49ers duke it out with Raiders in Overtime Win

Week 17 - Kicking off the New Year in Las Vegas like many party goers that flock to the desert for the big celebration, the (11-4) San Francisco 49ers had other plans in mind than partying. In town to face the (6-9) Las Vegas Raiders, Kyle Shanahan's team entered Sunday's game as heavy favorites having already clinched a playoff berth and their division, against a reeling Raiders team that was on their last leg fighting for their playoff lives. What was expected to be a romp for the 49ers, instead turned into a knock-down-drag-out war that would need overtime to determine a winner. When it was all said and done, the 49ers prevailed, but not before enduring a scare and worrying the pants off of me and the many other Niner fans who were in attendance. 

In the days leading up to their New Years battle, Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniel announced that 3-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr would be benched and ultimately shutdown for the remainder of the season in what will likely end his tenure with the Raiders. Taking over under-center for Carr would be QB Jarrett Stidham who was traded from the New England Patriots before the season, reuniting with McDaniel who served as Stidham's offensive coordinator all three seasons in Foxboro before landing his gig with the Raiders in the offseason. Tasked to make his first career start against the league's number one defense, Stidham would have the San Francisco defense on their heels virtually all afternoon long. From their opening drive, Stidham looked calm and in control as he connected on each of his first three passes, including 24-yarder to tight-end Darren Waller to give his team an early 7-0 lead. Answering right back with a touchdown of their own, running back Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers into the red zone with a big 37-yard run before quarterback Brock Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone to tie the game at 7 a piece. 

Knocking on the door at the San Francisco 1-yard line, the Raiders nearly found pay dirt again, but settled for a field goal after failing to reach the end zone. Trailing 10-7, the 49ers took their first lead of the ball game when Purdy hit tight-end George Kittle in the corner of the end zone from 2-yards out, giving the self-proclaimed "People's Tight-End" five touchdown receptions in his last three games. After forcing a turnover on downs that left the Raiders high and dry at the San Francisco goal-line, the 49ers appeared to be heading into halftime with a lead. However, Stidham and company had other plans as the Raiders' back-up QB took advantage of good field position beyond midfield and marched the offense into the red zone. There he would find his top receiver Devante Adams in the corner of the end zone with a 4-yard touchdown grab with 15-seconds remaining. Finding themselves trailing 17-14 at halftime, the 49ers opened the second half flat and were held to a three and out. Getting the ball back with a chance to add to their lead, Jarrett Stidham would do just that. 

Facing a 3rd and 11, the Raiders would convert the first down on a big face mask penalty when 49ers linebacker Fred Warner got tangled up with Las Vegas receiver Hunter Renfrow. Three plays later, Stidham would launch a pass down field to hit a wide-open Devante Adams for a 60-yard score. Looking for a second half jolt, the 49ers began to show life when McCaffrey darted to the end zone from 14 yards out to pull his team within a field goal. After holding the Raiders to a punt on a three and out, the Niners appeared to be headed for another trip to the end zone when Purdy found receiver Jauan Jennings for a 28-yard gain that put them at midfield. However, Purdy's lone mistake on the afternoon would come on the very next play when his deep pass intended for Kittle was underthrown and intercepted by Las Vegas' Amik Robertson who robbed the Niners' tight-end of the ball. In need of a big stop, the 49er defense would come thru with an interception of their own to start the fourth quarter when Kerry Hyder Jr. deflected the ball in the air and into the arms of rookie Drake Jackson who hauled in his first career interception. 

