks, the most by a San Francisco player in a season since Darnell Walker had 27 in 1998. According to PFF, Ward has allowed four sacks. IN STOCK WR Ronnie Bell. The Niners almost had a major special teams mishap when Bell appeared to return a punt late in the first half that the Cardinals returned for a TD. An instant replay overturned the play and ruled that Bell went down before the turnover, but it was the second time he mishandled a snap in the past three games. YOU ARE SOUL CB Deommodore Lenior (bruised ribs) is day-to-day. … DT Kalia Davis (high ankle sprain) will miss a few weeks … WR Jauan Jennings (concussion) and DE Clelin Ferrell (ankle) are day-to-day. … RG Spencer Burford (knee) is back this week. … The Niners could also get DT Arik Armstead (foot, knee), DT Javon Hargrave (hamstring), TE Ross Dwelley (ankle), RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) and Oren Burks (knee) back this week. Key NUMBER 6 – San Francisco has won six straight games by more than 10 points for the third time in franchise history after previous wins in 1987 and 1993. The last NFL team to do so was the 2009 Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. NEXT STEPS San Francisco hosts Baltimore on Dec. 25 in the last meeting between the teams with the best records in each conference since Seattle beat Indianapolis 28-13 in Week 16 of the 2005 season. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl San Francisco 49ers quarterback Christian McCaffrey, center, celebrates scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Christian McCaffrey, center, celebrates scoring a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) catches a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Christian McCaffrey (23) catches a touchdown during the second half of the game.