The 49ers' play-action rate has significantly decreased this season, with a drop from 23% to 17.6%, despite QB Brock Purdy's continued productivity on those plays.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated, 'We just try to run what we think looks good on tape...it's just been just a matter of how the schedule's played out.'
The data suggests blitzing teams significantly affect San Francisco's use of play action, with rates dropping as blitz percentages rise.
Against blitz-heavy teams, the 49ers averaged a mere 6.7% play-action rate, highlighting the strategic shift teams are exploiting against them.