Turning the turnover into a field goal, the 49ers would tie the game at 24-all. Following a Raiders punt, San Francisco would take a 27-24 lead with another Robbie Gould field goal, but Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson would answer right back with a field goal of his own. The last five minutes of the fourth quarter would be a complete whirlwind as both teams went blow for blow, exchanging scores. A pair of big passes to Aiyuk and McCaffrey setup rookie running back Jordan Mason who scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard dash to the end zone. Needing only 1 minute and 6 seconds, Stidham hit receivers on 21 and 45 yard gains and took advantage of two costly penalties on San Francisco to put the Raiders at the 1-yardline. It would be there where running back Josh Jacobs who departed in the first half with a hip injury, returned to the field to score the game-tying touchdown from 1 yard out. With 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, Brock Purdy would go to work, connecting with Brandon Aiyuk on four passes to amass 52 yards and put his kicker in position to win the game in regulation. The football gods would have other plans, however, as Gould who had made two field goals earlier in the game, including a 43-yarder, missed wide-right from 41 yards as time expired. 

With the game heading into overtime, the fans in attendance at Allegiant Stadium which consisted of about 2/3 in favor of the 49ers, would be treated to another roller coaster of emotions. Winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Raiders rushed the ball on three straight plays before a deep pass flipped the game for the 49ers. What was a quiet day for San Francisco defensive-end Nick Bosa, turned into a pivotal play as the defensive stalwart applied pressure by bull rushing his man into the quarterback who lofted a wobbly pass that was intercepted by Tashaun Gipson who returned the pick 56 yards. Giving kicker Robbie Gould a chance to redeem himself, the 18-year veteran would do just that, splitting the uprights from 23-yards out to send his team home with their NFL-best ninth straight victory. The ninth straight win would mark the franchise's longest winning-streak since 1997. Throwing for 284 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, Brock Purdy became just the fifth rookie all-time to win his first four career starts and the first to do so since 2004 (Ben Roethlisberger). Brandon Aiyuk (9 rec, 101 yds, 1 TD) and Devante Adams (7 rec, 153 yds, 2 TD) led their respective teams in receiving yards, combining for 16 receptions, 254 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey combined for 193 total yards and a touchdown to eclipse the 1,000 rushing yards plateau for the third time in his career. With the loss, the Raiders would be officially eliminated from playoff contention. 

Week 18 Preview: Improving to 12-4 on the year, the 49ers will look to closeout the regular season with a tenth consecutive victory when they play host to the last-place (4-12) Arizona Cardinals. After losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco now finds themselves in the No. 2 seed with a chance at securing the NFC's top seed and a first round BYE if they get a win against Arizona, coupled with a loss from Philly who hosts the division rival New York Giants who are also vying for a playoff spot. Slated to be a wild final week of the NFL's regular season schedule, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers will look to ride their current winning-streak into the postseason and have a chance to complete a clean sweep of the NFC Western Division as the Cardinals are the last team standing in their way of perfection. The 49ers won their previous match-up against the Cardinals earlier this season back in Week 10 which saw San Francisco pull off a 38-10 victory in Mexico City. As scary as their close call with the Raiders was, this type of come-from-behind victory should do wonders for Brock Purdy and his development, as well as serve as a much needed wake-up call for the 49er defense which allowed 500 total yards in the win. 

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Packers Beat 49ers' B-Team on Thursday Night

Week 9 - Meeting for the first time since a blowout victory in the NFC Championship that punched a ticket to the Super Bowl for the San Francisco 49ers (4-4), the Green Bay Packers (5-2) would stroll into the Bay Area seeking revenge after being embarrassed not once, but twice a season ago. But any hopes of a slugfest would be shutdown rather quickly for one team. Having been ravaged by injuries all season long, a new enemy would emerge and make its presence felt on the 49ers roster, or at least the threat of it. Entering Thursday night's game with 13 players on Injured Reserve -- tied for the most in the NFL, the Niners would be dealt yet another blow after receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for COVID-19. With teammates Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams all considered, "high-risk close contacts," all four players would be ruled out of Thursday's game on Wednesday. But after a pair of subsequent negative Covid tests submitted by Bourne, including one several hours before kickoff, the initial positive test would be deemed a false positive. Unfortunately for the home team, the damage was already done as those players would still be placed on the NFL's Reserve/COVID-19 list and ruled out by the league, leaving 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan with even less to work with against one of the top teams in the NFC. To say the 49ers would be undermanned in their Thursday night affair would be an understatement. But as the saying goes: the show must go on. 

