49ers Complete Sweep of New York with Big Win vs Giants

Week 3 - Next man up. That was the motto on Sunday when the 49ers continued their two-week long pilgrimage in East Rutherford, New Jersey, following the numerous injuries the team sustained thru the first two weeks of the season. After recording their first win of the season a week ago at MetLife Stadium against the Jets, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers team was right back at it in the same stadium in Week 3 against the Giants. Something many of Shanahan's players were concerned about after the team suffered multiple key injuries on both sides of the ball due to what many blamed on the newly-installed artificial turf. But after league officials deemed the field safe in the days leading up to the game, the Niners expressed their frustration out on the scoreboard with a good ole shellacking of their opponent. 

Playing on Sunday without starters at a laundry list of positions including: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight-end, line-backer, cornerback and three defensive-linemen all due to injury, San Francisco was able to showcase their depth as the team received contributions from players all across the board, some for the first time this season. Case in point: rookie wide-out Brandon Aiyuk. Playing in only the second game of his career, the 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State put a stamp on Sunday's game by hauling in a game-high five receptions for 70-yards. He would also add another 30-yards on the ground to go along with a rushing touchdown, the first of his career. Aiyuk was one of the many 49er players who helped make things easier for backup QB Nick Mullens who made his first start since 2018, getting the nod in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Mullens who was a hot commodity in the offseason as multiple teams inquired about his services in a possible trade, displayed exactly why coach Shanahan and GM John Lynch made the right decision in keeping him around in case of an emergency. Facing a subpar Giants team that is without their best player in running back Saquon Barkley and under a first-year head coach, the 49ers were still able to have their way despite their decimated roster as Mullens led the charge and took advantage of the opportunity by putting up solid numbers. 

After taking a 3-0 lead on their opening possession, the 49er defense was able to turn a Daniel Jones fumble into another Robbie Gould field goal before New York got on the board with a field goal of their own. Gould failed to give his team a six-point lead when his third field goal attempt was missed wide right, which opened the door for the Giants to tie the game at 6-all following another Graham Gano field goal. But the game wouldn't be close for long as the 49ers finally found the end zone thanks to Jerrick McKinnon's third touchdown in as many weeks for the first time in his career. An interception with just over a minute remaining in the first half by Fred Warner, would allow the 49ers to increase their lead to 16-6 heading into the locker room at halftime. Opening the second half with another Giants field goal, the 49er defense would put their foot down by pitching a shutout the rest of the way. Social distancing themselves from the Giants on the scoreboard, Aiyuk's touchdown on San Francisco's first possession of the second half made it a 23-9 ballgame. With tight-end Jordan Reed missing the entire second half after sustaining ankle and knee injuries in the early going, Mullens distributed the ball to ten different receivers, including fourth-string running back Jeff Wilson Jr. who followed up a turnover on downs forced by the 49er defense, with a 19-yard receiving touchdown to blow the game open, 29-9. 

Wilson Jr. would add to his busy day one possession later by tallying a rushing touchdown to his daily output as San Francisco increased their lead to 36-9. The final nail in the coffin would come in the form of a forced fumble on receiver Darius Slayton as the 49er defense added to their turnover total and held the Giants offense to their first game without a touchdown since Week 15 of the 2018 season. Coach Shanahan's 49ers team dominated the game in all facets, but perhaps none greater than in the time of possession category as the San Francisco offense controlled the tempo by nearly doubling New York's time of possession: 36:44 to 20:16. In fact, the Giant's 7:34 time of possession in the first half was their lowest in a half since 2000. Contributing to that major mismatch was the fact that the 49ers offense did not punt in the entire game for the first time since Week 16 of the 1993 season. By throwing for 343 yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions in the dominant win, Nick Mullens tied a franchise record held by the great Joe Montana for tallying at least 220 yards passing in each of his nine career starts. Quite an impressive resume as Mullens entered the game having averaged 285 yards passing per game, a feat that puts him in elite company as only Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton have averaged more through their first eight NFL starts. 

Week 4 Preview - Returning to the Bay Area from the east coast, the 49ers will attempt to log their first home win of the season when they host the Philadelphia Eagles (0-2-1) in front of an empty Levi's Stadium on Sunday Night Football. Coming off a 23-23 tie at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, the combination of quarterback Carson Wentz and head coach Doug Pederson will attempt to right the ship and shake off the funk as they seek their first win of the season in a lowly NFC Eastern Division. However, coach Shanahan has other plans as his team is expected to receive reinforcements on offense with the return of tight-end George Kittle, running back Raheem Mostert and receiver Deebo Samuel. A welcoming sight for whoever is at the quarterback position come Sunday, whether that's Nick Mullens or Jimmy Garoppolo. Keeping pace in the NFC West, the 49ers were able to follow up their Week 1 loss with consecutive wins to improve to 2-1 on the year, while also receiving some help in the division as both the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams suffered their first losses of the season to also fall to 2-1. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks sit atop the division as one of only three unbeaten teams in the NFC thru the first three weeks of the season. 

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Injury-riddled Niners ground Jets in blowout Win

Week 2 - Even before Sunday's game between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers, things have been grim for the defending NFC Champs who have had to deal with multiple key injuries in the first weeks of the 2020-21 NFL season. But nothing would have prepared them for what they would endure in Week 2. In a battle between two teams coming off Week 1 losses and seeking their first win of the season, the 49ers were once again quick to jump out to an early lead on Sunday when running back Raheem Mostert turned the first snap of the ball game into an 80-yard touchdown. It would be one of the few moments enjoyed by the team collectively as the Niners' luck quickly turned once again. After losing their superstar tight-end George Kittle in the first half in Week 1 to a sprained knee that also kept him out of this one, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers endured a myriad of injuries in the first half on Sunday. Perhaps none greater than the injury suffered by second-year defensive-end and last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nick Bosa. During a 13-play drive that ate up 6-minutes and 43-seconds and ended in a Jets field goal, Bosa went down with an apparent left knee injury that required him to be carted off the field. Two plays later, fellow d-lineman and former first-round pick Solomon Thomas would also need to be carted off the field with a similar knee injury. MRI results would confirm what the team had feared for both players -- a torn ACL. Adding insult to injury to a banged up 49er defense that had already ruled out both Dee Ford (neck) and Richard Sherman (calf) in the days leading up to Sunday's game. 

Things on the offensive side wouldn't be a whole lot better as both Jimmy Garoppolo and Raheem Mostert went to the locker room before halftime with ankle and knee injuries respectively. Making matters worse, neither player would return in the second half. While it wasn't apparent when Mostert had suffered his injury, the injury to Garoppolo occurred during San Francisco's second possession of the game on a low-hit sack that brought Jimmy G to his knees. While he would play through it for the remainder of the half after team trainers wrapped extra tape around his ankle, Garoppolo took multiple hits and was shown limping around in obvious discomfort. Even then, he managed to find tight-end Jordan Reed for a pair of passing touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the second quarter. It would be a memorable day for Reed who filling in for injured Kittle, had went a total of 673 days in between touchdowns since his last score on November 2018 with the Washington Redskins. 

Opening the second half with backup QB Nick Mullens under center, the 49ers quickly found themselves in a 3rd and 31 situation before Jerick McKinnon exploded for a 55-yard run that got the 49ers into enemy territory and allowed them to kick a 46-yard Robbie Gould field goal. San Francisco's second drive on offense with Mullens at the quarterback position wouldn't be as lucky as he was intercepted on a tipped-pass intended for McKinnon, which the Jets would turn into another field goal. Any chances the Jets had of pulling off a late comeback were put to bed when McKinnon made a house-call from 16-yards out to give his team a 31-6 lead in the 4th quarter. New York would get a garbage-time touchdown late in the 4th quarter when QB Sam Darnold escaped pressure before finding receiver Braxton Berrios for a 30-yard score to make it a 31-13 final. 

