How Kyle Shanahan's 49ers Play-calling Is Influenced By Facing Elite Offenses

How Kyle Shanahan's 49ers play-calling is influenced by facing elite offenses originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: Watch Matt Maiocco’s full interview with Kyle Shanahan on “49ers Game Plan,” airing at 9:30 p.m. PT Friday on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Kyle Shanahan is well-renowned as an offensive-minded coach, but how does the 49ers coach plan when his opponent boasts an elite offense of their own?

Shanahan sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco in the latest edition of “49ers Game Plan” and shared whether a strong opposing offense changes his decision-making heading into a football game.

“It does sometimes,” Shanahan said. “It’s more, I’m prepared for it to change how I am. I never go in and just assume, “Man, they have a good offense. We’re going to have to win this 40-to-39 and I’m just going to come out and do offside kicks and go for it.” I don’t ever really think like that. Even younger, playing Peyton Manning, probably should have felt like that, but not really a head coach then.”

Shanahan added, however, that there’s a fine line between preparing and changing your game plan altogether.

“You don’t change your stuff, but you understand how this game may go, you’ve got to have certain things in there, you’ve got to be able to change stuff up because [Baker Mayfield] is capable of scoring at all times, he is capable of getting hot,” Shanahan told Maiocco. “The same way [Matthew] Stafford is. I feel, these are probably, without a doubt, I think the two best quarterbacks on our schedule and I think both of them are playing at MVP levels.

“I loved how we challenged Stafford last week, even though he had a hell of a game, and I know we’re going to do the same for Baker this week.”

Mayfield, along with Stafford, is top-five in passing yards (1,283) and passing touchdowns (10) this season while also throwing just one interception while leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 4-1 record heading into their Week 6 matchup with San Francisco.

The 49ers will look to slow the veteran Mayfield, along with the Bucs’ rookie phenom Emeka Egbuka.

The 2025 first-round pick has burst onto the NFL scene with 445 yards receiving and five receiving touchdowns as he’s become Mayfield’s favorite target.

San Francisco likely will get a boost in their secondary with safety Malik Mustapha preparing to make his season debut. And it couldn’t come at a better time.

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