In what would be the 70th match-up all-time between the two historic franchises, backup QB Nick Mullens would make his third start of the season in place of the ailing Jimmy Garoppolo who re-injured his high-ankle sprain in last week's loss to Seattle. Even with the countless holes on offense, the 49ers would still have a sliver of hope before kickoff as Mullens' only other start on Thursday Night Football came during Week 9 of the 2018 season when he made his NFL debut and threw a career-high three touchdown passes in a blowout win against the Raiders. The main difference in this one, however, would be a guy named Aaron Rodgers. After being stymied and constantly pressured by the 49er defense in both games last season, the ghostly defense of San Francisco's past would like nothing like the team Rodgers faced on Thursday and he admitted it in his postgame interview. But that wouldn't stop him from turning up the heat and taking advantage of the situation. While the game would remain competitive until the final minutes of the second quarter, Green Bay took an early 7-0 lead after their first possession and never looked back. 

Needing only six plays to march 75-yards, Rodgers struck first by connecting with his Pro-Bowl receiver Davante Adams for a 36-yard touchdown. It would be the start of a big night from both players as they each registered impressive numbers in the box score. Biting into Green Bay's lead with a Robbie Gould field goal on San Francisco's second possession to make it a 7-3 ballgame, it would be the closest the Niners would get after kickoff. San Francisco nearly tied the game on a touchdown reception by the recently promoted River Cracraft who came down with a catch in the end zone from 4-yards out that was initially ruled a touchdown, but was eventually overturned after review showed he failed to maintain complete control of the ball when falling to the ground, forcing Shanahan to settle for a field goal. The absence of Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams would be felt virtually all night long on the 49ers offensive-line as Justin Skule had a tough time trying to fill in for the sidelined Williams, but especially on a pair of plays that resulted in a Nick Mullens interception in the second quarter and on a sack-fumble in the third, both of which leading to scoring drives for the Packers. By halftime, Rodgers had tossed a trio of touchdown passes as Green Bay took a 21-3 lead into the locker room. 

With the Green Bay lead increasing to 34-3 at one point, the 49ers were able to fend off a complete massacre on the scoreboard as they pieced together a pair of touchdown scoring drives in the fourth quarter to make it a 34-17 final score. The first of which would come on a 41-yard touchdown pass to receiver Richie James Jr. who served as one of the lone bright spots on what was a dismal night for San Francisco after hauling in career-highs with nine receptions for 184-yards and a touchdown. Running back Jerick McKinnon would supply the only other score as he struck pay dirt from a yard out in the game's final seconds. Both Rodgers and Adams would tally impressive numbers for Green Bay's offense as the Packers QB threw for 305 yards, four touchdowns and no picks, one of those touchdowns and 173 yards going to Adams who hauled in a game-high 10 receptions. In comparison, Nick Mullens threw for 291 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Turning back the clock, the 34-points scored by the Packers were the most they put up on the road against San Francisco since December 13, 1959. 

Week 10 Preview - The 49ers' schedule will not get any easier in Week 10 when they make a trip to the Big Easy to face Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints (6-2) who are coming off an impressive blowout win against Tom Brady and the Bucs, 38-3. Following one of the best regular season games of the year a season ago when the 49ers left the bayou with a thrilling 48-46 victory that went back and forth in Week 14, it's unlikely we'll see anything remotely close to that shootout with all of San Francisco's missing pieces. With 13 players on IR, 45 different starters and 71 players used -- all the most in the NFL this year, coach Shanahan will do his best to try and piece together a team that can hopefully compete much better than they did against Green Bay. The Niners might also see the recently traded Kwon Alexander on opposite ends next week as he recovers from a high ankle sprain that has caused him to miss an extensive period of time. Another familiar face on opposite ends and one that helped play a key role in San Francisco's wild win against the Saints last season, is receiver Emmanuel Sanders who missed the last two weeks after being placed on the NFL's Reserve/Covid list. Two players the Niners are hopeful of getting back to assist their offense and their chances of pulling off the upset against the Saints are running back Raheem Mostert and receiver Deebo Samuel as the two have been dealing with ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively. 

