Shanahan, 49ers Collapse Gives Rodgers, Packers Epic Comeback Win 33-30 on MNF

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Photo credit: @CBSSportsHQ

By: Joe Lami

Absolutely gut-wrenching, the only words to explain the San Francisco 49ers’ toughest loss of the season, as a late heroic comeback from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers beats the 49ers 33-30 at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

“We had every opportunity to win and finish the game and didn’t get it done,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

He’s exactly right. The 49ers did have every chance to get it done in front of a nationwide audience. He called an electric first half of football, where the 49ers went into the break leading 24-20, despite coughing the ball up twice. 290 yards of offense, led by great outside running from both Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida.

The run set up the pass. C.J. Beathard had a near-perfect passer rating in the first half, including two deep strikes to Marquise Goodwin that went for scores of 67 yards and 30 yards, respectively. Goodwin’s 114 receiving yards in the first half were the most from a 49ers’ receiver in over five years.

Everything was set-up from discipline. The 49ers committed only one penalty in the first half for five yards. Things were looking good for the red and gold and appearing like they were about to steal one at Lambeau, and then the second half happened.

The 49ers were just unable to put this game away, despite a great second half from the defense. The front seven came alive for the first time all season, finishing with three sacks, seven QB hits, and seven tackles for loss.

The defense just didn’t get the help from the offense in the second half, as they were only able to muster up six points and were unable to move the ball in the fourth to put the game away when they still had a 30-23 lead.

The fourth could’ve gone as bad as possible for San Francisco. Terrible play calling and horrendous game management saw 27 yards of total offense in the fourth capped by three consecutive three-and-outs to close the game.

The 49ers could’ve gotten past the 27 yards of offense in the fourth, but decided to throw the ball instead of run the clock out and gave way too much time to one of the best passers in the history of the NFL.

Down by seven with 3:00 left, Rodgers went on a quick 1:05 five-play drive that found Devante Adams in the end-zone to tie things at 30, still giving San Francisco a shot.

Even better, a great return by Richie James capped by a personal foul penalty put the ball at San Francisco’s 47-yard line. San Francisco pushed the ball to the Green Bay 46-yard line and on 3rd and three, Shanahan called for a deep ball instead of a short pass to attempt to pick up the first down with three timeouts in his back pocket.

The deep ball was picked off, and once again, San Francisco put the ball into the hands of Rodgers at his own 10 with no timeouts.

The defense stood tall initially and even got a sack on third down from DeForest Buckner, but was taken away by their second penalty of the game, as Richard Sherman was whistled for illegal contact.

That was one mistake too many, as Rodgers torched the San Francisco defense, especially picking on Greg Mabin, who entered the game for an injured Jimmie Ward.

The 49ers’ defense was unable to protect the sidelines, allowing Green Bay to march down the field setting up a 27-yard Mason Crosby walk-off field goal.

The players sure don’t deserve this loss in their best performance of the season. Breida finished with 61 yards on 14 carries. Mostert had a tremendous bounce-back performance picking up 87 yards on 12 explosive carries. Goodwin caught four of five targets for 126 yards and two scores, while George Kittle caught four passes for 60 yards. Beathard finished the game 16-of-23 for 245, two scores, and a pick.

This one solely rests on the shoulders of Shanahan, who relived his epic Super Bowl collapse and once again showed his inability to protect a lead and close out a game.

The season can now go in two directions. The 49ers can build off an incredible game that saw one of the best quarterbacks of our generation comeback for an epic win or they can collapse in the abyss.

The 49ers’ road doesn’t get any easier, as they’ll host the undefeated Rams on Sunday at 1:25 pm PT on CBS.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers looked great, but not good enough to win a close contest

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mercurynews.com photo: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis.

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

We’ve seen this with 49ers quarterback CJ Beathard over the last two years. He manages to keep the game pretty close as he did against the Chargers and Monday Night against the Packers in Green Bay. Last year, he had five starts where the 49ers lost by three points an NFL record for consecutive losses with less than three points.

Beathard does just well enough, but the problem is there have been untimely turnovers and penalties that just seals the Niners’ fate. They were in position to win this one. It wasn’t like they weren’t in this one or like the Packers ran away with it. The Niners were playing really good football and the defense wasn’t letting the Packers move the ball that much, but the Niners went into half time with a 24-17 lead and couldn’t hold on in the end they lost by three, 33-30.

David has much more on the 49ers podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brent Brennan talks San Jose State’s upcoming game at San Diego State

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — As you should already know, San Jose State got pummeled by Army 52-3 in a nationally televised game at Levi’s Stadium last Saturday afternoon. SJSU will hit the road to deal with a tough customer, San Diego State, at SDCCU Stadium this Saturday night at 7:30 pm PT on CBSS.