While the 49ers' first win of the season would come at a great cost after losing multiple players to injury, the team saw a much different story play out on third down than the one that left them with a loss in Week 1. Kyle Shanahan's offense converted on 53% of third downs on Sunday, compared to just 18% a week ago. As expected with their starting running back Le'Veon Bell sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Jets went with a steady diet of Frank Gore in the run game as the long-time 49er and the franchise's all-time leader in rushing, carried the ball 21 times for 63-yards on Sunday against his former team. In comparison, San Francisco got 92-yards rushing on 8 carries from Mostert before his injury and another 77-yards on 3 carries from McKinnon in an all-around efficient performance for the 49ers run game. While Sam Darnold passed for 179-yards and a touchdown on 21-of-32 pass attempts, Garoppolo threw for 131-yards and two TD's on 14-of-16 passing before missing the entire second half. Mullens finished the game completing 8-of-11 passes for 71-yards and a pick. 49ers rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk made his NFL-debut and finished with two receptions for 21-yards, but it was Jordan Reed who stole the show in the 49ers receiving game with 7 catches for 50-yards and 2 TD's, his first multi-TD game since Week 7 of the 2017 season. 

Week 3 - Several 49er players took to Twitter after the game to express their distaste for the newly installed artificial-turf at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium following the numerous injuries suffered in Sunday's win. Whether those complaints fall on deaf ears or not, it's virtually impossible that anything will be done before kickoff in Week 3 as the Niners will return to that very field when they face the New York Giants (0-2). Coming off a loss in Chicago to the Bears, the Giants clawed their way back from a 17-0 halftime deficit before running out of time and falling in regulation, 17-13. Similar to the Niners, the Giants also had a rough day in the injury department on Sunday as they lost their superstar running back Saquon Barkley for the year with a torn ACL, the same injury suffered by Bosa and Thomas. Both teams will be thin at running back when they meet next week, as the 49ers found out on Monday that they'll be without both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman in Week 3 with knee injuries. Before having to leave Sunday's game, Mostert set another record with his speed. A week after clocking in at a speed of 22.73 mph, the fastest speed by a ball carrier since 2018, Mostert did himself one better by setting another record and reaching 23.1 mph on his game-opening touchdown run, the fastest since 2016. Shanahan and company hope Mostert is just one of the many players they're able to replace as they'll have no other choice than to live by the, "next man up" mantra for at least the next week. As for Jimmy G, it appears the team dodged a bullet and will make a game-time decision on whether backup QB Nick Mullens will need to start in his place or not. 

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Murray, Cardinals hand 49ers Loss in Opener

Week 1 - After suffering the heart-wrenching loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54, the San Francisco 49ers dubbed the 2020-21 season their self-proclaimed "Revenge Tour" in an effort to settle some unfinished business following their 4th quarter collapse that left a bad taste in the mouths of Niner players and fans alike. On Sunday, their season and so-called tour got off to a rough start as the 49ers were upended by Kyler Murray and the visiting Arizona Cardinals. With fires raging up and down the west coast and more specifically the state of California, the 49ers were forced to take extra precaution all week during practice with the air quality reaching unhealthy to nearly hazardous levels in the Bay Area. But if that wasn't enough cause for concern come game day, the team's depleted receiving corps would surely do the trick. With last year's rookie standout Deebo Samuel placed on the team's Injured List and expected to miss the first three weeks of the season while still recovering from a broken foot and 2020 first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk nursing a hamstring strain, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played every bit as uncomfortable as some feared he would without two of his starting receivers. And he nearly lost his superstar tight-end as the 49ers had an injury scare with Pro-Bowler George Kittle. 

As for the Cardinals who are much improved from a roster standpoint compared to where they were a season ago, Arizona was one of the busiest teams in the league over the offseason and easily made the biggest splash on offense with the acquisition of wide-out DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans. Pairing an elite receiver in his prime with a bright young talent like Kyler Murray should pay dividends as well as cause fits for the 49er defense for many years to come. Hopkins would waste no time making his presence felt with his new team as he hauled in a career-high 14 catches for 151 yards. The newest member of the Cards dwarfed his teammates in receiving yards as no other Cardinal tallied more than 34-yards. But it was the play-making ability of Murray that ultimately led to the 49er defense scratching their head after Week 1. 

San Francisco got off to a good start on both sides of the ball as a Robbie Gould field goal from 52-yards out got the Niners on the board early following their first possession. After a forced punt on Arizona's first possession, Garoppolo made quick work of the Cardinals defense as he found running back Raheem Mostert with a pass up the middle for a 76-yard touchdown, a career-long for both parties. Blowing by Arizona rookie Isaiah Simmons for the easy score, Mostert was clocked at a top speed of 22.73 mph on his way to the end zone, the fastest by a ball carrier since 2018. With another stop on defense, this time on a three and out, the 49ers seemed to be in business yet again before Arizona forced a three and out of their own that resulted in a blocked punt. One play later, the Cardinals cashed in on the miscue for a 10-yard touchdown by Chase Edmonds. Looking to extend their lead, the 49ers marched all the way down to the 1-yard line before a gutsy decision by head coach Kyle Shanahan to go for it on 4th and goal. Electing to hand it off, Mostert was stuffed at the goal line for a turnover on downs. Luckily for the 49ers, Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez missed his first of three field goal attempts which failed to tie the game. After an interception by Niners safety Jaquiski Tartt on Arizona's next possession, both teams would exchange field goals as San Francisco took a 13-10 lead into the half, despite going 0-for-6 on third down. 

The Cardinals would open the second half by suffering a second missed field goal by Gonzalez, but the Niners would fail to get much going on offense themselves as their only two possessions of the third quarter resulted in punts. Starting things off in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals would benefit from a costly unnecessary roughness penalty on a bogus late-hit call on the sliding Murray on 2nd and 21. The speedy Murray would eventually make the defense pay by using his legs to rush for a 22-yard touchdown to give Arizona their first lead of the day. In need of an answer, the 49ers would get just that in the form of a 5-yard touchdown reception by running back Jerrick McKinnon. Setup by a 41-yard connection from Garoppolo to his fullback Kyle Juszczyk, McKinnon who had gone 966 days since playing in his last game following multiple injuries and setbacks, scored his long-awaited first touchdown in a 49er uniform to put his team back on top. Trailing 20-17, Murray and the Cardinals offense continued to chip away at the 49er defense in the fourth quarter as Arizona had a DeAndre Hopkins touchdown erased as the replay review determined the receiver was down just shy of the goal line. Unbothered by the reversal, Kenyan Drake ran up the middle on the very next play to punch in the go-ahead score. 

Given one final chance with just over five minutes remaining, the 49ers had the clock in their favor and all three timeouts remaining if they had a last-minute come-from-behind win at home against Arizona in mind for the second consecutive season. Garoppolo and company would march to the 16-yard line with less than a minute remaining, before a pair of incomplete passes intended for Trent Taylor were broken up, resulting in a game-sealing turnover on downs. Though Garoppolo steered clear in the giveaway department, he made a few errant passes and took three sacks before finishing 19-of-33 for 259 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, while his counterpart completed 26-of-40 passes for 230 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. However, Murray's real damage came on the ground as he tallied a game-high 91 yards rushing to go along with his rushing touchdown. Kenyan Drake added another 60-yards on the ground on 16 carries. With the aforementioned DeAndre Hopkins leading the game in both receptions and receiving yards, Raheem Mostert lead the way in both receiving (95) and rushing yards (56) for San Francisco. 

