Heading into the Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the San Francisco 49ers are the proud owners of a couple of incredible defensive streaks.
The team has not allowed a rushing touchdown in 14 straight games, an NFL record. The 49ers defense has also not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 35 straight games.
Are the Steelers the team to beat these streaks?
One thing the 49ers will be dealing with is the absence of their leader on defense, middle linebacker Patrick Willis. Although he is officially listed as "questionable", it doesn't look good for him to play on Monday night.
Other than that, the odds favor the 49ers to continue at least one of the streaks.
Larry Grant has filled in admirably for Willis, and he is a force at the line of scrimmage. He lacks the speed and quickness of Willis, and he isn't the same kind of pass defender that makes Willis so special. In the running game, however, Grant fills the holes and is a sure tackler.
The rest of the 49ers' defenders are healthy, and I don't believe any of the Steelers' runners will threaten gaining 100 yards on this stingy defense.
The rushing touchdowns mark is a different story.
Rashard Mendenhall, while not the explosive runner some wish him to be, scores touchdowns on a regular basis. In the last two seasons, he has run for 21 touchdowns.
Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin isn't afraid to punch it in when his team is in the red zone, and the Steelers should get a few chances to break the 49ers' streak.
Streaks are meant to be broken, but only time will tell if this is the week it happens to the 49ers.
Stay tuned for more news and analysis as we lead up to Monday Night Football.
Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli
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