Week 16 - A week after dropping a tough one at home to the lowly Atlanta Falcons, the (11-3) San Francisco 49ers who've been banged up on defense and were without five starters in the Week 15 loss, were happy to learn that they'd get both Richard Sherman and K'Waun Williams back at the cornerback position in time for their next match-up. Hosting the (8-6) Los Angeles Rams who've been a disappointment this year after making it to the Super Bowl the previous season, the 49ers knew they'd be in for a dog fight like most division games, not to mention the Rams would be playing for their playoff lives as a loss would result in elimination for Sean McVay's squad. But with the NFC's number one seed still up for grabs if the Niners could win out, the team would receive an extra dose of motivation in the form of a family tragedy.
Playing with heavy hearts, the Niners had much more to play for than just a win as it was learned in the wee hours of the night that 49ers backup quarterback C.J. Beathard lost his younger brother Clayton Beathard who was fatally stabbed in their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee early Saturday morning. With head coach Kyle Shanahan tending to the distraught QB as late as 3 a.m. on the morning of game day, Beathard asked one thing of his coach and 49er teammates and that was a win on Saturday in memory of his late brother of just 22-years old. And like their first meeting back in Week 5 which saw the Rams jump out to an early 7-0 lead before eventually falling, 20-7, L.A. got off to a similar start in this one. Marching down the field with ease, quarterback Jared Goff led his team on a touchdown-scoring opening-drive that saw the former No. 1 overall pick throw for 66-yards on 4-for-4 pass attempts. The 49ers would also waste little time to get on the scoreboard as an 81-yard return by Richie James Jr. on the ensuing kick, helped San Francisco setup shop inside the red zone. However, a fumbled snap and a pair of incompletions would force the Niners to settle for a field goal. Exchanging three and out punts on the next three possessions, the 49ers would once again let good field position go to waste when Jimmy Garoppolo was picked off by Rams mid-season acquisition Jalen Ramsey.
Turning the turnover into points, Todd Gurley II would score his first of two first half touchdowns, setup by a big play from Goff to Robert Woods who had a huge night in the receiving department. Trailing 14-3, the Niners would finally begin to put the pieces together with a busy second quarter. In what would be a relatively quiet first half for Garoppolo, the ground attack began to pick up the slack as Deebo Samuel found the end zone with a 19-yard rushing touchdown to ignite the spark. With Gurley's second touchdown on the Rams' ensuing possession, San Francisco would once again have to answer in order to keep things close. Riding the hot hand, 49ers running back Raheem Mostert would answer the call on the very next drive as he found the end zone with a 16-yard score to become just the fourth player in franchise history to record a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games and the first since Derek Loville in 1995. It would be a remarkable streak for Mostert considering he had only scored two touchdowns in his previous 44 career games and opened the season as the team's third-string running back. The score by Mostert would also mark the 20th rushing touchdown by a 49er this season, the most by a 49ers team since their Super Bowl-winning season in 1994. With things beginning to look up for San Francisco, the Niners would get a huge momentum shift in the form of a pick-six interception by linebacker Fred Warner in the final minute of the second quarter. Stepping in front of a pass from Goff, Warner made the grab to record his first career interception and returned it 46-yards to help his team claim their first lead of the evening just before the half, capping a 21-point second quarter which tied a season-high.
Receiving the ball at the half and looking to add to their lead, that idea was shutdown rather quickly as Garoppolo was intercepted for a second time on a tip-drill pass just two plays into the third quarter. However, the Rams would fail to do anything with it as an intentional grounding penalty pushed them back an extra 10-yards which proved to be costly as kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 52-yard field attempt wide-left. In a much quieter third quarter that saw both teams combine for five punts, the Rams would score the lone touchdown of the quarter by either team when Goff found a wide-open Cooper Kupp for a 26-yard TD. Trailing 28-24 with under 9 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Jimmy Garoppolo and tight-end George Kittle would hook up on their first play of the drive for a 36-yard gain. And five plays later, the two would connect once again on a third and goal from the 7-yard line when Jimmy G extended the play with his legs, rolling out of the pocket and throwing a strike to Kittle to recapture the lead. The Rams would tie the game with a 52-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining, setting up another dramatic ending which 49er fans have grown accustomed to over the second half of the season.
After a pair of quarterback sacks by the Los Angeles defense, Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49er offense rallied on a pair of 3rd & 16 conversions, none greater than the 46-yard bomb to Emmanuel Sanders who raced by two defenders to convert with the big gain. With the clock winding down, Tevin Coleman was able to add a 9-yard run to help setup Robbie Gould for the game-winning walk-off field goal from 33 yards out as San Francisco pulled off the 34-31 victory. Completing their first season sweep of the Rams since 2016, the 49er defense did a good job of clamping down and allowing only 10 second half points compared to the 21 points scored in the first half which set a season-high for Goff and company. Throwing for 248 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, it was a less than stellar game for Garoppolo in the box score, but he made the big plays late in the game when he needed to and helped his team capture the win which was the 20th of his career, helping him tie Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Kurt Warner for the third most wins through a QB's first 25 careers starts in the Super Bowl era. Playing against the team he grew up rooting for, Jared Goff had an impressive night through the air, compiling 323 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. L.A.'s Robert Woods led all receivers with 8 receptions for 117 yards and George Kittle led the way for the 49ers with 5 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, San Francisco's Raheem Mostert (53 yards, 1 touchdown on 11 carries) and L.A.'s Todd Gurley II (48 yards, 2 touchdowns on 15 carries) led their respective teams in rushing. And for the first time in three years under coach McVay, the Rams will miss out on making the playoffs.