Super Bowl hangover? Probably not, but it appears this unprecedented season without any preseason reps to help prep for could take longer to adjust to than initially thought for Kyle Shanahan's reigning NFC Champs. Also worth noting is just how much the team fed off of the raucous crowd of Levi's Stadium a season ago as the seats at Levi's were empty on Sunday and likely will be all season long due to the pandemic. The inability to convert on third downs early on and the team's failure to prevent Murray from running free and creating plays with his feet were ultimately what did the Niners in in the opener, not to mention their short-handed offense that clearly misses both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk in the receiving department. 

Let the early season overreaction begin! 

Week 2 Preview - The 49ers (0-1) will take to the road for the first time this season when they pay a visit to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to face the New York Jets (0-1) in Week 2. Coming off a 27-17 loss against the division rival Buffalo Bills, the Jets who will be without Le'Veon Bell (hamstring), will call upon future Hall of Fame running back Frank Gore whom 49er fans are quite familiar with as he spent 10 seasons with the franchise from 2005-2014 and was named to 5-Pro Bowls. The fan favorite who to this day still has a red and white photo of the No. 74 as his Twitter avatar to honor his former teammate and the recently retired Joe Staley, says he still holds the 49ers organization and their fans near and dear to his heart. The same could be said about Gore for the Faithful as the 37-year old back just surpassed Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith for the 3rd most games played in NFL history at the RB position (227). Having been at or near the bottom of the AFC Eastern Division standings for four of the past five seasons now, the Jets were absolutely obliterated in the time of possession battle in their Week 1 loss to Buffalo, as the Bills controlled the ball for 41:16 compared to New York's 18:44. However, if the Niners plan to have similar success with the ball in their possession, they'll need to do a much better job on 3rd down if they want to avoid falling in an early 0-2 hole, as they converted only 18% compared to Arizona's 50. After shipping away their best player in Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks, the Jets are a rebuilding team that is still multiple seasons away from truly contending for a division title. That said, I'd expect a big day for the 49er defense and an all around bounce back performance for Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco team, even if they're without tight-end George Kittle who suffered a sprained knee and will be further evaluated for Sunday's game. 

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LeBron, Lakers Poised to Return with sights on an NBA Title

With a return to the NBA season fast approaching and players and teams finally setting up shop in the "bubble" that is the enclosed environment in Orlando, Florida in which those participating will spend the next few months living, practicing and playing all games, sports fans will be relieved when the league's tips-off its return on July 31. All but eight teams have been invited and will resume the 2019-20 NBA season that came to a screeching halt and was suspended over four months ago back on March 11, following the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic that has since then taken the world by storm and rock the nation. These are unprecedented times that both the league and its players have never before encountered, and because of that, we're likely in store for a finish that will be unlike any we've ever seen and might not ever see again.

At the time of the league's stoppage, the Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) and Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) were at the top of their respective conferences in the NBA standings with the Lakers as the odds on favorite to win it all. And while those odds have not slipped thru the grasp of the Lake Show despite the layoff, one thing that could greatly change and witness a rise in stock if the Lakers were to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year, is the legacy of one LeBron James. With James already in the discussion of the game's all-time greats, many believe it's become a two-man debate between LeBron and his airness -- Michael Jordan. While LeBron's legacy continues to be etched, some pundits have ruled out James entirely and believe he's incapable of ever catapulting his way passed MJ for the top spot regardless of what he does from here on out, often pointing to the handful of Finals defeats LeBron has suffered throughout his career as his record stands at 3-6. But by the same token, those Finals appearances have to hold some water and stand for something as he's one of just six players to ever appear in eight straight NBA Finals, joining five players of the 1960's Boston Celtics. And while it might not be the be all end all defining achievement that allows LeBron to leapfrog Jordan for the title as the G.O.A.T., winning a championship in this pandemic-stricken season would certainly be a major feather in James' cap and would help strengthen his case tremendously.

As legendary as Jordan's career was, he never had to overcome an obstacle quite like the one created by the novel Corona Virus that has continued to cause more trouble than any opponent on the hardwood ever has. With home-court advantage no longer a factor, pre-game and post-game routines as good as gone and even something as simple as sleeping in ones own bed out of the picture, times are strange for today's NBA player as those leaving the bubble or those seen roaming about without a mask or face covering open themselves up for criticism, a fine, or even suspension as LeBron's Laker teammate Dwight Howard can vouch for. Howard who was seen congregating without a mask on, fell victim to the league's anonymous tip hotline earlier this week, a hotline put in place for players and league staff to report any wrongdoing committed by those in the bubble who aren't following the league's safety guidelines. LeBron and the Lakers have already lost one teammate caused by the pandemic in point guard Avery Bradley, citing health and safety concerns and can ill-afford to lose another. Not to mention point guard Rajon Rondo who will be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks while nursing a fractured right thumb suffered during practice just days into the team's arrival. Barring another stoppage caused by the virus, King James, as determined as ever after narrowing the gap and making strides in catching Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP race, will either have yet another chink in his armor or one more notch under his belt come seasons end.


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New Deals and Injuries headline Busy Week for 49ers

For the first time in 20 years, the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to extend the contract of their head coach, inking Kyle Shanahan to a new 6-year contract that will keep him at the helm of the franchise through the 2025 season. The new deal which replaces the three years remaining on Shanahan's previous contract, comes a year after he helped lead the Niners to an NFC-best 13-3 record and an NFC Championship. Despite losing a heart-breaker which saw the 49ers squander a 10-point lead with under 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Shanahan's Niners shocked the league by punching their ticket to Miami for the big game and nearly shocked the world by winning it before some late-game heroics by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. One of, if not the brightest young offensive minds in the league today, Shanahan is poised to finally coaching his team to a Super Bowl victory after coming oh so close twice now as the offensive coordinator with Atlanta in 2016 and this past season in San Francisco. And with a young crop of talent on both sides of the ball, the 49ers (7-1) are the front runners to represent the NFC in next year's Super Bowl and currently own the third best odds to win it, behind only the defending champion Chiefs (4-1) and last year's MVP in Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (13-2).

In his first three full seasons at the helm, the 40-year old Shanahan owns an overall record of 25-26 (including playoffs), following two turbulent seasons that included a rebuild as well as a myriad of injuries. But as they say, the third time was a charm for Shanny and co. as the team righted the ship and took off in 2019. The new deal which was offered by team owner Jed York, makes Shanahan one of the top-5 highest-paid coaches in the NFL, and marks the first time that a second pact has been offered to a 49ers head coach in over two decades since Steve Mariucci was offered a second contract by the team in 1999. With Shanahan and general manager John Lynch each signing matching six-year deals with San Francisco back in 2017, Lynch, who has also done a superb job since taking over the position, could very well be the next man up for a new contract in the 49ers front-office. In the meantime, Lynch has a tough task at hand in working out a contract extension for arguably the team's best player.

Next in line for a hefty payday with the 49ers is Pro Bowl tight-end George Kittle. Entering the last year of his rookie deal, Kittle, a former fifth round pick out of Iowa, is certain to reset the tight-end market as we know it as he and his agent have been fighting tooth and nail to get Kittle a new deal that will not only make him the highest paid at his position, but would also pay him for more than just a tight-end as Kittle's agent has expressed his desire to get his client paid like a receiver, given his blocking ability and the countless other things he brings to the table. Having averaged 87 receptions,more than 1,200 yards and 5 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Kittle's camp has a legitimate beef. While the demands would scare off most teams and with both sides being far apart in terms of figures according to early reports, Lynch has assured fans that both sides will eventually work something out and that Kittle, "isn't going anywhere."

