49ers Play Spoiler in the Desert, Upset Cardinals

Week 16 - With the San Francisco 49ers (5-9) officially eliminated from playoff contention following their Week 15 loss to Dallas, the focus of Kyle Shanahan's team would turn to the division rival Arizona Cardinals (8-6) who are vying for a playoff spot as a potential Wild Card team. But with a change at quarterback for San Francisco who promoted C.J. Beathard in place of Nick Mullens, the hapless 49ers would look to redeem themselves and play the role of spoiler against a Cardinals team that would've benefited greatly with a win at home on Saturday, given the Chicago Bears (7-7) are hot on their heels. Making his first start since 2018, Beathard, who owned a career record of 0-3 versus Arizona entering Saturday's game, received some much needed help from an old college teammate who made his return to the lineup for the 49er offense. 

Having been sidelined with a foot injury since Week 8, San Francisco's Pro Bowl tight-end George Kittle returned to the lineup in a big way on Saturday, hauling in four passes from his former college teammate at Iowa, for a game-high 94 yards receiving. Despite their first time playing together in an actual game in nearly two years, Beathard and Kittle were able to rekindle their old chemistry which was a welcoming sight among 49er fans. Outscoring opponents 36-0 in the first quarter over their last four games, the Cardinals were quick to jump out to a 3-0 advantage after their first possession of the game, but the 49ers would succeed in putting an end to that first quarter shutout when Beathard hit running back Jeff Wilson Jr. for a 21-yard pass that he took to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. In what would be the start of a busy day for Wilson Jr., the Niners' third-string running back would have a career day on Saturday before it was all said and done as he became the first 49ers running back since Frank Gore in 2009, to put up over 200 yards from scrimmage in a single game. And his early trip to the end zone would give the 49ers six consecutive games with a first quarter touchdown for the first time since 2002. 

After taking a 7-6 lead into the half, the 49ers would continue to go with a steady diet of Wilson Jr. on the ground, but a pair of missed field goals and a missed extra-point by kicker Robbie Gould, including one to open the second half, would make things a lot closer on the scoreboard than they should've been. Luckily, after forcing a three and out on Arizona's first possession of the second half, the offense would be able to add to their score without the help of Gould, as Beathard found fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 9-yard touchdown pass to go up, 14-6. Opening the fourth quarter with a touchdown by Arizona, the Cardinals would fail to tie the game on a two-point conversion attempt as QB Kyler Murray's pass attempt was incomplete. After a failed fourth down attempt on Arizona's next possession led to a turnover on downs, the 49ers took advantage of the gutsy gamble by Cardinals head coach Cliff Kingsbury inside his team's own territory, as Wilson Jr. broke for a 34-yard run that allowed the 49ers to setup shop just shy of the goal-line. One play later, Beathard would again find Juszczyk inside the end zone for a touchdown. Trailing 20-12, Murray and company would march all the way to the red zone before a pass was lobbed into the end zone and intercepted by San Francisco's Ahkello Witherspoon. 

Despite their struggles, the Cardinals would still get one last-ditch attempt to tie the game, down 20-12 following Gould's second missed field goal on the afternoon. However, the 49er defense would manage to hang on as Arizona's fourth quarter comeback attempt came up short on a failed fourth down conversion. In what was an all-around stellar performance defensively for San Francisco, the 49er defense did exceptionally well in coverage as they were able to keep both DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald in check, as the duo combined for 14 receptions but were held to only 76-yards receiving. Also, Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake who was the last running back to rush for over 100 yards against the 49er defense when he did so in his Cardinals debut in Week 9 of the 2019 season, was also held in check for the most part as he was limited to only 45 yards rushing on 18 carries. C.J. Beathard finished with a quiet 183 yards passing, but managed to throw a trio of touchdown passes and avoided the costly interceptions that had doomed the 49er offense the past few weeks with quarterback Nick Mullens under center. Jeff Wilson Jr.'s 204 total yards from scrimmage were the most since Frank Gore compiled 246 total scrimmage yards in Week 2 of the 2009 season. Having played their last two home games at State Farm Stadium and coming up short in both affairs, the 49ers were finally able to pull out a win in Arizona, this time as the road team. 