Week 17 Preview - Following Week 16, the table is officially set for a heavyweight title fight between the (12-3) 49ers and the (11-4) Seattle Seahawks. The game which has now been flexed into the Sunday Night Football slot, will feature two bitter rivals facing off on primetime television to determine the winner of the NFC Western Division and a potential number one seed. After already eliminating one of their division foes from playoff contention, coach Shanahan's 49ers team will try to deny another rival from clinching a first round BYE while punching their own ticket by closing out the 2019 regular season with a win in Seattle where the 49ers have not reigned victorious since 2011. And with Pete Carroll's team failing to win at home in Week 16 against the last-place Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers have to like their chances a little bit more given that the Seahawks have not quite been the same team at home this season like they have in years past. Having not received any rest since the early Week 4 BYE, the 49ers would love to not only clinch home field advantage and skip having to play an extra playoff game, but would also welcome a first round BYE to rest up and heal some of the banged up bodies on both sides of the ball. Not to mention how sweet it would be to clinch both the division and a number one overall seed up north in enemy territory. With ex-Seahawk and current 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman injured before the meeting between the two teams in Seattle last season, it remains as anyone's guess as to whether or not he receives a warm welcome from the CenturyLink Field faithful. Adding another layer to the big game, the Seahawks who are without three running backs due to injury, announced on Monday that they've agreed to a deal with former Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch who will see his first NFL action since 2018 after serving the last two seasons with the Oakland Raiders... as if there wasn't enough anticipation heading into the game.
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With the AFC and NFC Conference Championships in the books, the table is officially set for Super Bowl 53 which will feature the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams punched their ticket to the big game by knocking off the number one seeds in their respective conferences. In what will be the ninth Super Bowl appearance of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's career, his foe this time around will be a familiar one. Making it to the big dance for the first time since Super Bowl 36 when Brady jump-started his Hall of Fame career with a win over a St. Louis Rams team led by Canton alum Kurt Warner, this Rams team looks to avenge the loss suffered by their "Greatest Show on Turf" brethren and bring the city of Los Angeles its first Super Bowl title since 1983 when the Raiders were still calling SoCal home. With the help of a last-second field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri, a young Brady helped the Patriots deny the Rams' plans of winning their second title in three years and ignite what would eventually be the start of a dynasty for New England.
Though this might be the same Tom Brady who's made a habit out of winning ballgames only with a lot more mileage on him, these aren't those same Rams he claimed title No. 1 against for a variety of reasons. Obviously they've endured a name change since relocating from St. Louis back to Los Angeles in 2016, but this Rams team also showcases a much scarier defense than that of any Rams team of the past, appropriately nicknamed the "Mob Squad". And unless you're a Tom Brady fanboy, New England native or salty Saints fan, chances are you're rooting for the Rams in this one, much like myself. But let's start with a little background on how both teams got here.
For the Rams who finished the season tied with the Saints for the best record in football at 13-3 and entered the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, the mentality coming into the year was virtually Super Bowl or bust after a busy offseason which included the acquisitions of speedy receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive stalwart Ndamukong Suh and the duo of Pro Bowl cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Not to mention the mid-season acquisition of Dante Fowler and the big paydays given to running back Todd Gurley and defensive tackle Aaron Donald who agreed to contract extensions that would make them the highest-paid players at their respective positions. Getting off to an 8-0 start before falling to the Saints in New Orleans in Week 9, the Rams would be given a chance to avenge their first loss of the season with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line after taking care of the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional round. In a rematch of the Week 9 shootout which saw the Saints walk away with the 45-35 win, the Rams would once again have to come from behind, only this time they would prevail and move on. After watching New Orleans jump out to an early 13-0 lead in the opening quarter, the Rams held Drew Brees and the Saints to only 10-points the rest of the way and received clutch field goals from kicker Greg Zuerlein from 48 and 57 yards to send the game into overtime and ultimately catapult the Rams to the Super Bowl with a 26-23 victory. And while the game lived up to the hype of an NFC Championship, it would be a forgetful day for the officiating crew calling the game as there were a handful of missed calls in this one, but none bigger than the pass interference call that wasn't.
With 1:41 remaining in regulation, Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman committed what appeared to be an obvious penalty on Tommylee Lewis when he prematurely ran into the Saints receiver without even turning for the ball. What could've resulted in a flag for either helmet to helmet or pass interference -- take your pick, instead was treated as a basic incompletion which sent Saints head coach Sean Payton into a tirade and left the Superdome faithful in a chorus of boo's. The penalty would've likely allowed the Saints to milk the clock before settling for a last-second field goal to punch their ticket to Atlanta. Speaking in front of the media post-game, Payton went on to say that the league office had contacted him after the game and admitted that the officiating crew made a mistake and missed the call. Some are calling it the worst no-call they've ever seen, while others have pointed to another missed call on a face-masking penalty that the Saints got away with while the Rams were in the red zone one possession earlier before having to settle for a field goal. Regardless, it's the Rams who will be advancing to try and get their hands on the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy. Meanwhile, the heartbreaking loss is the second in as many years for the Saints in which they've been sent packing in the playoffs after suffering freak occurrences if you will. You may remember how last year ended for them when the Vikings scored on a walk-off touchdown appropriately named the "Minneapolis Miracle" from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs as time expired.