Lastly, with the novel Corona virus pandemic dealing a blow to the offseason training programs by many teams and players, a number of 49ers were reunited in Nashville, Tennessee where they took part in pass catching drills. With the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo, Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Hurd and many others on hand, the team has been able to turn these uncharted and unprecedented times into a positive while continuing to build chemistry. However, one player that took part and wasn't so lucky is receiver Deebo Samuel. A second-round pick in last year's Draft, Deebo made quite the impression on the 49ers staff when he made a splash with the team and showcased his impressive versatility on offense. Having his workout cut short on Tuesday, Samuel suffered a broken foot that will require surgery and likely sideline him anywhere between 10 and 16 weeks. While the possibility of having Deebo back in time for the season-opener still remains, the injury definitely puts a fire under a handful of receivers the Niners will certainly need contributions from in Dante Pettis, 2020 first round pick Brandon Aiyuk and the aforementioned Bourne and Hurd who missed all of his rookie season last year while nursing back problems.

In his first season last year out of South Carolina, Samuel averaged 14.1 yards per catch and caught 57 balls for 802 yards and 3 touchdowns, trailing only Kittle in those categories, while also adding 159 yards and three TD's on the ground.


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NFL Releases 2020 Regular Season Schedule for 49ers

Opening the season at home for the first time since 2017, the San Francisco 49ers who were awarded the 4th-toughest strength of schedule and hardest in the NFC based on last season's standings, begin their self-proclaimed, "revenge tour" and quest for Championship number six at Levi's Stadium where they welcome in the division rival Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. After sweeping the season series against the Cards a season ago, despite both games being a dog fight that came down to the wire, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers team will likely see one of the most upgraded rosters in 2020 from a season ago in their first of two meetings on the year. 

The Arizona Cardinals finished in last place in arguably the toughest division in the league (NFC West) at 5-10-1.

Facing opponents from the Eastern Division in both conferences in 2020, Week 2 will see the 49ers take a trip to New Jersey where they'll play the first of back to back away games at MetLife Stadium. The first of which coming against the New York Jets in a reunion with 49ers all-time leading rusher Frank Gore. Number three on the NFL's all-time rushing list, Gore, a future Hall of Famer who did most of his damage in a 49er uniform and will undoubtedly have his number enshrined in Santa Clara one day, has not shied away from publicly expressing his love for the 49ers organization and will have a chance to remind them of his greatness when he takes second-string duties in the backfield behind Le'Veon Bell.

The New York Jets were 7-9 without their starting quarterback for much of the year and finished in third place in the AFC East. 

Week 3 the 49ers wrap up their two week stay in the New York-New Jersey area by facing the Giants who have alternated wins with San Francisco in each of their previous five bouts. After finishing 4-12 a season ago, the Giants are preparing for life after Eli Manning as the newly retired, 2-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback has officially handed over the reigns to second-year QB Daniel Jones whom the G-Men selected with the 6th overall pick in last year's Draft. Having undergone a bit of a makeover, 2020 will mark the Giants' first year under head coach Joe Judge who's the latest member of the Bill Belichick head coaching tree to land a top job in the NFL. 

Finishing third in the NFC East were the New York Giants at 4-12.

The 49ers return home to Levi's Stadium in Week 4 to host the Philadelphia Eagles in their first of five prime time games scheduled in 2020. One of six playoff teams from a season ago that San Francisco is slated to face this year, coach Kyle Shanahan and company will see a familiar face on the other sideline in receiver Marquise Goodwin who was traded to Philly on day 3 of April's Draft. Last year's winners of the NFC East, the Eagles are near the top of the list in terms of easiest strength of schedule for 2020, with a trip to San Francisco figuring to be one of the lone bumps in the road for head coach Doug Peterson's squad.  

Philadelphia is coming off a 9-7 record that was still good enough to top the NFC Eastern Division.

One of the busier teams in bolstering their roster this offseason has been the Miami Dolphins whom the 49ers will welcome to Levi's Stadium for the first time in the stadium's history in Week 5. The trip out west also marks Miami's first road game against the Niners since 2012. The 49ers look to even their record against the 'Fins who currently own a 6-7 overall edge against SF in head-to-head match-ups. One of the newest members of the Dolphins who hopes to spoil those plans for San Francisco is the newly acquired Matt Breida who was dealt on Day 3 of this year's draft after spending three productive seasons with the Niners who signed Breida as an un-drafted free-agent in 2017.

The Miami Dolphins were dead last in the AFC East at 5-11, but began stringing wins together towards the end of the season.

Renewing rivalries with the Rams, the 49ers will square off in a prime time game against Los Angeles for the second consecutive season and the first on Sunday Night Football since 2004. A battle between the last two NFC Champions, the 49ers will look to continue their recent success against head coach Sean McVay's Rams team as the 49ers closeout their three-game homestand in Week 6.

The L.A. Rams followed a first place finish in 2018 with a third place finish a year later in 2019 at 9-7 overall.

Hitting the road again, the 49ers pay their first visit to Foxborough, Massachusetts since 2012 to face Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in what will be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's first crack at his former team. With Tom Brady no longer in the picture, it'll be interesting to see who we see under center for the Pats out of former-49er Brian Hoyer who's entering his third stint with the team and second-year QB Jarrett Stidham. With recent rumors leaked and confirmed by 49ers GM John Lynch that Belichick had countered and offered to trade Tom Brady instead of Garoppolo before the deal that eventually sent Jimmy G to the Bay Area in 2017, it's quite possible that the phone call between the two parties was what sparked the beginning of the end of Brady's time in New England.

The Patriots finished atop the AFC East for the 11th consecutive season in 2019 at 12-4, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Tennessee. 

2019 saw the long awaited snap of an 8-game losing streak at Seattle against the archrival Seahawks on the final week of the regular season which ultimately won the NFC Western Division and secured the No. 1 seed in the conference for San Francisco. Looking to make it two straight wins in the Pacific Northwest, the 49ers who always seem to have their hands full at CenturyLink Field, are hoping things will be much easier in 2020. But as long as Russell Wilson is taking snaps for Seattle, it's unlikely that'll be the case as we should be in store for another bruising battle up north in Week 8.

One of the two Wild Card teams in 2019, the Seattle Seahawks finished second in the NFC Western Division by logging another strong record under head coach Pete Carroll at 11-5.

In their only Thursday Night tilt of the season, the 49ers once again welcome Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the first ever TNF match-up between the two franchises. With San Francisco getting the better half of Green Bay in both meetings last season by way of double-digit beat downs, including a dominant 37-8 win in the NFC Championship game, Rodgers will try to right the ship against the team he grew up rooting for as the 49ers and Packers face off for a third consecutive season for the first time since 1998-2000. And with the Packers drafting Rodgers' likely successor during April's Draft in Utah State QB Jordan Love, expect to see A-Rod playing with a chip on his shoulder in 2020. 

An impressive 13-3 record under rookie head coach Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers were the top dog in the NFC North at 13-3.

