A Perfect Storm -- 49ers Drop Opener in slippery Chicago

Week 1 - Heading into the 2022 NFL season, plenty has been said about what teams are expected to be good this year in the NFC and what teams aren't. The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears would be on completely different spectrums in the expectations department with the Niners coming off a dropped interception away from making it to the Super Bowl last year and chosen by many to again compete for an NFC title, and the rebuilding Bears transitioning under a rookie head coach. But regardless of how much better one team's roster is over the other, the difference in talent can easily be made up if you add in some torrential downpours to even the playing field like the ones that shook the windy city and flooded Soldier Field. 

Even before the 49ers took the field in what resembled a marshland more than it did a football field, they were met with the unfortunate news that first-year starter Trey Lance would be playing QB without one of his key weapons in All-Pro tight-end George Kittle. Nursing a groin injury suffered in Monday's practice, Kittle was a game-time decision before being ruled out just before kickoff. Once the game started, things began to look up for San Francisco as the 49er defense forced a three and out on Chicago's opening-drive. The offense would start things off at midfield before marching into enemy territory and making it as far as the Bears' 12-yard line when disaster struck. Getting his first carry of the season after a big payday in the offseason, Deebo Samuel was stripped of the ball, fumbling away a chance at taking an early lead as the drive went up in flames. Helping the Niners get the ball back moments later would be second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga who had himself a day tallying a career-high 11 tackles and recorded his first career interception on Chicago's second possession. 

After both teams exchanged a pair of punts, the 49ers finally got on the board in the second quarter when Deebo made up for his early mistake by taking a handoff from 6 yards out into the end zone for a touchdown. It would be one of the game's few bright spots for San Francisco and the lone score of the first half as the score remained 7-0 at halftime. Chicago nearly got on the board just before the half when they setup for a field goal attempt before being penalized as kicker Cairo Santos used a towel to dry the field prior to the kick. In what will likely be one of the more bizarre penalties you'll see called this year, the 49ers caught a break for a brief moment as the penalty knocked the Bears out of field goal range. While the 49ers managed to dominate the box score in the first half, they could've easily been up by three scores if not for a QB-sack that knocked them out of field goal range and an overthrown pass on a deep ball to a wide-open Tyler Kroft for a would-be touchdown. Instead, the game would be a tale of two halves. 

After San Francisco took a 10-0 lead following the first possession of the second half, the Bears would steal all momentum and never look back as the 49ers began to shoot themselves in the foot with self-inflicted miscues and penalties that quickly began to mount. While the Niners didn't exactly have everything working for them in the first half, the handful of things that were, began to slow following their first possession of the third quarter. After tallying two quarterback sacks in the opening quarter, the 49er defense would not record another the rest of the way. Also, second-year running back Elijah Mitchell who led the team in rushing a season ago and was expected to be the team's bell cow this year, was forced to leave the game in the second quarter with an apparent knee injury and did not return for the second half. Also not returning in the second half was San Francisco's run game as they rushed for 115 yards in the first half, compared to just 61 in the second. Before departing Sunday's game, Mitchell who finished with 41 yards rushing on 6 carries, eclipsed the 1,000 career yards total to become the fastest player in franchise history to reach the century mark, needing only 12 games to do so. 

Appearing to have the Bears on the ropes with a would-be punt following a no-gain on a rushing attempt on third and 4, Chicago was gifted a first down on a 15-yard face-mask penalty on linebacker Dre Greenlaw who wasn't even needed on the play as Chicago's David Montgomery was gang-tackled. Three plays later, the 49er defense appeared to have Bears quarterback Justin Fields dead to rights in the backfield for a sack, but instead allowed him to escape and launch a deep ball down the sideline to a wide-open receiver in former 49er Dante Pettis who scored on a 51-yard touchdown. The Bears suddenly found themselves back in the game and trailing 10-7. This after San Francisco's defense held Fields to just 19 net passing yards in the first half, the fewest they've allowed since 2019, as well as a passer rating of 2.8 in the first half, the lowest registered by an opposing quarterback in a first half against the 49ers since 1973 when passer rating became an official statistic. 

