The invincibility streak is over. The San Francisco 49ers lost 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons, and they did it in the most 49ers way possible: three turnovers, a missed extra point and a parade of defensive penalties on the drive that decided it. Yes, they were hurt and a loss was expected, but it was a brutal display of mistakes they simply couldn’t afford to make. Going even further, even with backups, these were also very unusual errors.
To make matters worse, the 49ers special teams picked a bad time to remind themselves that they were 49ers special teams, with atrocious kickoff coverage allowing the Falcons to start with good field position.
It started well. Running back Christian McCaffrey ripped off chunks on a 10-play opening touchdown run, and when a hamstring injury sent him to the sideline, rookie running back Kaelon Black ran in a 30-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 lead. His first touchdown, mind you.
Then the giveaways started, the 49ers’ lead was destroyed, and everything bad that could happen happened.
After all the gifts, 29-20. The 49ers have two games off against the Seattle Seahawks and are in desperate need of recovery.
Seattle Seahawks beat embarrassed the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 on Sunday Night Football. This leaves the Minnesota Vikings as the only undefeated team.
After two straight losses (which we 49ers fans enjoyed), the Seahawks stifled Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 165 yards and an interception. Kansas City has never reached the red zone.
Sam Darnold forgot he was Sam Darnold and went 20 of 28 for 257 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception, and not a single sack. Running back Emanuel Wilson also notched his first 100-yard game as a Seahawk against the Kansas City defense.
However, a bill is coming when it comes to injuries. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) and running back Velus Jones Jr. (hamstring) were ruled out, and left tackle Charles Cross was brought on in the fourth quarter.
To add insult to the Chiefs, running back Kenneth Walker, who left the Seahawks in the offseason for the Chiefs and was a sleeper MVP pick this year, only had 36 yards on 14 carries. Basically, Walker was doing what the Seahawks had struggled to do until this game: passing the ball.
And so, the Seahawks begin to climb out of the hole.
The Arizona Cardinals placed Larry Fitzgerald in their ring of honor and retired his number 11 at halftime. Good of the Denver Broncos to bring enough fans to make it feel like a road game. It was more Denver than Arizona, which is probably what you get as Arizona when you go into the game 2-4.
Then there was the game itself. A game that Denver won 30-16. Arizona gave up a 62-yard touchdown to quarterback Bo Nix and a 52-yard screen touchdown to running back RJ Harvey, and the Broncos tied their season-high in points.
Tight end Trey McBride caught 10 passes for 111 receiving yards and the Cardinals’ first touchdown in over 100 minutes of play. Yes, you read that right: 100 minutes of play. Congratulations to McBride. Running back Bam Knight averaged nearly seven yards per carry. Those highlights won’t matter because the Cardinals who marched to a win in Los Angeles last week couldn’t finish anything here. The Cardinals have gone 1 of 5 in the red zone, and they are 12 of 28 this season.
If you really want a single drive that can recap this game, just look at the final drive: five snaps inside the 1-yard line thanks to Denver penalties, a sack at the 5 and nothing on fourth down.
I don’t think 49ers fans need to worry about the Cardinals this year…
The Los Angeles Rams are no longer in last place. It’s not quite “Ram-ing”, but reaching third place is certainly progress. They beat the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21, and it was closer than it looked, at least in the fourth quarter, when the Raiders put up 15 points and their first two touchdowns.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns in the first half and running back Kyren Williams added one on the ground for a 28-6 halftime lead. Then the Rams did things with the Rams. Las Vegas converted a fake punt. Williams fumbled. Running back Blake Corum’s touchdown came back on a facemask. Stafford threw an interception when tight end Colby Parkinson threw the ball in the air. Corum finally put the package together late with a rushed score.
Special teams, turnovers, penalties: the same problems that have dogged this team all season. They just won anyway. The Raiders, meanwhile, begin to remember that they are the Raiders. This wasn’t the game where we wanted them to remember that detail.
The 49ers are goodbye. That means Christian McCaffrey’s thigh also gets a free pass. It also means we can do something else on Sunday. So, goodbye.
The Seahawks host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Bears had a heck of a football game Thursday night, beating the New England Patriots 30-24. Playing Thursday night gives them some extra rest before their trip to Seattle. If anyone can reclaim the 49ers’ three-game lead, it’s the Bears. Do it for Ditka.
The Cardinals travel to face the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are doing NFC East things on Monday Night Football, but are 2-4 as of this writing. The NFC East hasn’t been anything special lately, and that’s not expected to change after Monday. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cardinals win here.
Rams host Los Angeles Chargers in battle for Levi’s South House Sitters SoFi Stadium. The Chargers have yet to win a game this season, so maybe Jim Harbaugh and company can get their first win against the Rams. The last thing 49ers fans want is for the Rams to return to this situation, so there is a three-way battle for the division. Please, chargers?
1st: San Francisco 49ers; Next: GOODBYE
2nd: Seattle Seahawks; Next: vs. Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)
3rd: Los Angeles Rams; Next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
4th: Arizona Cardinals; Next: to the Dallas Cowboys
Gn sports