Continuing the gauntlet of formidable NFC foes, the 49ers head to the Big Easy in a match-up that will be anything but versus Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. One of the more exciting games played all of last season when these two teams met in December, it was the 49ers who escaped the Superdome with a 48-46 victory. One player who helped San Francisco come out on top in that thrilling back and forth game, was receiver Emmanuel Sanders who signed a 2-year pact with the Saints. One of the hardest stadiums to come out victorious as a visiting team, the 49ers have won three of the past four meetings in N.O.

Matching the 49ers and Packers for the best record in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints logged a 13-3 record to win the NFC South, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota. 

After a bizarre and very early Week 4 BYE in 2019, the 49ers return to a more familiar Week 11 BYE in 2020, marking their third Week 11 BYE in the last four years for San Francisco.

Closing out their season series against the Rams, the 49ers who are winners in three of four meetings in L.A. since the team's return to southern California in 2016, will try adding another feather in their cap against their long-time rivals, but in a new home as the Rams prepare to open the gates to their nearly $5 billion dollar SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Rams coach Sean McVay hopes the stadium's inaugural season will be successful one as he hopes to see a rebound year from his team that finished 2019 with a disappointing 9-7 record just a year removed from a Super Bowl appearance of their own.

Returning home, the 49ers look to add to their all-time wins record on Monday Night Football with win no. 50 as they host the Buffalo Bills in San Francisco's one and only appearance on MNF in 2020. With the Bills making their first ever trip to Levi's Stadium, it'll mark the first time since the 2012 season that the Niners will play host to a Buffalo team that enters their 2020 campaign as the AFC East favorites for the first time in over a decade with Tom Brady no longer in the mix.

On the heels of the Patriots for much of 2019, the Buffalo Bills finished second in the AFC East at 10-6. Representing the AFC as a Wild Card team, the Bills once again failed to win their first playoff game since 1995. 

In one of the uglier games played in 2019 which featured a low score, lots of rain, plenty of mud and a ton of defense when the 49ers took a trip to Landover, Maryland to take on the Washington Redskins, it's unlikely we'll see only 9-points scored or similar weather conditions in the 2020 rematch as things shift to San Francisco for Week 14. The game will showcase newly acquired 49er Trent Williams squaring off against his former team following a rocky relationship between player and the team's medical staff which ultimately led to a holdout and eventual trade request granted on day 3 of last month's Draft. It will also be the first season under newly hired head coach Ron Rivera. 

At 3-13, the Washington Redskins finished at the bottom of the NFC East with the worst record in the conference. 

Rivalries renew for two of the NFL's most historic franchises when the San Francisco 49ers head to the Lone Star State to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. Surprisingly, the two are slated for a prime time meeting on Sunday Night Football for the first time since 1990. Under new head coach Mike McCarthy who served as the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2005, Dallas hopes to have found a guy who can get them into the playoffs and coach them beyond the NFC Divisional Round, something Jason Garrett was unable to accomplish in his 9+ seasons at the helm. One familiar face 49er fans will see on the other sideline is defensive-end Aldon Smith who was a star on San Francisco's defense from 2012-2014 before running into a series of DUI and domestic violence troubles that eventually led his release from the team. Out of NFL action since 2017, Smith signed with the Cowboys this offseason after being reinstated by the league.

Coming down to the final game of the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys just missed out on a playoff berth by finishing behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East at 8-8 which ultimately led to the team not renewing the contract of head coach Jason Garrett who agreed to an offensive coordinator position with the rival Giants. 

After snapping an 8-game losing streak to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, San Francisco looks to create and add to a winning streak of their own against the redbirds down in the desert in Week 16. Meanwhile, with some new weapons on offense such as DeAndre Hopkins, quarterback Kyler Murray hopes to improve off his impressive rookie campaign in 2019 which won him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, opposite of Nick Bosa who was taken one spot behind him in the Draft and took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

For the second straight season, the 49ers will closeout their regular season against the hated Seattle Seahawks, only this time in San Francisco. With the fate of the division crown coming down to the final game of the regular season between these two teams in 2019, Kyle Shanahan and company hope to repeat as division winners, but certainly not in the same fashion, as they'd much rather clinch before their final regular season bout. And with each of their last two meetings at Levi's heading to overtime, who knows what fireworks will ensue this time around.

Having finished the 2019 regular season with a record of 13-3 which was tops in the NFC, not many pundits (hell, none of them really) had expected this young 49ers team to win as many games as they did or make it to the Super Bowl as they had developed and performed ahead of schedule. Now coming off a dominant 2019 campaign and appearance in the final game of the season, teams will be gunning for the reigning NFC Champs who will have a target on their back as the team that everyone in the league will want to beat and one that will certainly get the very best from their opponent come gameday. Even then, coach Shanahan who's entering his fourth season at the helm, has a very young core of talent, especially on the defensive side of things, which will see the return of 10 of 11 starters from a season ago. That said, I'm predicting a repeat total in the win column at 13-3, even in spite of their tough schedule which trails only the (1) Patriots, (2) Jets and (3) Dolphins as the most difficult in terms of strength of schedule for the upcoming season. 

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49ers Say Goodbye to Staley, Welcome Williams in Busy Day 3 of 2020 Draft

While the San Francisco 49ers were missing in action in Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft without a single pick in Rounds 2 or 3, the team more than made up for that quiet Friday with a busy Day 3 on Saturday. Just before the Cincinnati Bengals kicked things off with the first selection of the 3rd Round and 65th pick overall, 49ers general manager John Lynch made a splash by trading for disgruntled Washington Redskins left-tackle Trent Williams. The 31-year old Williams who did not play in 2019 after he and his agent demanded a trade following a series of trust issues with the team's medical staff that stemmed from a cancerous tumor that Williams had surgically removed in April of last year. After initially being told by team doctors back in 2013 that the diagnosis was nothing to worry about, Williams refused to play for the club that was unable to work a deal with another team. That was until this morning when John Lynch came calling.

A 7-time Pro Bowler who lands in San Francisco with one-year and $12.5 Million dollars remaining on his contract, Williams is quite familiar with Kyle Shanahan's offense as the current 49ers head coach was with Washington in 2010 as the team's offensive coordinator when the Redskins selected Williams out of Oklahoma with the 4th overall pick. Known for his outstanding footwork and athletic ability, Williams nearly landed with the Minnesota Vikings who were reportedly in deep talks with Washington before things fell through which ultimately allowed for San Francisco to come into the picture and nab him. Aside from his stellar and consistent play while protecting the quarterback, Williams is also most famous for an altercation that took place between him and a player he'll now share a locker room with. Williams was hit with an $8,000 fine after taking a swipe at former Seattle Seahawk and soon to be fellow teammate Richard Sherman following the Redskins' loss to Seattle in the 2012 NFC Wild Card game. The two took to Twitter and had a good laugh about the incident shortly after 49ers owner Jed York welcomed Williams to the team which prompted Sherman to ask for a rematch.

The acquisition of Williams which was already a major addition to the team, grew exponentially in significance just moments later as it was learned that long-time 49er and 6-time Pro Bowl left-tackle Joe Staley was retiring from the game of football at the age of 35 due to health concerns. A former first round pick of the 49ers in 2007, Staley played all 13 NFL seasons in San Francisco after they made him the 28th overall pick out of Central Michigan. Named to the NFL's 2010 All-Decade Team just a week earlier, Staley was a 3-time All-Pro with the Niners while playing 192 games that spanned over seven different head coaches. Following the disappoint loss in Super Bowl 54 in which the 49ers let a 10-point, fourth quarter lead slip through their hands, Staley was without question the one player who took the upsetting loss the hardest, at least in the public eye. It won't be long before Staley's No. 74 is retired by the team and hung up in the rafters of Levi's Stadium for all to see. Since 2011, Staley has been the highest-rated left-tackle in all of football with a grade of 93.8. But not far behind him was Trent Williams at No. 4 with a 92.5 grade. As saddened as the team and fans will be with Staley now on his way out, Williams will be plugged into that void immediately with fresh legs under him following the time off.