Following a San Francisco punt, the Bears got the ball back and benefited from another pair of bad penalties on third down, including one on 3rd and 9 that prolonged the drive that eventually gave the Bears a lead they would not relinquish. After jumping out to a 10-0 lead, the 49ers allowed Chicago to score 19 unanswered-points on touchdowns scored on each of their first three possessions of the second half, the last of which setup by a Trey Lance interception. Any chance of a comeback would disappear for San Francisco as the penalties loomed costly and often, not to mention the field conditions which only grew worse the later the game went as visibility or lack thereof quickly became a factor. Playing catchup and needing to air out the ball, mother nature couldn't have cared less as back to back drives ending in a turnover on downs spelled doom for the Niners who fell, 19-10. 

While nobody on either sideline played great, San Francisco's miscues far outweighed those of Chicago's, most notably in the penalty department. Proving to be the more sloppy of the two teams, the 49ers were tagged with 12 penalties for a total of 99 yards, including three on third downs on consecutive drives that led to Chicago's first two touchdowns, compared to just 3 penalties for 24 yards on Chicago. Despite the final score, San Francisco had Chicago's number in numerous statistical categories that usually translate to wins, but not in this one. The 49ers ran 11 more plays on offense than the Bears, while gaining 127 more yards of offense and possessing the ball nearly 7 minutes longer. Hopefully Kyle Shanahan and company can steer clear of monsoon weather the rest of the way this season. 

Week 2 Preview - As much as everyone wants to blame the loss on the young quarterback who didn't receive any favors from his offensive-line on Sunday as Lance was constantly under pressure despite little to no blitzing from Chicago's defense, the Week 1 loss was not a fair assessment of Lance's quarterbacking abilities given the elements. Kicking off the home-opener and facing the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium, 49ers QB Trey Lance should have a much dryer field to play on and a second chance at making a first impression as the team's starting quarterback. Coming off a Week 1 victory at home over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, the Seahawks were the only team in the NFC West to come out victorious thru the first week as the Niners, Rams and Cardinals all suffered losses. In an emotional rollercoaster that provided plenty of ups and downs and lots of drama late, Seattle outlasted their former quarterback Russell Wilson with a 17-16 win. Handing the Seahawks' all-time leader in wins and the greatest player in franchise history a Week 1 loss was Seattle QB Geno Smith who outplayed Wilson in many ways despite finishing with over 100 fewer yards, especially in the first half. 

Hoping to get George Kittle back in time for the first divisional game of the season, the 49ers will have to look elsewhere in the backfield as running back Elijah Mitchell will miss 8 weeks with an MCL sprain. While the first-year starter who was drafted in the sixth-round in last year's Draft out of Louisiana will not need surgery, Mitchell's absence will deal a huge blow to coach Shanahan's offense as big things were expected from team's leading rusher from a season ago. And just like last season with Raheem Mostert who was lost for the season in Detroit, also with a knee injury, the 49ers are forced to go in a different direction with their starting running back less than one full game in. Backup running back Jeff Wilson Jr. is expected to get the bulk of the team's carries, with rookies Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason fighting for seconds behind him. 

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Good as Gould, Niners knock off top-seeded Packers at Lambeau

NFC Divisional Round - Entering the playoffs as the one team nobody wanted to face in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers, winners of 8 of their last 10 games, proved it with their win against Dallas a week ago and then once again on Saturday when taking on the top-seeded Green Bay Packers at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Playing a game in below freezing degree weather for the first time since the 2013 Wild Card round, which also featured the 49ers and Packers at Lambeau and ended in similar fashion, San Francisco would need to do something that no team had done this season by defeating Green Bay at home. With a perfect record of 8-0 at home this season, who better to reverse the curse than the Niners who have continued to be a thorn in the side of Aaron Rodgers throughout his postseason career (0-3 vs SF). However, Saturday's meeting at Lambeau would take on a completely different tone to start the game than any of the previous playoff bouts between Rodgers and the Niners, as well as the game that took place just a week earlier for the 49ers in Dallas. 

