Chances are pretty good it will happen again Sunday for McCaffrey. In the 49ers' 26-8 win over Cleveland before the bye, McCaffrey opened the scoring with a 1-yard run. It was his 13th touchdown of the season. Including the playoffs, McCaffrey has played 50 games for the 49ers and scored 52 touchdowns. Nobody in franchise history not even all-time NFL touchdown leader Jerry Rice with 208 has averaged more than a touchdown per game in their first 50 games.
The Atlanta Falcons knew they'd have to stop Christian McCaffrey, and they knew they'd need to attack a vulnerable San Francisco linebacker corps and secondary. While there were moments, and even long stretches where the defense held up despite the loss of Divine Deablo, they didn't do any of that on a consistent basis. They lost by failing to do what they knew must be done.
You can want it. You can hope for it. But please, I'm begging you don't expect it. The moment the 49ers traded for running back Brian Robinson Jr., the drumbeat started. From fans, from the media, from anyone with a fantasy football team, the call came for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan to play Robinson and Christian McCaffrey on the field at the same time. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times now. And it's starting to give me a headache.