In the trade for Williams, the 49ers sent their 5th round pick (156th overall) and a 2021 3rd round pick to Washington. It would end up being the first of three trades executed by John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan as they also sent running back Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins for a 5th round pick and managed to jettison the contract of Marquise Goodwin by shipping him and a 6th round pick (210) to Philadelphia for their 6th round pick (190). Both Breida and Goodwin were expected to be big contributors to the 49er offense in 2019, but injuries would limit both players on the field last season. While Breida was often hurt and had both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman to split running back duties with, Goodwin was frequently sidelined for both personal reasons and injury problems. After a strong 2017 campaign in which he was on the doorstep of 1,000 yards receiving before falling just shy with 962, the former Olympic speedster was given a new expensive three-year deal that he continuously failed to live up to.

Rounding out their busy Day 3 of the Draft, the 49ers made 5th, 6th and 7th round selections with picks No. 153, 190 and 217 to select West Virginia offensive-tackle Colton McKivitz, Georgia tight-end Charlie Woerner and Tennessee wide-receiver Jauan Jennings, respectively. With McKivitz and Jennings brought in to provide depth and possibly compete for a starting job, Woerner who was the No. 1 rated run-blocking tight-end in the entire draft class, will likely find himself in a nice run-blocking role for Kyle Shanahan's offense, following the departures of tight-ends Garrett Celek and Levine Toilolo. Similar to San Francisco's 25th overall selection Brandon Aiyuk who Shanahan acquired for his YAC (yards after catch) ability, Jennings brings a similar skill-set, having averaged 14.7 YAC for the Vols in 2019, while also adding some physicality and strength as his 30 forced missed tackles were the most among all NCAA wide-receivers last season. 


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49ers Select Kinlaw, Aiyuk in 1st Round of 2020 NFL Draft

Last night's 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any we've ever seen before. With everyone from commissioner Roger Goodell to the team's coaches, general managers and even the draft prospects themselves isolated at home and tapping in thru live television feeds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL still managed to pull off a successful opening night to the draft during this unprecedented time. And while there were a few slight bumps in the road such as a lack of details when teams would trade in and out of draft picks to move up and down on the draft board, it was nice to finally have some sort of sports entertainment to feed our hunger, even if only for a few days.

One of only four teams to possess more than one pick in the first round entering the draft, the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers came into Day 1 of the draft with two picks under their belt -- pick No. 13 via the Indianapolis Colts and their original pick at No. 31. Leading up to the big day, general manager John Lynch was very open about both picks being available to teams that were interested in trading up. But it wasn't until San Francisco was on the clock at pick 13 that Lynch pulled the trigger to give us our first trade of the night. Moving up one spot to nab Iowa offensive-tackle Tristan Wirfs were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who decided to protect their new investment in quarterback Tom Brady. In the move, the 49ers also dealt a 7th round pick (No. 245) to Tampa, while acquiring the 14th overall pick as well as a 4th rounder (No. 117). After trading one spot out of the 13th pick which was received from Indy in the DeForest Buckner trade, the 49ers used their first pick of the night to find Buckner's cheaper and younger replacement in South Carolina defensive-tackle Javon Kinlaw. A senior and 3-year starter with the Gamecocks, Kinlaw has been repeatedly praised in the days leading up to the draft for the explosive first step he's able to gain on the opposition at the line and his impressive abilities in spite of his large 6-foot, 5-inch, 324 lb. frame. With a nonstop motor that continues until the sound of the whistle, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have yet another young prospect to work with and develop in bolstering an already stout defensive front.

Though it wasn't the sexy wide receiver pick many fans thought they'd see and most mock drafts had projected the 49ers selecting, especially with both Jerry Jeudy and Ceedee Lamb still available, it was a pick that made plenty of sense. After jettisoning Buckner who was on the last year of his contract and was going to demand a hefty payday that would've put San Francisco in a bind with teammates Arik Armstead entering free agency and tight-end George Kittle next in line for a contract-extension, the front-office did what they had to in order to withhold as many assets as they could at the cheapest cost possible. Rated by many NFL scouts and sources as being a top 10 prospect, Lynch and Shanahan found their man in Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick. One guy who wasn't too please the 49ers took Kinlaw at 14, was a guy who knows a thing or two about disrupting the quarterback on defense in Pro Bowler Von Miller. The Broncos outside linebacker had recorded his own live feed from home while reacting to picks, and was jumping around and yelling in frustration as he had hoped Kinlaw, a first-team AP All-American in 2019, fell to Denver at pick 15, "They're greedy! That was my pick! That's who I wanted," he went on to say.

However, the team's busy night of trading would not end there. While many expected San Francisco to trade out of the 31st pick to acquire more draft capital considering they entered day 1 without a single draft pick in rounds 2 thru 4, they would instead trade up from the 31st pick to the 25th spot where coach Shanahan would find his newest toy on offense. In need of a receiver to fill the void left by Emmanuel Sanders who agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers sent picks 31, 117 and 176 to the Minnesota Vikings in return for the 25th pick which they would use to select Arizona State wide-out Brandon Aiyuk. Possessing an 81-inch wingspan, the longest of any player under 6-foot in combine history, Aiyuk averaged 9.9 YAC (yards after catch) which ranked first among all receivers in his draft class. But as good as he was on offense for the Sun Devils, he also poses a threat on special-teams in punt returns where he'll likely takeover duties this season. Interestingly enough, Shanahan admitted after the first round that he and Lynch considered taking Aiyuk at pick 13 or 14 before he eventually fell into their lap at 25, feeling the need to trade up from 31 as the former Arizona State alum likely would've been off the board by then they feared. 

In what was a rather bland opening round to the Draft in the family reaction department, the Kinlaw's, specifically Javon's father, provided arguably the best reaction of the night when he hit the floor and rolled around in excitement upon hearing his son's name called. It was little moments like that that we all needed in a time like this and just one more reason that we all can't wait to get back to a sense of normalcy and the game of football.

The 2020 NFL Draft continues with Rounds 2 & 3 on Friday with San Francisco projected to pick up the action again on Saturday in Rounds 4 thru 7.


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49ers Bring Back Armstead, Deal Buckner

Amid the craziness that is the Coronavirus pandemic that has taken the globe by storm and halted the sports world as we know in its tracks, Monday served as the first busy day of the NFL's 2020-21 calendar year. Just 24 hours after players and league owners came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement that will improve the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14, as well as ensure 10 more years of labor peace (at least for now) among many other things, the free-agent frenzy and a number of blockbuster trades, allowed for us to take a quick breather from the more serious matters at hand. With the NCAA's March Madness officially cancelled, both the NBA and NHL seasons in a standstill and Major League Baseball not expected to begin their season until at least mid-May, it was the NFL that once again reigned supreme in a nation that absolutely loves its football and is currently starving for any sort of sports entertainment.