After a blazing start on both sides of the ball against the Cowboys, the 49ers were upended right out of the gates as Green Bay received the opening kickoff and did just about anything they wanted to on their way to marching down the field for an easy score. With no answer for Pro Bowl wide-receiver Devante Adams in their Week 3 meeting earlier this season, Rodgers continued to find his favorite target wide-open on Green Bay's opening-drive as the two caused fits for the San Francisco secondary by connecting on three plays for 35 yards. From there, Packers running back A.J. Dillon would do the rest as Green Bay scored with ease. As for the 49ers offense, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who had never played in a game throughout his career with the weather below 40 degrees, the Niners signal-caller certainly looked the part for much of the first half. With the temperature as low as 13 degrees at kickoff and a wind chill of 2 degrees, things would only get colder as the game wore on and the snowfall picked up. Putting things nicely, San Francisco's offense would get off to a sluggish start by going three and out on four straight drives to open a game for the first time since 2009. 

By the end of the first quarter, the Niners would have a whopping -7 yards of total offense to their name as dropped balls haunted San Francisco early and often. The -7 yards through the first quarter would be the 2nd fewest in a playoff game in the last 30 seasons and San Francisco's fewest to start a game since at least 2000 (including playoffs). Luckily for them, the defense would manage to contain Rodgers and co. the rest of the way, outside of a few big plays. Catching a break on defense, the 49ers were able to put a stop to Green Bay's second offensive possession when All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner forced a fumble on Packers tight-end Mercedes Lewis, but were unable to do anything with it. San Francisco's offense would finally show signs of life on their final possession of the first half when they marched inside the 10 yard-line, but a penalty and an errant pass would sour their hopes of scoring any points before the half. Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell appeared to rush the 49ers on the door step inside the Green Bay 5 yard-line, but the play would bring them back to the 19 yard-line after a holding call on left-tackle Trent Williams. One play later, Garoppolo would escape a pair of sacks, only to be intercepted on a pass intended for George Kittle. 

Hoping to at least head into the locker room at the half trailing 7-0, the 49ers nearly saw their deficit double when Packers running back Aaron Jones leaked out from behind the San Francisco secondary when safety Jimmie Ward was caught snoozing. The result of the play would be a 75-yard reception from Jones, before safety Jaquaski Tartt came through in the clutch by not giving up on the play and tracking down the Packers running back who appeared to be off to the races. After getting a big sack from Nick Bosa for a 5-yard loss, the Packers would setup for a Mason Crosby field goal from 39 yards out. Making up for his mistake just three plays earlier, Ward would find an opening and get a hand up to block the field goal attempt to keep it a one-score game. San Francisco would use the little momentum gathered from the big stop on special-teams by fueling their first scoring-drive of the game as Deebo Samuel ignited a spark with a 45-yard kick return to open the second half. The 49ers seemed destined to find the end zone at last, but a penalty for face-masking by the ball carrier Elijah Mitchell would pin the offense back another 15-yards. An additional infraction on the very next play for illegal-formation would force the 49ers to settle for a field goal which made it a 7-3 ballgame. 

After a successful field goal from Crosby to open the fourth quarter for Green Bay, San Francisco's offense would make another trip inside the red zone before a gamble by coach Shanahan on a 4th and 1 from the 19 yard-line. Dialing up a run play to Mitchell, the 49ers run game was stuffed as they turned the ball over on downs. But just like the two turnovers prior, the ensuing offense would fail to do anything of note. Following an 11-yard sack by Niners defensive-tackle Arik Armstead who brought down Rodgers for his second time of the night, the Packers were pinned back deep near their own end zone for a punt when San Francisco's special-teams came through once again. Getting a hand on the punt by Corey Bojorquez was defensive-end Jordan Willis who came up with the huge block that sent everyone in a frenzy, unsure of where the ball would land. After it was all said and done, Niners rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga recovered the ball cleanly and walked it into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. The blocked punt touchdown would be the first of its kind in 49ers franchise history in the playoffs and the first career touchdown for Hufanga. In front of a stunned Lambeau Field, the 49ers who had crept back into a game they showed little life in thru much of the first three and a half quarters, suddenly found themselves in prime position to steal another playoff victory from the grasps of Aaron Rodgers, all while riding multiple big plays on special-teams which had been their Achilles heel virtually all season long. Instead, that weakness was now winning them a must-win game. 