Noteworthy: Earlier in the week, three 49ers were named to the NFC's Pro Bowl team: fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tackle Trent Williams and linebacker Fred Warner. Also, defensive-lineman Kerry Hyder was one of three 49ers to log a quarterback sack on Saturday, giving him a career-high 8.5 sacks on the season. 

Week 17 Preview - Staying in Arizona, the 49ers will finish their 2020 regular season when they play host to the division rival Seattle Seahawks (11-4). Coming off a victory over the Los Angeles Rams which clinched an NFC West title for Pete Carrol's Seahawks for the first time since 2016, Seattle will try to avoid an upset loss to San Francisco as they still have eyes on a top seed in the NFC's playoff picture. Unlike last year's heavyweight meeting between these two teams which took place on the final week of the regular season and was the final game of the regular season on NBC's Sunday Night Football which was won on a goal-line stand by San Francisco and determined the winner of the division as well as the NFC's number one seed, this time around the game will have much less meaning and far less drama. Nonetheless, Russell Wilson and company will try to continue their stride into the playoffs, while coach Shanahan's 49ers hope to finish the regular season strong with a little winning streak of their own to closeout the season and build upon come 2021. 

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Defense backs 49ers in Opening Win in Tampa

Week 1 - Football season is officially upon us. And one team that was expected to make vast improvements a season ago before having their new franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo stripped from them some three weeks into the league year due to a knee injury, were the San Francisco 49ers. But the injuries didn't start or end with Jimmy G as the 49ers were ravaged by the injury bug which saw 13 players land on the injured reserve list including running back Jerick McKinnon who signed a big deal at the beginning of last season and has yet to play a single snap with his new team. Heading into the 2019-20 NFL season, the 49ers hope to have much better fortune on their side as it'll likely be needed in the competitive NFC Western division.

A season after forcing the fewest takeaways in NFL history with seven, the 49ers brain trust of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan made bolstering the defense a point of emphasis in both free-agency and the trade market, as well as in the draft. And with only two interceptions to their name in all of 2018-19, it would only take one week for the newly revamped 49er defense to surpass that mark to begin the new season. Opening the year on the road and facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that welcomed a new head coach in Bruce Arians whom the Niners are quite familiar with dating back to his days with the division rival Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17, San Francisco would look to avenge a 29-7 Week 12 loss suffered in Tampa Bay a season ago. And with the way the game started, the 49ers had to have likened their chances early on. With the game time temperature in the 90's and the humidity a factor, coach Shanahan had his guys well prepared as his team worked out during the week in a sauna tent to simulate the sticky conditions.

Unfazed on defense, the 49ers forced a three and out on Tampa's opening possession and helped Jimmy G and company set up shop with prime field position thanks to a big play on special-teams by Mark Nzeocha who blocked a punt by ex-49er Bradley Pinion. Taking over at the Tampa Bay 33-yard line, the 49er offense would begin to march before having a George Kittle touchdown wiped off the board due to a penalty. It would be one of two San Francisco touchdowns nullified in the first half and three in total. Settling for a Robbie Gould field goal, the 49ers would take a 3-0 lead. The Bucs would also have a pair of touchdowns called back in the first half, both on a drive that ended with a fumble inside the red zone as 49ers linebacker Fred Warner punched the ball loose from the hands of tight-end O.J. Howard. The first forced turnover would be a sigh of relief as the San Francisco defense was dealt a blow a few plays earlier when the newly acquired Kwon Alexander was ejected from the game after being penalized for an illegal hit on Tampa quarterback Jameis Winston. As fired up as anyone after signing a new four-year, $54 Million contract and facing his former team, Alexander appeared to be poised for a big game after tallying three tackles and nearly coming up with an interception in the opening quarter before his departure.