Just two days before the official start of NFL free agency, things began to take shape when a pair of major moves were made out west as one of the league's toughest divisions in the NFC West appears to have gotten even tougher. Following the groundbreaking news of the Houston Texans sending superstar receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals to catch balls from last year's No. 1 overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year -- Kyler Murray, the archrival 49ers made a splash of their own in hopes of maintaining a stranglehold on the division for years to come. With a number of play-makers on San Francisco's star-studded defensive-line, the reigning NFC Champion 49ers were forced to pick and choose between a pair of good friends and former college teammates dating back to their days at the University of Oregon. After selecting Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner in consecutive drafts with their first round picks in 2015 and 2016 respectively, the 49ers made the two former Oregon Ducks teammates once again, helping them assemble the most devastating defensive front in all of football last season which led the way to the team making a Super Bowl appearance under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. But like all good things that must come to an end, the team would not be able to afford paying everyone after shelling out over $87 Million last offseason to defensive-end Dee Ford and drafting rookie sensation Nick Bosa who took home the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick.

With Armstead becoming a free-agent and Buckner entering the final year of his contract this coming season, 49ers brass would be forced to choose from one or the other. Not only would GM John Lynch and company go with the much cheaper option in Armstead, but they also went with the option that made the most sense long-term. With Buckner being the odd man out, San Francisco sent their former No. 7 overall pick and arguably the centerpiece to their defense to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the No. 13 pick in next month's draft. In need of a defensive lineman to compliment their superstar linebacker in Darius Leonard, Indy quickly made Buckner the second-highest paid defensive player in the league by inking him to a multi-year deal that will pay him $21 Million per, trailing only L.A.'s Aaron Donald in annual salary. In his four seasons in the league with the 49ers, Buckner tallied 28.5 sacks while earning Pro Bowl honors in 2018. While Buckner is clearly the more superior pass rusher here and has the more impressive track record, his asking price was going to be too expensive for the Niners' taste and therefore it made all the sense in the world to deal him now and at least get something in return, opposed to letting him walk after next season. Not to mention how needy the 49ers are for draft capital as they did not receive any compensatory draft picks this year and are without a single pick in rounds 2 thru 4 which have proven to be the rounds Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have built this team on in their 3+ seasons at the helm.

Having mainly underwhelmed in his previous four seasons with the team, Armstead had a career year in 2019-20 and benefited from having the perfect cast around him which allowed him to propel on the field and helped him accomplish a career-high 10 sacks on the year. Thriving in what was a memorable season for San Francisco's defense, Armstead just got a lot richer as the team signed him to a new five-year, $85 Million dollar deal with $48.5 Million in guarantees. Whether or not the 49ers intend to use one of their now two first round picks at No. 13 and 31 to find Buckner's replacement is anyone's guess at this point, as D.J. Jones who impressed last season before being bit by the injury bug, is also a viable option. Then again Lynch could always revert to using one of the picks as trade bait to land even more picks like he's done so often in his brief but impressive career as a general manager. By jettisoning Buckner's contract from their payroll, the team was able to clear up the salary flexibility to make moves such as re-signing free-safety Jimmie Ward to a 3-year deal worth $28.5 Million. The move to bring back the often injury-prone Ward who the 49ers made their 30th pick in the 2014 Draft, enjoyed his best and most healthy season in 2019 and was San Francisco's second top priority among their own free-agents, behind only Armstead, which now guarantees the return of 10 of 11 defensive starters from last year.

With more deals expected to come, other key free-agents on the Niners include: WR Kendrick Bourne, RB Matt Breida and WR Emmanuel Sanders.


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49ers Blow Late Lead, Fall in Super Bowl LIV

Heading into Super Bowl 54, there were plenty of story lines to tickle your fancy. If its superstar quarterbacks you like, look no further as no QB match-up in the history of the Super Bowl featured two players with a higher winning percentage than that of San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo and Kansas City's reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. If head coaches are more your style, you'd be treated to two of the best minds the game has ever seen, both old school and new. If you prefer big-time play-makers on offense, take your pick as both teams featured a plethora of players in the receiver, tight-end and running back departments capable of making the highlight reel. If it was defense you desired, the 49ers showcased one of the best young defenses we've seen in years. And for three and a half quarters, that defense would look the part. Unfortunately, as we've witnessed all too often, if you don't show up for all four quarters in the NFL, you're likely to lose. That's unless your team possesses one Patrick Mahomes.

No stranger to winning the big game in Miami, the San Francisco 49ers who had claimed two of their five Super Bowl titles in the Magic City, were hoping to make it a third on Sunday while donning their white away uniforms. In comparison, the Kansas City Chiefs were out to get their second title in franchise history while making their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years. Winning the coin-toss and electing to differ, things began looking up for Kyle Shanahan's 49ers squad who after forcing Kansas City to punt on a three and out, were able to strike first and get on the scoreboard early. Thanks to a big play on the ground by rookie receiver Deebo Samuel, the Niners crossed midfield, but were unable to reach the red zone and had to settle for a Robbie Gould field goal. Inspired by San Francisco's 10-play drive that took nearly six minutes, Mahomes and company did them one better by orchestrating a 15-play drive that chewed up almost seven and a half minutes and ended with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Mahomes himself. Any hopes of a response from Garoppolo would be shot down rather quickly as the 49er QB hurried a pass after feeling the pressure of a potential sack and fluttered the ball up in the air and into the arms of a Chiefs defender who came up with the interception. Taking advantage of the early turnover, K.C. increased their lead with a field goal.

Like he's done so often this season, Garoppolo shook off the early interception with a touchdown-scoring drive that would tie the game at 10-all. Having relied heavily on his fullback for his run-blocking prowess, Jimmy G awarded him with a touchdown reception as Kyle Juszczyk made the catch, fought off a defender and plunged into the end zone for the 15-yard score. With the fullback position deemed a dying breed in today's NFL, it would be the first TD scored by a fullback in the Super Bowl since Tampa Bay's Mike Alstott in Super Bowl 37. Getting the ball back following a K.C. punt, the 49ers had a chance to retake the lead heading into the half as just 59 seconds remained. In possession of two of their three timeouts, coach Shanahan didn't appear all that interested until third down as he drew up running plays on each of their first two downs. It wasn't until a 20-yard pass to fourth-string running back Jeff Wilson Jr. that Shanny and the Niner offense began taking things serious before halftime. With 14-seconds left, Garoppolo connected on a 42-yard pass to his tight-end George Kittle that would've put San Francisco in field goal range. Instead, Kittle would be flagged for a rather questionable offensive pass interference call that turned a 42-yard gain into a 10-yard loss that ended the half. In only the fourth Super Bowl to ever feature a tie game at the half and first since Super Bowl 49, the 49er defense would hold the Chiefs offense to their fewest first half point total of the season in preparation of a wild second half.

Opening the third quarter the same way as the first, the 49ers managed to take a 13-10 lead with Robbie Gould's second field goal of the night. Looking to make their first stamp of the game on defense, rookie sensation Nick Bosa nearly caused the first Chiefs turnover when he stripped the ball from the hands of Mahomes who was quick to recover the fumble. However, Mahomes wouldn't be as lucky on the next play as the 49ers would get their turnover in the form of a Fred Warner interception as he jumped in front of a pass intended for Tyreke Hill. Cashing in on the rare quarterback miscue which marked Mahomes' first career postseason interception, running back Raheem Mostert plowed his way into the end zone for a touchdown. Mahomes would be intercepted for a second time on the very next drive as a pass thrown behind the receiver went off the hands of Hill and into the arms of safety Tarvarius Moore who collected his first career pick. With a chance to blow the game open, San Francisco's offense was unable to do anything with the Chiefs' second consecutive turnover as K.C. was given another chance. And like they've shown on multiple occasions this year and more specifically this postseason, Mahomes and company would capitalize on that opportunity and make the opposition pay.