After forcing a three and out punt on Green Bay's following drive, Jimmy Garoppolo would get yet another chance to silence the critics as the offense began to march. No one play would be bigger than the one from the Green Bay 38 yard-line as the Niners faced a 3rd and 7. Handing the ball off to Deebo Samuel, San Francisco's secret weapon dashed for a 9-yard gain to pick up the monumental first down, setting up some late-game heroics from veteran kicker Robbie Gould. Stepping up to attempt the biggest kick of his career with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, Gould would split the uprights from 45-yards out to complete the walk-off victory for the 49ers. Sending his team to the next round, the kick would be Gould's 20th made field goal in as many tries in the postseason, the most makes without a miss in the Super Bowl era. With the win, San Francisco improved to 7-5 all-time in the playoffs vs #1 seeds and are 1 of 5 franchises with a winning record in such games. Becoming the first team since the 1988 Buffalo Bills to block a field goal and a punt in the same playoff game, coach Shanahan's Niners became just the fourth team since 2000 to win a playoff game without an offensive touchdown. 

While neither team's quarterback wowed us with their statistics on Saturday (Garoppolo: 11 of 19 for 131 yards passing and 1 interception, Rodgers: 20 of 29 for 225 yards), the game did a lot for the overall postseason record of both QB's. What's likely to be the end of the road for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, the future Hall of Fame QB and favorite to take home the MVP Award this season for a second consecutive season, has now fallen to 0-4 vs the 49ers in the playoffs, the worst record by any QB vs a single team in the playoffs since 1950. The loss also drops Rodgers to a mediocre 11-10 in his career as a starter in the playoffs and 7-9 since his lone Super Bowl win back in 2010. Though he did manage to surpass his mentor Brett Favre (5,855) for the 4th-most postseason passing yards in NFL history. Entering the game needing 1 passing touchdown to surpass 49ers great Joe Montana for 2nd-most playoff passing TD's in NFL history, Rodgers who was sacked five times by the 49ers defense, was held touchdown-less for the first time in a playoff game since the 2010 NFC Championship win vs the rival Chicago Bears. Unfortunately for him, his Packers have now lost 7 playoff games at home over the last 20 seasons which are the most in the NFL in that span. 

As for his counterpart, Garoppolo now owns a career record of 21-6 (.778) as a starter on the road, 2nd-highest win percentage in the NFL since the 1970 merger, including playoffs with a minimum of 25 starts. Garoppolo is also 4-1 in his career as a starter in the playoffs, the highest postseason win percentage as a starting QB in 49ers history. Following Saturday's game, California teams are now 3-12 when playing in Green Bay during the months of December and January since 1950, including playoffs. The team that has won all three times? -- the 49ers. 

49ers-Rams Preview: The stage is now set for the NFC Championship as the 49ers will travel to southern California to face the Los Angeles Rams for a third time this season in a battle between division rivals. While the Niners swept the season series against the Rams this season and are riding a six-game winning streak against their fellow NFC West counterparts, beating anybody three times in a season doesn't happen often and certainly doesn't come easy. After taking out the rival Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round, the Rams knocked off Tom Brady and the defending champion Buccaneers in Tampa, but not before another blown lead and some late drama. If the last match-up between these two teams which took place just three weeks ago is any indication of how things will play out in the NFC title game, San Francisco should feel right at home as their fans showed up in droves for the regular season-finale. However, the Rams are trying to put a stop to that and avoid a repeat of another red and gold invasion as they've teamed up with NFL partners Ticket Master to cancel fans outside of the greater Los Angeles area from purchasing tickets to the big game. Scared, much? With a ticket to the Super Bowl on the line in the same stadium that they'll be in this weekend, Shanahan and the 49ers will look to make it a seventh consecutive victory over Sean McVay and the Rams. 

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