Stephen A. Smith serves a reality check to the Brock Purdy-led San Francisco 49ers as Kyle Shanahan's team eyes winning the NFC

The San Francisco 49ers have performed beyond the projections of many this season despite the series of challenges they've faced. The 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night elevated them to an 8-4 record as they continue to push for a return to the playoffs.

On Tuesday, the “First Take” crew debated whether or not the 49ers can win the NFC with five games to go in the regular season. While the team had some support, Steven A. Smith doesn't think that will happen. The analyst gave Kyle Shanahan's team a harsh reality check.

“There are too many good teams in the NFC to think that this San Francisco 49ers could come out of the NFC," Smith said.

"Brock Purdy got seven interceptions and eight touchdowns in his four starts. … Lot of air under the ball, no zip. You don't see him with a rifle of an arm. …I know Kyle Shanahan can call the game, I know he can coach the game or what have you. And they're a good team, they're a respectable team.

"But you're talking about two cornerstones of their franchise, two elite defensive players that are out. They do seem a bit softer. They don't seem as hardcore as they've been in the past defensively.”

The San Francisco 49ers have battled with injuries to notable players on both sides of the field. While Mac Jones filled in fantastically well for Brock Purdy, the absence of Brandon Aiyuk, as well as Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on defense, has greatly impacted their performance.

Steven A. Smith says the San Francisco 49ers cannot always rely on Christian McCaffrey

In many games this season, the San Francisco 49ers have had to rely on the brilliance of running back Christian McCaffrey to get things done on offense. Steven A. Smith believes this strategy is not sustainable on the route to winning the NFC and places the player at risk.

“Christian McCaffrey can only do with so much,” Smith said. “That's an injury waiting to happen the more you put the ball in his hands. We know how electrifying he is when he's on the field: 142 yards from scrimmage last night. Just another display of his greatness.

“But durability is a question mark. The more you have to depend on him, the more trouble you're in. Yeah, they went to the Super Bowl against the Chiefs. What were we looking at? Yeah, he was playing electrifying once he got traded from Carolina to San Francisco. The flip side to that is that they had an abundance of parts around him.”

This season, McCaffrey has rushed for 796 yards and seven touchdowns on a league-leading 217 carries. While he's bailed them out on a number of occasions, the team has to find a way to improve the passing game, placing less pressure on the running back moving forward.