With under nine minutes remaining and Kansas City starring down a 10-point deficit, Andy Reid's offense would take us on a roller coaster ride that caught the emotions of both teams' fans and players alike. No one play would exemplify that more than a pivotal 3rd and 15 play that would turn the tide and shift all momentum from the side of San Francisco to that of Kansas City. Converting on the third and long, Mahomes lobbed a strike to the speedy Hill who got behind the defense with a 44-yard reception that ultimately broke both the back and the spirit of the Niner D. On what would be the most important play of the game, K.C. appeared to get away with a holding call as Nick Bosa applied pressure to the QB but was taken out of the play by offensive-tackle Eric Fisher. Following consecutive incompletions, a crucial pass interference penalty against Moore on Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce turned a would-be 4th and 10 from the 21 yard-line into a 1st and goal from the 1. One play later, Kelce would not be denied as he was left all alone in the back of the end zone where Mahomes would find him for the easy score. Holding on for dear life with their 10-point lead cut to just 3 at the 6:17 mark, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers began to appear as if they were playing not to lose opposed to playing to win.

With a three and out coming at the worst possible time for the Niner offense, the Chiefs began clicking once again with everything working in their favor as Mahomes slipped a potential sack from Bosa to find Kelce for the first down. Two plays later, receiver Sammy Watkins used his quickness to breeze by Richard Sherman and catch a pass in stride for a 38 yard reception. It was at that moment that you knew it was only a matter of time before K.C. took the lead and whether or not San Francisco would have enough time of their own to try and answer. Facing 3rd and goal, running back Damien Williams caught a pass and extended the ball over the goal-line just enough to break the plain for the go-ahead touchdown before stepping out of bounds. From leading 20-10 to trailing 24-20 in a matter of minutes, the 49ers suddenly found themselves in unfamiliar territory and in need of a touchdown-scoring drive. With the two-minute warning approaching and all three timeouts remaining, the 49ers appeared to have K.C. right where they wanted them. And a 17-yard carry by Mostert on 1st down gave us a flash of what we thought was a sign of things to come and a repeat of what ultimately led the Niners through each of their previous two playoff wins spearheaded by the dominant run-game. Instead, that game plan would be abandoned.

Having relied heavily on the running aspect of the offense, Mostert's carry on the first play of the drive would be the last rushing attempt by the 49er offense. Following a false start penalty by Emmanuel Sanders that would bring up 1st and 15, Shanahan called for six consecutive passing plays. Facing 3rd and 10 near midfield following a pair of tipped and batted down passes, Garoppolo dropped back and chucked a bomb to Sanders who had broke free of the secondary. Overthrown on the pass, the possibility of a game-winning touchdown reception in the final minutes would leave Niner fans wondering, "what if?" And on 4th and 10 with the play clock at 0, Garoppolo would be sacked for the turnover on downs. Adding salt to the wound, the Chiefs would take advantage of a winded 49er defense to put the final nail in the coffin as Damien Williams broke for a 38-yard rushing touchdown. Facing their largest deficit of the game trailing 31-20 and in need of a miracle, K.C. would apply the dagger into the hearts of Niner fans as Kendall Fuller intercepted a pass from Garoppolo to seal the deal.

Snubbed by his own quarterback for Super Bowl MVP honors, Chiefs running back Damien Williams rushed for 104 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries, while also adding 29 yards and a receiving touchdown on 4 receptions. Tyreke Hill led all receivers in receiving yards (105) and receptions (9), and Patrick Mahomes out dueled Jimmy Garoppolo by throwing for 286 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions to Jimmy G's 219 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. By taking home the hardware, Mahomes is the first player in NFL history under the age of 25 to be named both league MVP and Super Bowl MVP and win a Super Bowl, and just the second youngest QB to win a Super Bowl (Ben Roethlisberger). Not nearly as lethal as he was in the NFC Championship game against Green Bay, 49ers running back Raheem Mostert still averaged close to 5 yards per carry by rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts (4.8 avg). Last but not least, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid captures his first career title that has long illuded him and took him 21 seasons to accomplish as he becomes the 6th oldest head coach to win a Super Bowl at 61 years, 320 days. Winning the big one would be a long time coming for Chiefs fans who've anxiously waited to see their team hoist the Lombardi Trophy exactly 50 years in the making.

As for the 49ers who all season long had celebrated the 25th anniversary of their last title during the 1994 season, fans like myself are still waiting and hope to one day see the team return to glory like they did oh so often during the 80's and 90's. With only three losses in the regular season, all of which coming by single-digits and on the final play of the game, Sunday's outcome which the final score would not reflect given the last-minute touchdown, would be a different kind of hurt for the 49er faithful. After all, it's not the loss that hurts, but rather the fashion in which they lost. Nevertheless, players like George Kittle and DeForest Buckner are already counting down the days until next season and like their chances of returning to the Super Bowl in what they're calling their, "redemption tour."

What went Wrong - Though I'm not one to blame a loss on poor officiating, there were several head-scratching calls that I thought put a dent in San Francisco's chances of winning this game. But even then, they should've still won. To me, there wasn't one reason or thing that led to San Francisco's downfall, but rather a combination of things that led to them shooting themselves in the foot. Though there was a mixture of poor clock-management and bad play-calling in my opinion on behalf of the coaching staff, the on-field execution in the fourth quarter by the quarterback was equally to blame for their collapse. Ultimately what it boils down to at the end of the day whether true or false, is Jimmy G will be looked upon as a liability despite the team's 4-20 record without him under the current regime, and that this is the second game now in which a Shanahan-led offense has built a large lead in the biggest game of his team's life, only to let it slip away in the second half. The overthrown pass by Garoppolo to Sanders wasn't the only missed opportunity late by the QB, only the most visible as George Kittle was also left open on several plays but either never had the ball thrown his way or the ball was batted down at the line of scrimmage before it could get to him. And then there's the simple thought of continuing to feed running back Raheem Mostert who played a large role in helping the 49er offense get to the Super Bowl in the first place.

A look Ahead - If there is such a thing for a heartbroken fan base that could almost taste the champagne of victory, making sense of the gut-punch that is defeat, is best done when looking at the glass as half full. At least in the case of this young San Francisco team. After becoming just the third franchise to punch their ticket to a Super Bowl after winning only 4-games the previous season, albeit following a season-ending injury at the quarterback position three weeks into the year, it's hard not to believe that this won't be the first of many Super Bowl appearances to come for this young squad. Though nothing is ever granted in the sport of football, San Francisco possesses the perfect ingredients to make playing on Super Bowl Sunday an ongoing trend. While it does not take away from the sting and disappointment of the loss itself for a team that was mere minutes and a blown 10-point lead away from hoisting a record-tying sixth Lombardi trophy, it does make for a positive outlook in the foreseeable future. After playing in a Super Bowl that the 49ers really had no business being in if you stop and think about the blueprints of this team that has performed and developed ahead of schedule up to this point, you'd have to think that greener pastures lie ahead. Not to mention 2019-20 marked the first full year for Jimmy Garoppolo as a starter and in this offense. With the brain trust of Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch entering year four of their six year deals and a nucleus of young talent on both sides of the ball in place for many years to come, the 49ers are in prime position to be perennial contenders for the better part of the next decade. However, things won't be easy in their own backyard of the NFC West which has proven to be one of if not the toughest division in all of football. With the Los Angeles Rams only a year removed from making a Super Bowl appearance of their own and Russell Wilson continuing to put up MVP-caliber seasons for Seattle, the Arizona Cardinals are not to be slept on and are expected to be much improved in year two of Kyle Murray and Kliff Kingsbury's careers.


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