Pinned deep near their own end zone, Garoppolo would make a mistake of his own when he threw a pass near the sideline intended for the running back Tevin Coleman who was lined up outside and beaten on the play that Vernon Hargreaves II took to the house for an easy pick-six. After cutting into the deficit with another Gould field goal, San Francisco found themselves a golden opportunity to take a lead when Mark Nzeocha added an interception to his already stellar afternoon resume. But the ensuing possession which saw the 49ers reach field goal range with under a minute remaining in the first half, ended as rookie receiver Deebo Samuel fumbled the ball after running into his own teammate which jarred the ball loose. Thankfully, whatever Shanahan said to his team in the locker room at the half, helped awaken the offense as Garoppolo found a streaking Richie James Jr. who freed himself for a 39-yard touchdown reception to give his team a 13-7 lead. Inspired by their first touchdown of the season, the 49er defense would get in on the fun as Richard Sherman made a house-call two plays into the Bucs' ensuing possession as he intercepted a pass from Winston and returned it for a touchdown. His first interception as a member of Niners would be a memorable one as it was also the fourth touchdown of his career.

Tampa would answer with a touchdown of their own the very next drive as Winston capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. Looking to make it a two-possession game again, Robbie Gould who missed only one field goal all of last season, attempted a 57-yarder that doinked off the middle crossbar and bounced out. Living dangerously, Bucs coach Bruce Arians would make a gamble of his own after his team took over near midfield before marching in the red zone as he elected to go for it on a 4th & goal from the 2-yard line. Bending but not breaking, the 49ers got the much needed goal-line stop as second-year cornerback Tarvarius Moore jumped out in front of a pass intended for Godwin to force the turnover on downs. After exchanging field goals, the 49er defense came through one final time to put the icing on the cake and seal the win with a pick-six interception by Ahkello Witherspoon as Bosa applied the pressure on the quarterback that led to the errant throw, their second pick-six and third interception on the afternoon as San Francisco made out with the 31-17 win. While the offense wasn't very impressive in their first bit of action, the defense was every bit as good as projected as Tampa Bay was out-sacked three to one, including sacks from newcomers Dee Ford and rookie Nick Bosa.

In his first regular season game since the knee injury suffered at Kansas City in Week 3 last year, Garoppolo completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 166 yards and a touchdown to go along with the interception. The ever so reliable George Kittle led both teams with eight receptions for 54-yards receiving and Raheem Mostert who split the carries with Matt Breida following an injury to Tevin Coleman, led the 49ers in rushing with 40 yards on nine carries. As for the defense, Winston was held to 194 yards passing on 20 of 36 attempts. In a game plagued by 19 penalties in all, 11 by San Francisco, the 49ers prevailed to win their first road game since December 31, 2017, snapping an 8-game road losing streak.

Week 2 - Continuing their season on the road in Week 2, the 49ers will head north to face the (0-1) Cincinnati Bengals who are coming off a 1-point loss to the Seahawks in Seattle. With Cincy nearly pulling off the upset win in Week 1, the 49ers will look to contain quarterback Andy Dalton who displayed an aerial assault of 418 yards passing and two touchdowns. A pair of players who will likely be sidelined for the meeting are the starting running backs as both Joe Mixon of the Bengals and Tevin Coleman of the Niners saw limited action in Week 1 after suffering ankle injuries. While coach Shanahan has already ruled Coleman out for Week 2 with a high-ankle sprain and called his running back, "week to week," the Bengals have not yet decided on Mixon's status as he'll likely be a game-time decision. Even with Coleman ruled out, I'd expect a much stronger performance from the Niners run attack in Week 2 than the one we saw in Tampa with Matt Breida carrying a bulk of the load.


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SF Falls to Philly in Worst Start in 49ers History

Week 8 - What do you get when you put an 0-7 San Francisco 49ers team that is tied for the worst overall record in the NFL against a 6-1 Philadelphia Eagles team that boasts the best record in the league? How about at a 33-10 shellacking in what is now the first 0-8 start in franchise history for first-year head coach Kyle Shanahan and the woeful 49ers. Entering Sunday's meeting against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the 49ers knew they'd have their work cut out for them matching up on defense against second-year quarterback Carson Wentz who has already surpassed his touchdown total from a year ago (16 TD's) in eight fewer games. They'd also have their hands full against a Philadelphia defense that ranks tops in the league against the run.

