Author: joelami

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (22) is congratulated by quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–It only took ten games for head coach Kyle Shanahan to get his first victory of his NFL career, as the San Francisco 49ers finally get in the win column with a 31-21 victory.

“I didn’t think it would take this long, but you learn to savor them when you lose nine straight,” Shanahan said postgame.

Without their star wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., the New York Giants’ season has been a nightmare, as they now fall to 1-8.

The 49ers dominated the Giants early and clearly had their best performance of the season. C.J. Beathard, who was rumored not to finish the entire game if he struggled stepped up to the challenge. In his best game as a pro, he finished with three touchdowns, throwing for two and 288 yards for a 123.4 rating.

Beathard’s passing attack was capped by some highlight reel plays, including the longest score of the season where he connected on a long ball with Marquise Goodwin for an 83-yard touchdown.

Beathard also found tight end Garrett Celek on a huge 47-yard touchdown right before the end of the first half, helping re-take the lead for the 49ers with 28 seconds remaining.

The 49ers defense did a fabulous job of maintaining New York’s offense, holding them to just 35% on third down. Eli Manning still had a decent game passing, throwing for 273 yards on 28-of-37 for two scores.

The Giants kept the game close in the first half and even took the lead with 2:08 remaining in the second quarter when Manning found Evan Engram for nine yards. However, the Niners were able to march down and answer with Celek’s touchdown.

After no scoring in the third quarter, Beathard found the end zone for the third time in the fourth quarter on a scramble bootleg from 11 yards out, which finished with him diving over the goal line for the score giving San Francisco a 24-13 lead.

The Niners were able to add another one on Matt Breida’s first career touchdown from 33 yards out that featured a great first cut giving them a 31-13 lead.

New York made the game a little more respectful, scoring a garbage time touchdown, as Manning tossed his second of the day to Roger Lewis Jr. from 14 yards out.

After giving up 16 quarterback hits last week against the Cardinals, the 49ers offensive line was a lot more stable on Sunday, only allowing two. The return of left tackle, Joe Staley had a lot to do with it, as he strengthened a weakened front.

Shanahan revealed to the media that Staley informed him on Tuesday that he was ready to go, exciting the head coach.

The win feels good for everyone, but especially for Staley, “I’ve been part of a lot of wins here. This one felt as good as winning the NFC Championship”.

The 49ers go into their bye with a win in the books and look to use the off week for getting healthy and away from Santa Clara. However, not everyone will have the week completely off. Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to stay in Santa Clara and work with coaches and use the time to get more formulated with the 49ers offense.

He was expected to start in week 12 against the Seahawks, but Shanahan put those rumors to rest for now and wants to give Garoppolo the next two weeks before he announces the starter for the Seahawks game.

 

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan pauses as he speaks to members of the media following an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

By: Joe Lami

For the first time in the history of the National Football League, a team has lost five straight games by three points or less. The San Francisco 49ers made history for the wrong reason on Sunday with a 26-24 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Make it a combined 13 points now for those five losses, as the 49ers continue to get close but aren’t able to get it done.

It wouldn’t have been close without the emergence of rookie quarterback, C.J. Beathard who came in relief after Brian Hoyer’s ineffective start, as he completed four passes for 34 yards on 11 attempts.

Beathard was forced to play catch-up, as the 49ers were trailing 14-0 before the former Hawkeye came into the game with 6:39 left in the second quarter. He was able to turn things around for the 49ers and it all started right before the end of the half, as he led a drive that finished with a 4th and goal touchdown run from Carlos Hyde to cut the score to 17-7.

Although the rookie wasn’t getting much help from his receivers in his first couple of drives as drops continue to be a major concern for this club, the second half Niners seemed like a brand new team. It clearly showed as they started the third with a 12 play, 42-yard drive ending with a field goal to make it 17-10.

With the new found confidence, the 49ers were better in all aspects of the field and it bled into the defense as well. A big fumble recovery by Jimmy Ward and a return of 43 yards gave the Niners the ball on the one-yard line to set up Hyde’s second score of the game tying it at 17.

Rumored to be coming to the city by the bay next season, quarterback Kirk Cousins finished 25-of-37 for 330 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick. He led Washington to nine points in the final quarter to secure the victory.

Beathard cut the deficit down to two with his first touchdown throw of his career on an insane play in which he was able to escape pressure and chuck it 46 yards to a wide-open Aldrick Robinson.

With a chance to comeback and win it after a 17-point deficit, the 49ers once again fell apart when it mattered most. Penalties once again became the downfall. This time a pick play offensive pass interference penalty called on Pierre Garcon on a 2nd down at the Redskins 40. The horrible call cost the Niners ten yards putting the 49ers out of field goal range while costing them the chance at the win.

Despite the loss, and a record of 0-6, things are looking up still for the Niners and it has a lot to do with Beathard. His final line was 19-of-36 for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception (coming on the last play of the game).

The focus now comes to the Cowboys as the red and gold search for their first win, but their new quarterback seeing first-team reps this week will give the faithful hope.

After all, it’s the second time in franchise history the team has started 0-6. The last time was led by Bill Walsh.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer gestures to the team at the line of scrimmage against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

By Joe Lami

The San Francisco 49ers will have to wait another week for their first touchdown of the season, as they failed to find paydirt once again in Sunday’s 12-9 loss to Seattle. The game consisted of two offenses completely struggling and dragged on since the initial snap of the ball; the Seahawks were slightly better to earn their first victory of the season.

San Francisco was given a chance at a huge road win in Seattle, something they have not done since October 18th, 2015 but a lack of offensive consistency was their downfall.