Now stop me when you've heard this story before, the New England Patriots have won the AFC title and are going to the Super Bowl. The Pats could miss the next ten Super Bowl's and we'd still be tired of seeing them there. However, they do make for some exciting, drama-filled games just about every year they've advanced to the big dance, so I'll give them that. But this was supposed to be the year that the Patriots fell off. This was supposed to be the year that father time caught up to the ageless wonder that is Tom Brady. And just when we began to think that their reign was coming to an end as Bill Belichick's Patriots began the season 1-2 following back to back losses to the lowly Jaguars and Lions, the phoenix rose from the ashes and finished the season 11-5, good enough for the AFC's No. 2 seed and a first round BYE. If we've ever had confidence in any team come playoff time over the last 20 or so years, it's been the Patriots. Regardless of how they get there, once they're in, it's smooth sailing unless you're the opposition. With a stout defense and a knack for playing better football on the road than at home, the Los Angeles Chargers at 12-4 on the year were supposed to be the team to go into Foxborough and upset the Patriots in the Divisional round. Instead, Brady and company dispatched Philip Rivers and the Chargers with ease, taking a 35-7 lead into the half before toying with them the rest of the way and allowing a pair of garbage time touchdowns in a 41-28 shellacking.
Then came the Chiefs who had vengeance on their mind and home-field advantage in their pocket. After suffering a 43-40 loss to New England in Week 6, their first and only loss until the Monday Night showdown with the Rams in Week 11, Andy Reid's Chiefs led by MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes, were thought to have enough firepower to overcome the 2-time defending AFC Champions. And though they would push New England to the brink and force the game into overtime, it was Brady and Belichick who would have their hand raised when the clock hit double-zero. With the Patriots opening the game with a 15-play drive that ate up over 8 minutes, things looked grim from the start for the Chiefs. More putrid officiating would come into play, again favoring the Patriots who benefited from a bogus roughing the passer penalty late in the fourth quarter on third down which eventually led to a touchdown-scoring drive. They would later dodge a bullet with a reversed call on what appeared to be a muffed punt by Julian Edelman and received a gift on a questionable catch by Chris Hogan that appeared to touch the ground but was ruled a catch upon further review. The Chiefs would rally in a fourth quarter that saw a combined 38-points scored between the two teams, but only to see their dreams come crashing down in OT as the Patriots won the coin-toss and marched down the field without giving Kansas City a chance which now has many people in and around football crying for a rule change that would give each team the ball at least once... As much as I was pulling for K.C. in that one, no thanks.
So instead of the Chiefs-Rams Monday Night rematch we were all salivating at and crossing our fingers for, we get Patriots-Rams. Sean McVay, arguably the best young coach in the league today will now go toe to toe with undoubtedly the greatest coach of all-time in Bill Belichick in a battle of new school versus old school. Quarterbacks Jared Goff who's young enough to be the son of his counterpart versus Tom Brady who has more Super Bowl appearances than any single team, two California natives from the Bay Area will square off. Running backs Todd Gurley versus Sony Michel, two former 1st round picks from the University of Georgia. If the match-ups don't catch your attention, perhaps the stats will. A win on Super Bowl Sunday would give the Patriots the most postseason wins in NFL history as they're currently tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers with 36. The Rams offense which ranks second in the league in both yards per game (421.1) and points per game (32.9), means the Patriots will have their hands full on defense once again and will need a repeat performance of what they were able to accomplish against Mahomes and the Chiefs.
One thing that's certain if the Rams want to reign victorious on Super Sunday is that they'll need a lot more help from star running back Todd Gurley. Despite the limited production against New Orleans, the Rams offense was able to get by with little to no assistance from Gurley (4 rushes, 10 yards, 1 touchdown), something I don't think they'll be able to do if they plan on taking down Brady and co. But ultimately, I think it'll be L.A.'s defense that makes the difference in this one, most notably the pass rush led by Donald and Suh. Then again the Pats offensive-line did a stellar job on Sunday by not allowing a single sack to the Chiefs who tied for the league lead in team sacks this season. With the opening line tabbing the Rams as 1-point favorites, it didn't take long for the big money to come flying in on New England who found themselves 1.5-point favorites just hours later. With all that said, I'm going Rams with the 26-20 win. Let's just hope the officiating or lack thereof doesn't play as big a role in this game as it did the previous two...
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Week 7 - Entering Week 7 against the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers would have to steer clear of the turnovers that have cost them time and time again this season if they wanted to put a dent in L.A.'s unblemished record. Instead, those costly mistakes would not shy away from rearing their ugly head as the division rival Rams made quick work of their struggling foe. Not only did the Niners commit a total of six turnovers in all, but L.A. made sure to capitalize on them when given the chance, scoring 24-points off of San Francisco turnovers. As if the NFC's highest-scoring offense needed help scoring points. That alone would be enough to seal the fate of the 49ers who have now lost 13 straight games in the month of October, the longest active streak in the NFL during that month.
