SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel acknowledges he’s in the most productive stretch of his 49ers career, scoring more touchdowns than even Christian McCaffrey over the past four games.
“It’s just crazy, because every time I get the ball, I try to score,” Samuel said Thursday. “It’s just tending to happen a lot right now.”
Not that the 49ers are lacking points from others, but Samuel’s goal-line gumption could prove critical Monday when the 49ers (11-3) host the Baltimore Ravens (11-3), in a matchup pitting teams currently atop their respective conference standings, with three weeks until the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) and cornerback Brandon Carr in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Will it be a defensive duel between the NFL’s stingiest squads? The Ravens allow a league-low 16.1 points per game and the second-ranked 49ers tout a 16.7-point average.
Or could a prime-time shootout ensue? The 49ers rank third in scoring (30.4 points per game) and the Ravens check in fourth (27.4 ppg.). Ahead of them are the Miami Dolphins (31.5 ppg.) and the Dallas Cowboys (30.8 ppg.), who meet Sunday in Miami in a matchup of their respective conference’s second-best teams.
Samuel expects the 49ers-Ravens game to offer a playoff-type atmosphere, because, “for us to continue to be the No. 1 seed, we know we have to continue to stack these days, stack these games and do what we.”
What he’s done is produce over the best four-game clip of his five-year career. He’s scored eight touchdowns during that stretch, with five scores coming on 22 receptions and the other three on just nine carries.
He concurs that he’s playing at a career-best level, stating: “I kind of think so, but there’s still a lot of stuff I need to work on to get better, week in and week out.”
“He’s hot right now, but I’ve seen him on hotter streaks, in playoffs and at times before,” wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said. “We’re going to need to keep the hot streak going this week, for sure.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) to score a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The 49ers have not lost since Samuel returned to the lineup after a hairline fracture in his shoulder. That first-drive injury on Oc. 15 sent him out after only nine snaps in Cleveland, where the 49ers began a three-game losing streak.
“He’s come back and gotten healthy,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When Deebo’s out there, stringing together practices and weeks, it’s a matter of time for the ball to come his way.”
Samuel has 11 touchdowns on the season, and his eight-touchdown tally the past four games came in wins over Seattle (twice), Philadelphia and Arizona. In that same stretch, six touchdowns have come from McCaffrey, whose 20 overall scores are tied for the NFL lead (with Miami’s Raheem Mostert) and three shy of Jerry Rice’s single-season 49ers record.
In fact, Samuel and McCaffrey are the first duo in NFL history to each score five touchdowns rushing and receiving in a season. “That’s crazy,” Samuel said following Sunday’s 45-29 win in Arizona, where both he and McCaffrey scored two touchdowns.
Yet an element of surprise exists with both of them on the field together. “You never know when I am back there if I am going to get the ball,” Samuel added, “Or if we are back there together, you never know where it is going.”
“Props to those guys over there,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton told Baltimore media Wednesday. “There are playmakers all over the field, (with) a solid front line. And we’re just the guys to go handle it.”
Samuel’s scouting report on the Ravens: “The way they fly around, (there is) no hesitation whenever they see the ball in the air.”
Samuel was a rookie in 2019 when, on a fourth-and-2 play, he ran a “go” route on fourth-and-2 for a 33-yard, opening-drive touchdown. He had two catches for 41 total yards, plus a 20-yard run as he emerged as the 49ers’ “wide back” weapon that season. The 49ers lost that game 20-17 in Baltimore on Justin Tucker’s walk-off field goal.
Shanahan credits Samuel’s scoring surge to good health, adding that the fifth-year pro started the season strong, too.
“He had some of his best games the first couple weeks, even at Pittsburgh and the ball just didn’t go that way,” Shanahan said. “Then he had setbacks with injuries. He’s been good here for a while and (the ball) has come his way.”
Samuel’s game-by-game totals since returning from his shoulder injury:
At Jacksonville, 34-3 win
Receiving: four catches, 30 yards
Rushing: three carries, 29 yards, one touchdown
Total: Seven touches, 59 yards, one touchdown
Vs. Tampa Bay, 27-14 win
Receiving: three catches, 63 yards
Rushing: one carry, minus-1 yard
Total: Four touches, 62 yards
At Seattle, 31-13 win
Receiving: seven catches, 79 yards
Rushing: four carries, 15 yards, one touchdown
Total: 11 touches, 94 yards, one touchdown
At Philadelphia, 42-19 win
Receiving: four catches, 116 yards, two touchdowns
Rushing: three carries, 22 yards, one touchdown
Total: seven touches, 138 yards, three touchdowns
Vs. Seattle, 28-16 win
Receiving: seven catches, 149 yards, one touchdown
Rushing: one carry, 1 yard, one touchdown
Total: eight touches, 150 yards, two touchdowns
At Arizona, 45-29 win
Receiving: four catches, 48 yards, two touchdowns
Rushing: one carry, 11 yards
Total: five touches, 59 yards, two touchdowns
BOSA ON LAMAR JACKSON
Nick Bosa said the 49ers will deploy a different game plan from their 2019 loss to the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, who ran for 101 yards, passed for 105 yards, and produced both a rushing and passing touchdown.
“I don’t remember much but our game plan is a lot different this time around. He’s evolved a lot, so he plays the game differently,” Bosa said. “He’s trying to sit in (the pocket) a little more and go through his reads, not quite as run-heavy but they’re the No. 1 rushing team in the league, so that’s obviously something we’re going to have to deal with.”
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49ERS HEALTH CHECK
Defensive tackles Javon Hargave (hamstring) and Arik Armstead (foot, ankle) remain out of practice, along with linebacker Oren Burks (knee), tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle), running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who remains in concussion protocol. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell is limited by an ankle injury.
RAVENS HEALTH CHECK
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and cornerback Jalyn-Armour Davis (concussion) were not practicing with the Ravens, while wide receiver Zay Flowers (foot), cornerback Ronald Darby, and right tackle Morgan Moses returned, according to The Athletic, which noted that left tackle Ronnie Stanley (concussion) participated with a non-contact jersey.
ROSTER MOVES
Running back Jeremy McNichols was signed to the active roster off the practice squad. His only game action this season were six special-teams snaps Dec. 10 against Seattle. McNichols filled the roster spot that opened with defensive tackle Kalia Davis (ankle) going on Injured Reserve.
The 49ers added depth at defensive tackle by signing Taylor Stallworth, a sixth-year veteran who’s appeared in 58 games with five teams. He played one game with the Tennessee Titans before going on Injured Reserve.
