Daily Madden: Can The Defense Lead The 49ers Into The Playoffs?
SAN FRANCSICO (KCBS SF) - The 49ers offense struggled to score points again, but the defense bottled up the Giants in a 16-10 win Sunday.
"They're probably lucky their defense is playing so well," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew.
At 6-4, the 49ers are tied with Seattle in the NFC West, three games behind Arizona.
"All you have to do is get in the playoffs, and that will solve a lot of things. They're not what the 49ers were in the last few years. They tend to struggle to get anything they can... If they can get in the playoffs, then you start a new season, and that has to be there goal."
Rookie 49ers linebacker Chris Borland picked off two Eli Manning passes and led the team with 12 tackles.
"He seems to be all over the place," Madden said. "He plays the pass well, has good drops, tackles well. I think he's big, big, big."
Another 49ers linebacker, last week's hero Ahmad Brooks, didn't play in the second half. Some reports indicated he took himself out of the game, dissatisfied with his first half playing time.
"I've never heard that," Madden said. "A guy that just doesn't want to play -- I think you have a word for that. I think it's insubordination... An option that a player has during a game does not include taking yourself out." (6:55)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)