One of the major issues for San Francisco coming into the game has been ball security, having already suffered 15 fumbles this season and wasting no time to add to that number on their first drive on Sunday. After forcing a three and out on the Rams' opening-possession, the 49er offense would make it to midfield before the flurry of turnovers began as quarterback C.J. Beathard was hit from behind by a Rams defender who jarred the ball loose and caused the fumble. And though L.A. would only get a field goal out of it, they would be given a second chance to strike paydirt just two possessions later as running back Matt Breida was stripped of the ball by Aaron Donald on the first play of the drive. For Donald, the forced fumble would be the start of a busy day for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year as he finished the game with a career-high four sacks on the afternoon and single-handedly out-sacked the 49er defense who only logged two sacks as a unit. The second forced fumble of the opening quarter by the Rams would also jump start a trio of touchdowns scored by running back Todd Gurley who coming off his first career 200 rushing yard performance a week ago against the Broncos, would fail to hit the century mark against the Niners but found other ways to be effective.
Things would go from bad to worse for San Francisco as the struggles on offense made their way to the special-teams as punter Bradley Pinion had a punt blocked into the end zone that the Niners were fortunate enough to only suffer a safety from as the ball rolled out of bounds. Greg Zuerlein's second field goal of the day coupled with a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Brandin Cooks after a Beathard interception, ran the score to 22-0 before the Niners finally got on the board. Prior to scoring their one and only touchdown in the last few seconds of the first half, San Francisco's first five possessions on Sunday would look like this -- fumble, punt, fumble, safety and interception. A head coach's nightmare, especially when facing a division rival and the last undefeated team in the league. Tight-end George Kittle would be one of the lone bright spots on the day for the Niners as he finished the game with five catches for a game-high 98 yards and a 9-yard touchdown that helped stop the bleeding and make it a 22-7 game at the half. Though it would only be a two-score game at halftime which meant Kyle Shanahan's team was still very much in it, Sean McVay's Rams knew they were in a good position to keep their winning-streak alive as they're a perfect 13-0 dating back to last season when scoring 15+ points in the first half.
Things would be just as ugly to start the second half for the 49ers as a three and out and interception stung the offense that managed only a field goal in the third quarter before being blanked in the fourth. For Robbie Gould, the 51-yard field goal would be his seventh straight made field goal of 50 yards or more. Todd Gurley's third and final touchdown, this time on a pass from Goff, ran the score to a final of 39-10. With the win, the Rams improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1985. As for Gurley who rushed for 63-yards on 15 carries, last year's Offensive Player of the Year and rushing touchdowns leader became just the third player in NFL history with at least 14 touchdowns in his team's first seven games of a season, joining Priest Holmes and Jim Brown. For Goff, a Bay Area product out of Cal, the Rams QB logged a clean performance by completing 18 of 24 passes for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the team he grew up rooting for. Beathard on the other hand threw for 170 yards and a touchdown to go along with a pair of picks on 15 of 27 passing.
While San Francisco has had no problem with committing the turnover, their inability to force the turnover has been well documented as the 49ers who were without their shutdown corner in Richard Sherman (calf), had a pair of would-be interceptions negated on drops. The first of which by safety Jaquiski Tartt who failed to come up with a gimme interception that went thru his hands and another by safety Adrian Colbert who had an interception ripped out of his hands by teammate Ahkello Witherspoon. Making matters worse, Colbert would be injured on the play and placed on IR with a high ankle sprain, adding to the laundry list of injuries the 49ers have already suffered this season. And then there's the lack of pressure put on the opposing quarterback as the 49ers logged only two sacks on Sunday compared to L.A.'s seven. All of which adding to the frustration that has been the 49ers' 2018 season and one of the many reasons this team is now 1-6 on the year.
Week 8 Preview - Hitting the road to take on the division rival (1-6) Cardinals in the desert, the 49ers will look to avenge their Week 5 loss at home and end their seven game losing-streak against Arizona who's only win of the season came at the hands of the 49ers. Coming off a 45-10 shellacking at home against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, Josh Rosen and the Cardinals will be well rested when they play host to a 49ers team that has now lost five straight. Arizona's rookie QB who threw three picks in the loss to Denver, will look to make it a perfect 2-0 against a San Francisco team that is very much in need of a bounce-back win. Though they're unlikely to turn things around and compete for a playoff spot this season given the way their has season started, the 49ers are in an ideal position to get a winning-streak going as they'll be facing teams with a combined record of 3-wins and 17-losses these next three weeks (Cardinals, Raiders and Giants). If Kyle Shanahan's team can duplicate the performance they had against Arizona in Week 5, minus the costly turnovers -- three fumbles and two interceptions, they should be able to revisit the win column for the first time since Week 2 and end their woes against the redbirds.
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Week 3 - With the (0-2) 49ers returning home on short rest to host the division rival (1-1) Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in their only game scheduled in prime time this season, San Francisco would hope to continue their recent dominance of the only team they were able to beat a season ago when they claimed both wins against the Rams in their first season back in southern California. Boasting a record of 7-wins, 1-loss and 1-tie in their last 9 home meetings against the Rams, the 49ers would put that streak to the test under rookie head coach Kyle Shanahan. And after failing to score a single touchdown in each of their first two games this year, the 49ers offense would finally show signs of life while wearing their blacked-out Color Rush uniforms. Expected by many to be another lackluster showcase on Thursday night, this NFC West battle between northern and southern California would instead evolve into one of the more exciting and action packed Thursday Night Football games we've seen in years as the two rebuilding teams in search of their identities went blow for blow in a high-scoring affair.