Playing on a damp Sunday afternoon, the 49ers would need to play a near perfect game if they had plans of pulling off the upset in rainy Philadelphia. Instead, they'd fall behind 17-0 heading into the locker room at the half as a pair of touchdowns allowed highlighted a dismal first two quarters for San Francisco. The 49ers would manage to stick around for a majority of the first half as Philly hung onto a 3-0 lead entering the 2-minute warning. But things would change quickly as a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight-end Zach Ertz and a pick-six by cornerback Jalen Mills just 17 seconds later would allow the Eagles to take a 17-0 lead into the half. The lead would reach 20 to nothing before the 49ers finally scratched the scoreboard on a touchdown set up by rookie corner Ahkello Witherspoon who recorded his first career interception. San Francisco would capitalize as another 49ers rookie recorded a career first when quarterback C.J. Beathard's shovel pass to backup running back Matt Breida sprung the undrafted rookie from Georgia Southern 21-yards for the first touchdown of his career.

The two big plays by the trio of 49ers rookies would be the lone highlights on the afternoon for San Francisco as the mistakes and wrongdoings far outweighed the good. A week after setting a 49ers franchise record by throwing for the most yards in a rookie debut with 235 yards against the Cowboys, Beathard threw for only 167 yards in his second time around in another tough outing by the San Francisco offense who was stymied by Philadelphia's solid defense. Against the run, the Eagles held both Breida and Carlos Hyde to a combined 42-yards rushing as neither back was able to get anything going on the ground. Veteran kicker Robbie Gould would also see better days as he saw his perfect 91-for-91 mark of field goals from 20-30 yards come to an end as his 27-yard field goal attempt to start the fourth quarter was blocked. It would be Gould's first blocked field goal since 2012 with the Bears, though he would redeem himself on San Francisco's ensuing possession with a successful 50-yard try.

Leading the league in passing touchdowns entering Sunday, Wentz added his second touchdown pass of the afternoon on a 53-yard connection to Alshon Jefferey on the longest play of the receiver's brief Eagles career. A 12-yard touchdown run by LeGarrette Blount would round out the rest of the scoring for Philly who stormed away with the 33-10 victory and improved their league-best record to 7-1 on the year, leading the NFC East over second place Dallas (4-3). As for San Francisco who fell to 0-8 on the year for the first time in their 73-year history, the 49ers were also dealt a blow on both sides of the ball in the injury department as cornerback Jimmie Ward (fractured left forearm), offensive-lineman Joe Staley (broken orbital bone) and receiver Pierre Garcon (neck) were all bit by the injury bug on Sunday with Ward and Garcon's injuries being season-ending. The loss of those players would only add salt to the wound as the 49ers have now dropped 10 consecutive games in the eastern time zone. You'd have to date back to November 16, 2014 against the Giants in New York for the last time San Francisco departed the eastern part of the country with a victory.

Week 9 Preview - Returning home to kick off the first game of a three game homestand, the 49ers will play host to division rival Arizona as the (3-4) Cardinals are coming off a BYE week following their shutout loss to the Rams in London. With an 18-15 overtime win against the 49ers in their Week 4 meeting earlier this season in Arizona, the Cardinals are looking for the season sweep of San Francisco, but will be without quarterback Carson Palmer who is out for the season and is likely to retire after suffering a broken arm. The 49ers will hope to get the first win of the season after nearly defeating the Cardinals in Arizona after taking a 15-12 lead in overtime before Palmer connected with Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone for a walk-off, game-winning touchdown. San Francisco will be met by backup QB Drew Stanton and will also get their first look at running back Adrian Peterson in a Cardinals uniform as the former league MVP who began the season in New Orleans, was traded from the Saints to the Cardinals before Week 6.


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