Seattle stormed out of the gate on the opening possession, marching the ball 68 yards before stalling out for a 25-yard field goal from Blair Walsh. Walsh added a 27-yarder before the end of the first for a 6-0 lead.

San Francisco’s defense looked strong early when pushed into the red zone as they bent but didn’t break, doing a great job of keeping Seattle’s offense out of the end zone.

The 49ers tied things up at six going into the half with Robbie Gould knocking two field goals through from 40 and 37 yards out. The first one was set up by a 61-yard run from Carlos Hyde, in which, he was able to break off the left tackle and burst away before being dragged down at the Seahawks 22-yard line. The run was the longest in his four-year NFL career.

Hyde was crucial for the 49ers, who struggled once again on offense. He led the team in yards with 124 on 15 carries. Hyde was half of the Niners offense on Sunday, as the team combined was able to muster up 124 yards of their own, finishing with 248 total yards.

The passing attack was a nightmare for San Francisco, as Brian Hoyer finished 15-of-27 for 99 yards. For whatever reason, whether it be the lack of trust of an offensive line or the slippery ball on a soaking Seattle afternoon, the Niners refused to let the ball fly; and when they did, they were throwing short, intermediate routes in front of the first down sticks.

Hoyer had another poor game, throwing for less than 100 yards, but the worst play was an interception he threw to Bobby Wagner. It marked the second time in which he was picked off by a middle linebacker, signaling he’s either completely missing the most obvious defender on the field or some other significant deficiency.

Despite the horrendous offensive performance, San Francisco still had a chance to win the game. They took the lead in the third quarter, as Gould hit his third field goal of the game from 34 yards for the 9-6 lead.

However, the defense began to get tired, as the Seahawks won the possession battle 37 to 23 minutes and wore down as the game progressed. This allowed Seattle to run the ball down the throats of the 49ers’ front seven.

Chris Carson, a 7th round rookie from Oklahoma State, led the way with 93 yards on the ground. Quarterback, Russell Wilson, also took over when it mattered most marching down the field using his legs for 34 yards. It seemed that the 49ers defense refused to set a spy to slow him down.

Wilson’s magic continued on the lone touchdown of the game, in which, he was able to escape multiple pressures before finding Paul Richardson in the left corner of the end zone. It was the first touchdown of the season for Seattle with 7:06 left in the fourth.

San Francisco’s offense couldn’t get anything done in the last seven minutes of the contest, allowing Seattle to win their first of the season.

The 49ers added injury to insult as Eric Reid went down multiple times in both the second and third quarters with non-contact injuries favoring his knee. He later said after the game that he did tweak it but it should be fine, but Rueben Foster said the same and it going to be out the next month.

The Niners will have the shortened week to get their offense in check as they continue to search for their first major of the season when they host the LA Rams on Thursday night.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA CA–The beginning of the 2017 NFL season didn’t go as planned for the 49ers, as they were completely manhandled by the Carolina Panthers 23-3.

“It was disappointing, whether it was the first, last, or any one I have in the rest of my career, it was disappointing. I don’t think that it mattered that it was the first. Anytime you lose in that way; it’s frustrating and disappointing. I’ll feel it all day today and all night [and I’m sure our players will too], and come back tomorrow and see how we can improve,” head coach, Kyle Shanahan commented on his pro debut.

Sunday’s home opener stayed scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the game until the 49ers lost Reuben Foster to a right ankle injury. The rookie linebacker laid on the turf for an eternity before the cart took him off the field. Foster took all of the 49ers’ momentum with him into the locker room.

After the game, Shanahan reported that all of the x-rays came back negative and that they were holding Foster off the field for precautionary reasons. Foster mentioned, “it’s not that horrible. I’ll be back soon, very, very, very soon”.

On the very first play without Foster, Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton connected with Russell Shepard for a 40-yard touchdown pass giving Carolina the 6-0 lead.

Newton finished the game throwing 14 of 25 for 171, two touchdowns and an interception.

While Foster did step back onto the field, trying to work on his injured ankle, he would not return to the game. Just like Foster, the 49ers mojo also failed to make a comeback, as the Panthers owned San Francisco the rest of the game.

Graham Gano knocked three field goals through for the Panthers from 39 yards, 36 yards, and 20 yards respectively.

Newton threw his second touchdown pass of the day in the third quarter when he connected with Jonathan Stewart on a screen pass to the right side. Stewart did all the work on the nine-yard scoring play.

Stewart split carries with Christian McCaffrey, who made his return to the Bay Area in his NFL debut, with five catches for 38 yards and 13 carries for 47 yards, but he was also stripped of the football once by Rashard Robinson.

After the game, McCaffrey and former roommate at Stanford, Soloman Thomas shared a few words of encouragement while trading jerseys from their professional debuts.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world. He was my roommate and teammate at Stanford and for us to both go in the first round and play against each other in the first game was pretty special,” Thomas added.

There were a few seldom bright spots for the Niners, including a great interception by Jaquiski Tartt grabbing the ball out of the air with one hand while falling to the ground. The pick made up for getting burned on Shepard’s touchdown, in which, he was beaten on the coverage.

Pierre Garcon led the way for the 49ers offensively with six catches for 81 yards but was unable to find his way to paydirt. Brian Hoyer threw 24 of 35 in his San Francisco debut for 193 yards while throwing one interception.

The offensive line was of significant concern heading into Sunday and for a good reason. Sunday’s game showed why, as the internal line struggled, failing to protect Hoyer, who was sacked four times for 27 yards.

The 49ers have the next week to find a way to repair the glaring holes in their game, as they open up their NFC West portion of their schedule in Seattle, who looks to rebound after a dreadful performance in Green Bay.