After scoring a combined 12-points through their first two games of the season, the 49ers offense erupted for 39-points on Thursday night. But before their five touchdown barrage, San Francisco QB Brian Hoyer would get off to as bad a start as you could ask for as he saw his first pass attempt on the first play of the ballgame intercepted and nearly taken to the house by Nickell Robey-Coleman before a shoestring-tackle by Niners tight-end Garrett Celek helped save a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Rams would need only one play and a total of 12 seconds to capitalize as running back Todd Gurley took it in from three yards out to begin what would ultimately be a busy day for both he and the L.A. offense. The early pick-off would catch everyone on the San Francisco side by surprise, including Hoyer who entered the game with the third lowest interception rate among active QB's (70 passes), trailing only Tom Brady (126 passes) and Aaron Rodgers (75 passes). Oddly enough, the interception on the first play from scrimmage would serve as a wake up call for Hoyer as he would help the 49ers march down the field to tie the game on their ensuing possession. Aided by an offsides call during a punt that gave the offense another chance, Hoyer took advantage by taking matters into his own hands and scoring with his feet to give San Francisco their first touchdown of the season some 23 possessions later on a 9-yard scramble.
Second-year quarterback Jared Goff who was drafted first overall a year ago just a stones throw away from Levi's Stadium at nearby Cal, would look rather comfortable under center as a visitor while facing the team he grew up rooting for. With many of his friends and family in attendance watching from the stands, the game would serve as a homecoming for Goff who threw three touchdowns in a game for just the second time in his career and the first without recording an interception. The former Golden Bear and his receivers would feast on a banged up Niners secondary that was without Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, to the tune of 292 passing yards, with both Robert Woods (108) and Sammy Watkins (106) each eclipsing the century mark in receiving yards. After receiving a gift on their first score, Goff and company would prove that they too could create scoring chances as they answered Hoyer's touchdown with one of their own on the ensuing possession as Gurley struck pay dirt for the second time in the opening quarter, this time of the receiving variety.
Both teams would turn turnovers into points in the second quarter as the two exchanged field goals with both 49ers third-string running back Raheem Mostert (fumble) and Rams return man Tavon Austin (muffed punt) serving as the guilty parties. Gurley's third and final touchdown on the evening, a 2-yard rush, would allow the Rams to take a 24-13 lead into the locker room at halftime. Receiving the ball to open the second half, the Rams nearly made it a three-score game before a goal-line stand by the San Francisco defense held them to another Greg Zuerlein field goal. Trailing 27-13, the 49ers would spark a streak of four consecutive touchdown-scoring drives between both teams as running back Carlos Hyde shook off an early hip injury by rushing for his first of two 1-yard touchdowns on 4th down. Rams receiver Sammy Watkins would match Hyde's pair of touchdowns with two scores of his own including a 1-yard score on L.A.'s ensuing drive. One drive later, Hoyer would connect with Marquise Goodwin for a 50-yard completion just before the end of the third quarter, setting up Hoyer's first passing touchdown as a Niner -- a 1-yard strike to Garrett Celek, and a very wacky 4th quarter.
Following a crucial missed extra-point by 49ers kicker Robbie Gould, L.A. would answer with the second touchdown connection between Goff and Watkins -- a 13-yard strike as Watkins fought off defenders and muscled his way over the goal-line. It would also be the fifth touchdown pass of the season for Goff, tying the mark he threw all of last year while needing four fewer starts. From there, both teams would exchange punts before another big gainer from Hoyer. Receiver Pierre Garcon who entered Thursday's game with 573 career receptions, the most by any active player without a single Pro Bowl selection, would haul in seven more catches including this one for 59-yards to set up another score. It would prove to be a game of firsts as Garcon finished with a game-high 142-yards receiving for his first big game in a 49er uniform. Three plays later, rookie wide-out Trent Taylor would haul in his first career touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Hoyer, making it an 8-point game with just over 5 minutes remaining in regulation. In need of another break, the 49ers would get one on the ensuing kickoff as Victor Bolden forced a fumble on return man Pharoh Cooper. Capitalizing on yet another Ram fumble, Hyde would once again rumble into the end zone on a do or die 4th and 1 call from the 1-yard line.
Electing to go for the game-tying 2-point conversion, Hoyer would have nobody to throw to as his receivers were blanketed and the pass was intercepted. But an excellent recovery on a surprise onside-kick would allow San Francisco one final chance to pull off the comeback victory. Facing third and 10 with the ball at their own 40 yard line, Hoyer would connect with Taylor for an 11-yard pickup for the first down. But a controversial offensive pass-interference call against Taylor would negate the first down and pin the 49ers back another 10-yards. With the fans already out of their seats in hopes of witnessing a comeback victory of epic proportions, the Levi's Stadium faithful was none too pleased as the replay of the heinous call resembled nothing remotely close to what would normally warrant an offensive pass-interference call. And on an all or nothing 4th and 20 two plays later, Pro Bowl defensive-end Aaron Donald would come up with a game-sealing sack as the 49ers turned the ball over on downs. With under two minutes remaining, Goff and co. would milk the clock as San Francisco's last-ditch effort fell just short, 41-39. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first game in NFL history to end with a final score of 41-39.
The loss would be painful one for San Francisco as it marked their second defeat in four days by a combined five points. However, the team finally showed that they're more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Or was the 80-point outburst between the two teams simply a product of two tired defenses playing on short rest? 49ers All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman admitted after the game that he didn't feel like he normally would have had the game been on Sunday and it definitely showed on the field as he missed a handful of tackles he usually makes in his sleep. Whether or not that sentiment was felt from the entire 49er defense, they would look the part as their inability to get to the quarterback resulted in their second game this season without recording a single sack. This while watching their guy go down a total of four times. As for the offense, Hoyer completed 23 of 37 passes for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also getting some help from Hyde who rushed the ball 25 times for 84 yards and two TD's.
Los Angeles' first-year head coach Sean McVay who happens to be the youngest head coach in modern NFL history at 31 years of age, has the Rams trending in the right direction, especially on offense which has been their Achilles heal the past few seasons as they've now scored 107 points thru their first three games, the franchise's most thru 3 games since 2000 (119 scored). He also appears to have been able to breathe life back into the running game as Todd Gurley set a career-high with 33 touches (28 carries, 5 receptions) while logging his first 100-yard rushing performance since 2015. Only 3 games in and the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year has already matched his touchdown total from a season ago with six. Hopefully this will serve as a preview for what will be an exciting rivalry for many years to come between two inner-division, rebuilding teams with rookie head coaches who're quite familiar with one another having served on the same Washington Redskins staff from 2010-2013. These two teams will meet again in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve for Week 17.
Week 4 Preview: The (0-3) 49ers will continue their play against the NFC West in Week 4 when they take a trip to the desert and face the (1-2) Arizona Cardinals for the first of three consecutive road games for San Francisco. With Carson Palmer and the Cards off to a sluggish start without their All-Pro running back from a season ago as David Johnson will miss an extensive amount of time while nursing a dislocated wrist, the 49ers will hope to take advantage of his absence. But once again they'll be hitting the field without yet another key player on defense as defensive-end Tank Carradine sustained a high ankle sprain in Thursday's loss which will sideline him for 4 to 6 weeks, thus adding to the pressure put on San Francisco's D-line. Coming off a Monday night loss at home to the Cowboys, Arizona hopes to right the ship against a banged up Niner D as Carradine joins both Eric Reid and Reuben Foster in the injury department.
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The Silence of the Lambs - With the 49ers and Rams the last two teams to take the field to start the 2016-17 NFL season, all eyes were on Los Angeles and San Francisco for many reasons as football fans in L.A. finally had a team to call their own again and fans of the red and gold anxiously awaited the start of the Chip Kelly era. And with the 49ers 2 1/2 point underdogs at home despite an eight game winning-streak on Monday Night Football (all by double-digits), San Francisco took it to the odds makers once again after pulling a 20-3 upset against the Vikings to open last season on Monday night. And boy would the books be wrong once again in this one as the 49ers recorded their first ever shutout victory to open a season in franchise history.
After a punt on their initial drive, the 49ers got things going on their second possession with running back Carlos Hyde capitalizing on an 11-yard touchdown run up the middle to put San Francisco up early. As for Hyde's counterpart -- Todd Gurley, who ran amok in his rookie season last year, including a dominant Week 8 performance against the Niners in which he tallied 133 yards on the ground, the San Francisco defense was well prepared for the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year this time around as they held him to a measly 47 yards on 17 carries. With the game expected to be an offensive struggle with both team's leading running backs expected to carry the load, only half of that expectation would live up to the billing as Gurley and company were simply stopped in their tracks and failed to get anything going on offense throughout. The one first half drive which appeared to be promising for the Rams, soon went up in flames as Keenum had a pass deflect off a teammates helmet and into the arms of 49ers Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman for an interception. It would be the first of two interceptions by the 49ers defense as pre-season standout Ray-Ray Armstrong continued to shine on Monday night with an interception of his own late in the third quarter.
Hoping to turn that turnover into points, the 49ers would do just that as San Francisco marched their way down the field with backup running back Shaun Draughn punching it in from 3-yards out to pull ahead, 14-0. Looking to make it three consecutive scoring drives for the Niners, they would appear to be heading in the right direction after crossing midfield and into enemy territory on an 11-yard catch and go to Draughn who dodged a pair of tackles, but the second-year 49er would be stripped from behind after one too many nifty moves. Luckily, it wouldn't come back to haunt the Niners as they went into the half in command of a 14-0 lead. While the Rams were still unable to generate any offense to start the second half, their defense managed to step it up, forcing four straight three and outs by the 49er offense as they failed to convert a single first down in the third quarter. To put the struggle into perspective, at one point in the game there would be more punts (15) than points scored (14). But as soon as the fourth quarter began, it's like the 49ers remembered how to play offense again, driving down the field to score their third touchdown, this time through the air as QB Blaine Gabbert found tight-end Vance McDonald for the easy score to make it 21-0.
With the game out of reach and down to its last few minutes, things would get chippy when Rams Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Aaron Donald got into a scuffle with Niners receiver Quinton Patton, knocking the helmet off his head before making contact with an official. After tacking on a pair of penalties, Donald would be disqualified as he slammed his helmet on the turf before walking off the field. It would only get worse as Carlos Hyde ran it in for his second touchdown of the night just plays later as the 49ers put the Rams out of their misery by making it a 28-0 route. Converting 28 first downs compared to L.A.'s 10, it would be the first shutout victory for the Niners since a 2012 victory against the Jets and their sixth consecutive season-opening win, the most they've stringed together in franchise history as they begin the year 1-0 in the Chip Kelly era.