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Packers Slip by 49ers on last-second Field Goal

Week 6 - C.J. Beathard and the 1-4 San Francisco 49ers on the road taking on Aaron Rodgers and the 2-2-1 Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field for a Monday Night showdown, sounds like a blowout, right? Instead, the Niners surprised virtually everyone by putting up a fight from start to finish and nearly pulling off the upset as Rodgers and the Pack were pushed to the brink. So much so that it would take a last-minute drive and some late-game heroics by a banged-up Rodgers who in a last-ditch effort would setup his friend and long-time teammate Mason Crosby for a game-winning field goal as time expired. An entertaining game from the opening drive, the ending albeit fitting, was almost something you'd expect to see in a script from Hollywood given the circumstances that took place just a week earlier for Crosby who redeemed himself in the biggest way possible.

A Monday night win at Lambeau would've been a huge step forward for Kyle Shanahan's Niners team who's still seeking their first win of the season since losing starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 3. Not to mention it would've continued San Francisco's streak of nine consecutive victories on Monday Night Football, the third longest streak in NFL history. But claiming Monday night win number ten was expected to be no easy task heading into the game as the Packers have not lost a home game with Rodgers under center in nine straight. Not to mention Rodgers has also been one known to bring his A-game on Monday Night as he entered the meeting against the team he grew up rooting for, owning a record of 5-1 in six career appearances on Monday Night. However, one thing we've grown to expect from a Kyle Shanahan coached team, is that he'll have his players ready to compete regardless of who they're playing or who's at quarterback. That much was very evident in this one against arguably the greatest quarterback in the league.

Like they've done in each of the past two weeks, the Niners once again came out swinging on offense to open the game. An impressive seven-play opening-drive touchdown would kick things off for the Niners as running back Matt Breida who entering the Monday Night affair as a game-time decision, began the scoring barrage that would take place in the first quarter. But the same issues that plagued San Francisco the week before in the home loss to Arizona, would once again appear on Green Bay's ensuing drive. It would almost seem like deja vu as the opposition answered with a big gain of their own just one play later. Similar to Josh Rosen's 75-yard bomb on the Cardinals' first play from scrimmage a week ago that answered an opening-drive touchdown by the Niners, the San Francisco defense once again fell victim to the big play as Rodgers connected with rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 60-yard gain that would setup a Packers touchdown just three plays later. Then the nightmare that has been San Francisco's ball-handling or lack thereof this season, made its usual appearance. Rookie return man D.J. Reed who has already lost a fumble this season on kick returns, coughed up yet another one on the ensuing kick to give Green Bay the ball in scoring position. And though the Packers would be held to a field goal, it would only add to the laundry-list of fumbles San Francisco has already suffered this season. Unfortunately, the ball control woes wouldn't end there.

Before you knew it, the Niners and Packers went blow for blow and combined to score a total of 31-points in the first quarter alone, the second highest point total through an opening quarter in Monday Night Football history. After both teams exchanged touchdowns, a 9-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams and a 67-yard bomb from Beathard to Marquise Goodwin who returned to the field after missing the last game and being forced to watch most of this season from the sidelines while battling injuries, the Niners would gift the opposition with yet another generous fumble. One play into their next possession, a 21-yard reception from Beathard to Kyle Juszczyk would go up in flames as the Niners fullback fumbled the ball. The Packers would once again be held to a field goal following the turnover, but it would improve Green Bay's lead to six. But Beathard's second touchdown pass of the half to Goodwin, a 30-yard score coupled with a Robbie Gould field goal, gave San Francisco a 24-20 lead at the half. Holding a four-point lead heading into the third quarter, the Niners still had a long ways to go if they planned on logging their second win of the season, but had shown up to that point that they could pull this thing off if they played clean football the rest of the way.

