If you spent some time trying to come up with the most-maligned unit on the San Francisco 49ers, you'd probably pretty quickly land on the offensive line.
It's spent most of the season in a state of flux, with the players playing next to mainstays like left tackle Trent Williams and right tackle Colton McKivitz taking on something of a travelling chorus line approach, with the various guard and center positions being filled by Dominick Puni, Jake Brendel, Matt Hennessy, and Connor Colby at various times.
There have been signs, however, the O-line was beginning to jell in recent weeks, and Monday's primetime victory over the Carolina Panthers might have been the apex of that journey.
The line largely kept quarterback Brock Purdy clean as a sheet (for as good as that did, given Purdy's erratic performance), but perhaps more importantly, it paved the way for running backs Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson to have strong games.
In the end, that meant 147 rushing yards for San Francisco and a no-sack night for Purdy. The latter's important, given Purdy's ongoing recovery from a troublesome turf-toe injury, but it's the rushing yards that helped the 49ers control the clock and the game as a whole.
The Panthers came in with a clear gameplan to limit the Niners' explosive plays, and that meant the 49ers needed to be patient and gradually probe for opportunities. Thirty-one rushing attempts by the running backs later, that got born out, perhaps most prominently on the sole touchdown run by McCaffrey, a perfectly executed toss sweep:
The run blocking on Christian McCaffrey’s touchdown was perfect… pic.twitter.com/pm9QzMYWJA
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 25, 2025
A play like this just doesn't happen unless the entire O-line is in sync, and the footwork, drive, and positioning of everyone involved on this play shows just how perfectly it came together.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had an excellent headline block, racing to the edge, but the triplicate blocks of Williams, Ben Bartch and Brendel (the left tackle, left guard and center, respectively) are three absolutely superb blocks as well. McKivitz and Puni also managed to make appearances on the replay, while tight end George Kittle does a superb matador impression to also put himself in the frame.
When the 49ers block like this, it's almost unstoppable. McCaffrey goes from a player lazily assumed to have "lost a step" to looking like San Francisco's most dynamic playmaker, while the offense's ability to overall control the pace and flow of the game (thereby helping out its young and developing defense) goes up a notch as well.
So, what's changed?
It's hard to put an exact finger on it, but the return of veterans like Bartch and Spencer Burford, who have been platooning at left guard, would probably be a good place to start. Colby will have his moment, and may be a great developmental prospect along the line, but he was definitely struggling. Putting two battle-hardened veterans in ahead of him will certainly help.
Also, Puni's gradual return to health seems to have helped, as well as Kittle's return. These players have been foundational parts of what the 49ers are usually able to do in the run game, and if they're playing at their level, it usually elevates the entire unit along with it.
Whatever the reason, it's absolutely necessary that San Francisco's O-line continues to play well. Controlling games is the 49ers' best path to victory, and their best path to the playoffs is continuing to win.
The offensive line, so often the engine room of a successful NFL team, will need to drive that forward.