As for the Rams and their fans living in L.A., the 21 year wait was spoiled as they were held scoreless for the first time since Week 11 of 2011. After trading up in the off-season to acquire the first overall pick in the NFL Draft to select QB Jared Goff out of Cal, the Rams elected not to start the season with Goff as the quarterback following a disappointing pre-season in which he struggled mightily. But after seeing QB Case Keenum's poor attempt at the position, it's hard to believe the Rams aren't better off handing the reigns to Goff going forward just to get him as many reps as possible. Not to mention he can't do much worse under center than Keenum did as he was held to just 130 yards while completing 17 of 35 pass attempts. Gabbert didn't necessarily have himself a game for the ages either, completing 22 of 35 passes for 170 yards and adding another 43 yards on the ground, but he did what he needed to and allowed Carlos Hyde to do the rest, rushing for 88 yards and a pair of TD's.
Week 2 Preview: With the exception of a Shaun Draughn fumble in the second quarter, the 49ers played an extremely clean game, committing only two penalties and not allowing a single sack. Though it's just one game, it's a huge step forward after being one of the most penalized teams in the league a season ago and owning one of the NFL's worst offensive-lines. With a match-up on the road against the defending NFC Champion Carolina Panthers in Week 2, the Niners will once again need a stellar performance on defense and a clean game in the penalty department if they want to improve to 2-0 with another upset victory over reigning MVP Cam Newton and company. It won't be easy, however, as Carolina's linebackers Luke Keuchle & Thomas Davis will most likely be a handful for Gabbert and the 49er offense. Not to mention the Panthers will be playing with a chip on their shoulder while looking to avenge a tough loss at Denver to open the season on Thursday night which means they'll be very rested come kickoff.
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Week 8 - Entering Sunday's meeting versus rival St. Louis, the 49ers were hoping to claim their first division win of the season against a Rams team that had already beaten division foes Arizona and Seattle this year. Not only would San Francisco fail to hand the Rams their first loss within the division, but they would fail to sniff the end zone for the second straight week. While the Niner offense sputtered and barely made it off the plane to show up for the game, the San Francisco defense which displayed poor tackling, allowed touchdowns of 71 and 66 yards en route to an ugly 27-6 loss.
Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley who's been a handful for the opposition since busting onto the NFL scene just three weeks ago, was a thorn in the side of his opponent once again. Gurley rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries while breaking for a 71-yard touchdown in which the 49er defense failed to land a single finger on the explosive back who shined at the collegiate level as a Georgia Bulldog. With his stellar performance, Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to begin his career with four straight games of over 100 yards rushing. Donning their throwback blue uniforms, the St. Louis defense was also stout on Sunday, keeping their opponent out of the end zone and forcing a safety. While the Rams haven't allowed a touchdown in their last two games, the 49ers haven't scored one in their last two as QB Colin Kaepernick once again played a turnover-free ballgame, but failed to pass for 200 yards. The Niner run game was equally as ineffective as Kaepernick led the team with 28 rushing yards on an afternoon they only managed 38 in total.
San Francisco thought they had recorded their first touchdown in seven quarters when linebacker Ahmad Brooks recovered a Benny Cunningham fumble which he returned 41-yards to the end zone. The score would be negated, however, as Brooks was called for a facemasking penalty. The flag would prove to be costly as a pair of Phil Dawson field goals were all the 49ers had to show for in the team's second straight loss to the Rams. Before Sunday, San Francisco hadn't lost back to back games versus St. Louis since 2004. The two teams will meet again to close out the 2015 regular season in Week 17 @ San Francisco. With a winning record (4-3) this late in the season for the first time since 2006, St. Louis is hoping to continue their winning ways as the team hasn't accomplished a winning season since '03.
In what would ultimately be his final game in a 49ers uniform, tight-end Vernon Davis caught a game-high 6 passes for 24 yards. After spending ten seasons with the organization, it was announced on Monday that Davis, a former 1st round pick in 2006 (6th overall), was traded to the Denver Broncos along with a 7th round draft pick in exchange for two 6th rounders (2016 & 2017). Remarkably, the trade of Vernon Davis wouldn't even be the biggest news of the week for the 49ers, as that would belong to Colin Kaepernick as it was announced the same day that he would be benched for backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a decision made by head coach Jim Tomsula. A move that has raised quite a few eyebrows around the league as 2015 continues to be a nightmare for 49er fans.
Injury News - For whatever reason, the NFL has yet to do something about the concrete behind the sidelines in these indoor stadiums which caused Reggie Bush to slip and fall like many before him and injuring his ACL in the process. Bush, who was carted off the field Sunday, has seen limited action with the 49ers after suffering a leg injury in Week 1 and will now be out for the season after an MRI revealed damage to Bush's left knee. Joining Bush for at least this week is rookie running back Mike Davis who will undergo surgery on his hand. Also ruled out this week on offense is Carlos Hyde (foot) and receiver Anquan Boldin who's been hampered by an ailing hamstring for a second straight week. With multiple injuries in the running back department and Jarryd Hayne assigned to the practice squad after initially being released, the 49ers signed a pair of players to man the backfield in Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas. Draughn has bounced around numerous teams since being drafted in 2011, most recently with the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Pierre Thomas who helped the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2009, provides a threat in the passing game.