Following a trio of field goals, San Francisco carried a 30-23 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining in regulation. Rodgers would have his team knocking on the door on their first possession of the fourth quarter before Packers head coach Mike McCarthy elected to go for it in the red zone on a 4th & 3 attempt as the Niner defense staved off Green Bay's chance to tie it, forcing a turnover on downs. Looking for another score to put the game out of reach or at the very least milk as much time as possible, Shanahan's offense suffered back to back three and outs and managed to only wipe off 3 minutes and 19 seconds from the clock on two possessions. As for Rodgers, the third time would be a charm as he began carving the Niners secondary like an expert surgeon. A 38-yard pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams would ignite the comeback as the two connected again just three plays later for the game-tying touchdown. Taking over at the two-minute warning, the 49ers were in perfect position to march down the field and at the very least setup Gould for a game-winning field goal once Richie James Jr. returned the ensuing kick to the 32 yard-line and was awarded an extra 15-yards at the Packers were hit with a late-hit. Several plays later, San Francisco found themselves facing a pivotal 3rd & 3, and instead of going for the short gain, Beathard went for the long-ball, taking a shot at the end zone to Goodwin. Only this time Beathard would be picked off as Packers cornerback Kevin King came up with the game-changing interception.

Taking over at their own 10-yard line with 1:07 remaining and no timeouts left, Rodgers went to work and reminded us all of his greatness. But not before catching a break on a key penalty that saved the day. Facing 3rd & 15 and pinned inside their own 20-yard line, Rodgers was sacked by DeForest Buckner for a 4-yard loss, but an illegal-contact call against Richard Sherman would give Green Bay new life with an automatic first down. Using his feet, Rodgers scampered for a 21-yard gain before utilizing the sidelines and connecting on passes of 8, 19 and 19 yards to setup Mason Crosby for the chance to send his team home with a win and redeem himself from missing four field goals and an extra-point that cost his team a win in Detroit the week prior. But thanks to his old buddy Rodgers, the 34-year old kicker who in his 11th season with the Packers, would be asked to make a 27-yard chip-shot to send his team home. And with time expiring, he would do just that as Green Bay pulled off the 33-30 win. Rodgers finished with 425 yards passing compared to Beathard's 245 as both QB's each logged a pair of touchdown passes through the air. Both Devante Adams who caught 10 passes for 132 yards and Marquise Goodwin who tallied 4 receptions for 126 yards, scored the only two touchdown passes thrown by their respective QB's. Meanwhile, Raheem Mostert led all rushers with 81-yards on 12 carries, followed by another solid performance by a less than healthy Matt Breida who ran for 61-yards on 14 carries.

Week 7 Preview - For San Francisco and coach Kyle Shanahan, the loss is a tough one to swallow as they've come so close to victory yet again, only to fall in such heart-breaking fashion. But things won't be getting any easier in Week 7 as the Niners return home to face the last remaining unbeaten team in the league in the 6-0 Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco will once again be tabbed as underdogs as they get set to renew rivalries with their division foe while on short rest. If facing the best team in the NFC isn't frightening enough, the Niners will be given the daunting task of having to stop last year's reigning Offensive Player of the Year in Rams running back Todd Gurley who's coming off his first career 200 yard performance on the ground. The match-up against Gurley will be a true test for a Niner defense that has been surprisingly tough against the rush up to this point this season. Rams quarterback Jared Goff will also be a tough assignment as the Bay Area native and Cal alum has been playing great this season under second-year head coach Sean McVay, but is looking to rebound from a so-so performance in Week 6 against Denver. The folks at NBC aren't expecting the Niners to put up much of a fight as the game was flexed from the station's Sunday Night Football slot now that Jimmy Garoppolo won't be under center for San Francisco. Hopefully that'll be added bulletin board material for Shanahan to help rally his team in hopes of pulling off the upset.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest