49ers have to write their own story now

COMMENTARY

The San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) scores on a 5-yard touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

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Students of recent history can recall the 49ers in 2021 seemingly out of the picture at 3-5 and then somehow rallying to reach the NFC Championship Game.

A check of the game book from that day shows 17 players who were on the 49ers then and are on the 49ers now, as well nine coaches including head coach Kyle Shanahan.That resurrection was sparked in part by having Deebo Samuel shifted into the backfield from wide receiver and moving Arik Armstead from defensive end to full-time defensive tackle.

While it’s nice to have that in the memory bank, Shanahan doesn’t see that season as relevant.

“I don’t think it pertains to anything,” Shanahan said Monday in a conference call with local reporters. “I think everyone goes off life experiences. People can resort to that and know how things work. I’ve seen a number of them, enough to know you can never count yourself out until you’re actually eliminated from something. But I think every year is different and we’ve got to write our own story this year and it has nothing to do with other years.”

In truth, for as painful as Sunday’s 24-23 loss to Arizona was, the 49ers, even at 0-2 in the NFC West, are in a division where they’re not exactly down and out.

The 49ers visit Seattle Thursday night, with the Seahawks at 3-2 after losing to the New York Giants. Arizona is 2-3 after the 49ers win and the Los Angeles Rams are 1-4.

And it’s not as if the 49ers of Oct. 6 are going to be the same team they are a month from now. Yes, they could be worse. They could also be a lot better.

Perhaps in reference to that 2021 season, where the 49ers ran off a 7-2 finish and beat the Rams in the final game of the season to sneak into the wild card round, tight end George Kittle wasn’t about to throw in the towel.

“The team that you look like in September and October will be significantly different in November and December,” Kittle said Sunday night. “We’ve got to try to get better, take one day at a time and be a little bit better every day.”

Quarterback Brock Purdy had one of his few bad games, going 19-for-35 for 244 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He was a senior at Iowa State in 2021, so he’s focused only on this team. It’s one Purdy said is still looking to find itself.

“Every year is different with just the team, the chemistry and getting guys together,” Purdy said. “It’s a couple plays away, a couple drives away from gelling and gluing together. But I’m confident we’ll find it.”

Where the 49ers need to be a lot better is on offense.

“I thought this one was worse than the Rams in terms of we got sloppier in terms of our turnovers, not scoring in the second half,” Shanahan said.