Week 9 Preview - At 2-6 on the season, the 49ers look to head into their Week 10 BYE with a victory as they host the (6-2) Atlanta Falcons. Having served as one of the biggest surprises this season under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons hope to come out of the Bay Area with a win to keep pace with the undefeated Carolina Panthers who own first place in the NFC South. While Atlanta features a much improved defense from a season ago which coach Quinn is well known for, they also have arguably the best receiver in the league in Julio Jones. The Niner defense will have to keep close tabs on the fifth year wide-out out of Alabama who caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 upset loss to the Buccaneers. The 49ers will also have to establish the run game early on if they plan to make a game out of it, something they failed to do in each of their last two losses. And with a number of new faces in the backfield to kick the tires with, this'll be the perfect time to see what they have in their ground attack as Blaine Gabbert looks to revive his career at the QB position.
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Week 7 - With both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks struggled out of the gates this season and sharing a 2-4 record at the bottom of the NFC West, wins have been hard to come by for the two teams recently removed from being conference powerhouses. But with the two renewing rivalries on Thursday night for the first of two meetings, one was bound to hang a 'W' in the win column while the other fell deeper into the abyss of the NFC Western division standings. And with Seattle getting the better half of their bitter rivals in three straight meetings, the results in this one would be no different. The opening-drive of the ball game resulted in a three and out for San Francisco, meanwhile, Seattle marched down the field on a 12-play drive that nearly stalled inside the 5-yard line before running back Marshawn Lynch finally reached the end zone on third down after numerous attempts. That's basically how the rest of the game would play out for both teams.
Enduring their worst start since 2011, Seattle entered Thursday's game having lost three game this season in which they held a 4th quarter lead of at least 7-points. They wouldn't have to worry about any fourth quarter collapse in this one, however, as the 49ers offense was a no-show, totaling more punts than first downs. San Francisco's defense was decent, intercepting Seattle QB Russell Wilson twice, but Seattle's was better as Colin Kaepernick was kept in check and held to only 124 yards passing. Kaepernick, who was sacked six times, struggled once again against a Seattle defense that has had his number in six of the seven meetings since he's been named the starting quarterback. Wilson didn't have a great game by any stretch either, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown to go with two picks, but he had Marshawn Lynch to fall back on. On a night Russell Wilson was sacked five times, adding to his league-high 31 sacks this season, Lynch carried the load on offense by rushing for 122 yards and a TD on 27 attempts. Meanwhile, the 49ers ground attack accounted for only 61 yards between Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush.
In a game that lacked flair from either side, Russell Wilson connected with receiver Tyler Lockett in the end zone from 43 yards out for a touchdown on the only big play of the evening as the 49ers fell, 20-3, and have now been outscored 56 to 13 in their last three meetings vs Seattle. Niners tight-end Vernon Davis who missed his last three games before returning to the field a week ago as he was a non-factor in the win against Baltimore, led his team in both receptions (4) and receiving yards (61) in the loss despite being linked to possible trade rumors. As for Seattle's newest offensive addition -- Jimmy Graham, the San Francisco defense kept him in check for only 31 yards receiving on two grabs.
As for my take on Colin Kaepernick who I've been behind and defended all season long after the criticism he's received, I finally have my first beef as the Niners QB played too conservatively for my taste on Thursday and tried too hard not to throw an interception versus his nemesis which he succeeded at but in doing so, negated the possibility of any big play ability. His safe decision making was almost reminiscent of an Alex Smith led offense. It's one thing to fear disaster and not risk the gamble, but Kaepernick simply plays too scared against Seattle which showed once again as the offense was virtually nonexistent. By no means am I suggesting a change at quarterback, but perhaps a game plan different from the predictable one we saw on Thursday. Not to mention the zero rush attempts by Kaepernick all game long. In the few times Kaepernick has had success against Seattle throughout his career, he was doing it with his feet, something we saw none of in the 49ers' fourth consecutive loss to Seattle. Whether it's by design from the head coach on down to the offensive coordinator, the once upon a time "dual-threat QB" has completely deserted the rush. If the Niners aren't going to try executing a game plan that might actually work, they're better off forfeiting before kickoff.
Injury Report - Pro Bowl safety from just a season ago -- Antoine Bethea will be lost for the year with a season-ending injury after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Thursday's game. Voted team MVP for the 49ers just a season ago, the injury to Bethea will likely open the door for rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt.
Week 8 Preview - After experiencing the taste of victory for a brief four days before falling once more to Seattle, the 49ers will use those extra handful of days of rest when they hit the road for a meeting with the division-rival Rams (3-3). Squaring off for the first of two meetings this season, St. Louis is one of the few teams in the league that has struggled as mightily as San Francisco has on offense. With both teams ranking 31st (STL) and 32nd (SF) in average points per game, expect this one to be another defensive battle. Splitting the season series just a year ago with each team claiming road victories, a win for the Niners in this one would give them their first road victory of the season and some confidence heading into their final game before a BYE in Week 10. But in order to do that, the San Francisco defense will have to put a halt to rookie running back Todd Gurley. The Rams' first-round pick out of Georgia has been on a tear as of late since being handed the starting job, averaging over 120 yards in each of his last three games including a 2 touchdown performance in last week's win at Cleveland and a 159 yard outburst the game before.
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