49ers

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody has faced a challenging season, missing seven field goals, including a crucial attempt in the loss to the Dolphins that ended their playoff hopes. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan reaffirmed his confidence in Moody, attributing some of his struggles to a mid-season high-ankle sprain.

“I still feel the same about him—I believe he is going to be our guy,” Shanahan stated, as reported by Josh Helmer of the Niners Wire. “Everyone needs to perform, and I think he had a tough year. Before his high-ankle sprain, he was 12 of 13 and only missed one kick.”

“I thought he was doing exceptionally well until he suffered the high-ankle sprain on his kicking foot. Since returning, he hasn’t been as consistent, which is understandable. I hope that he can heal during the offseason, regain his form, and perform at the high level we know he is capable of, as he is truly talented.”

Shanahan reflected on releasing kicker Graham Gano while in Washington, where Gano eventually became one of the highest-paid kickers.

“That’s the difficulty; I remember in Washington, we had a young kicker who missed several kicks, but I lacked experience with kickers back then.”

“The kicker’s position is unique—there are no backups, which adds to the challenge. However, I believe we have the right guy. He has shown promise, especially during his rookie year and his strong start this season at 12 out of 13.”

Cardinals

Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks struggled offensively against the Bears on Thursday, managing only six points. Quarterback Geno Smith commented post-game, emphasizing the importance of grinding out the victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.

“It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows,” Smith remarked, according to Seahawks.com. “Gutting out a 6-3 win feels just as good as a 44-41 victory. Winning is what matters.”

Head Coach Mike MacDonald discussed the challenges of playing on the road with a shortened week.

“Just how we drew it up, exactly what we expected, a 6-3 game,” MacDonald joked. “Traveling across the country on a short week in that atmosphere is tough. Our guys deserve credit for their composure. We faced adversity, but our defense was exceptional. Even when the Bears made incredible plays, you have to give their quarterback credit for navigating pressure. We kept fighting, and our defense held strong when it mattered most.”