But, in the meantime, Spartans head coach Brent Brennan held his weekly press conference at Simpkins Stadium Center inside CEFCU Stadium on Monday afternoon. Brennan went over a lot of things with the media, but let’s just go over my Q&A with the second-year head coach.

1. Last week, San Jose State had a great week of practice, but it led to a letdown at Levi’s Stadium, which was disappointing to say the least. How will you, and the rest of the coaching staff, make sure that this week’s practice will be even greater?
That started yesterday. We started at six in the morning and brought everybody back early. It gave us a chance to address the issues that we were dealing with during the game and put that game to bed and turn our attention to San Diego State…They’ve been the top–or one of the top–programs in our conference for a long time and it’s a really good opportunity for us to get a start on them and get ready to go as they’ll present you with lots of different challenges because they’ve been so good and they’re so well-established and that’s why we play–we get a change to play with good people. We’re going to have a great week of practice…We had a great team meeting yesterday so that’ll give us a chance to get our team where we want them to go.

2. The Spartan offensive line has to improve in run blocking and pass protection, but what does the Spartan defense have to do in order to keep the team intact?
I think one of the things that was frustrating was late in that game it seemed like we didn’t tackle as well as we should’ve so obviously that’s a big focus for our staff. Our defensive staff right now has been talking about that. The flip side of that is the big picture as an offense you can’t turn the ball over four times in 10 plays and you can’t give them the ball on their side of the 50-yard line three times. We gave it to them on the 25, 25 and the 42…That’s asking too much of your defense to put them in that spot…We just gotta make sure that we’re tackling and getting everybody to the football.

3. Spartan nation watched a game that they’d rather forget. A couple of fans told me that the Spartans should do less fighting and more coaching and practicing of football. What do you have to say to the fans and the critics in general?
Fighting hasn’t been happening during the practices at all. I’d say that I understand the frustration and I’d hope that they’d understand mine. We’re working really hard to try and get on the right track. The best thing about that I can say is buy a ticket, come to a game, support the kids, take a leap of faith with our program and come support these kids who are working so hard.

Spartan nation, don’t forget that you can call or text (408) 924-7589 for San Jose State tickets. If you’re a San Jose State student, you can visit this link: 

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Winless UCLA Bruins (1-5) make great work of Cal in 37-7 pounding

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photo from californiagoldenblogs.com: Cal quarterback Brandon Mcllwain (5) is sacked by UCLA linebackers Krys Bryant (14) and Keisean Lucier-South (11) Saturday at Memorial Stadium in the Bruins first win of the season

On the Cal podcast with Morris:

#1 UCLA came in 0-5 to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley and they were an angry bunch and hungry for a win and took it to the Cal Bears (3-3) in a 37-7 win.

#2 The Bruins Joshua Kelly carried for 157 yards and three touchdown quite and afternoon for Kelly, who went all out.

#3 The Bears quarterback Brandon McIlwain turned the ball over so many times that it played heavily into the Bears’ loss on Saturday.

#4 What does it mean for Cal dropping to 3-3 with six games left in the regular season?

#5 Oregon State (1-5) will host the Cal Bears next Saturday at 1pm the Beavers have also had their share of getting banged around dropping a game to Washington State Saturday by a huge deficit 56-37.

The Bears podcasts are heard with Morris each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders Three-Point Stance: Three takeaways from Raiders’ ugly 27-3 loss to the Seahawks in London

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

Russell Wilson threw three touchdowns and the Seahawks held a depleted Raiders team to just 185 yards of total offense in Seattle’s 27-3 victory on Sunday in front of announced London-record crowd of 84,922 at Wembley Stadium, many being pro-Seahawks as Seattle’s “12th Man” traveled across ‘The Pond’ cheering on their team — even though the Raiders were designated as the home team.

Now at 1-5 and heading into the a much needed bye week, its clear that the Raiders have plenty of work to do.

Check out my three takeways from the Silver and Black’s ugly loss to the Seahawks (3-3) in Week 6:

Oakland’s offense was held together with gum and duct tape
With injuries along the offensive line with guard John Feliciano leaving the game with injured ribs and being already without veteran tackle Donald Penn (on injured reserve with a groin injury) and guard Kelechi Osemele, rookie tackles Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker were devoured by an intense Seattle pass rush for most of the day, which didn’t bode well for Derek Carr.

The Raiders’ franchise signal-caller did complete 23-of-31 passes for just 142 yards, but was under siege the entire game as he was sacked six times. Whenever he dropped back to pass, Carr was almost immediately met by a Seattle defender.

Carr left the game with 8:52 left in the fourth quarter after apparently injuring his left arm on the last of the six sacks by defense tackle Jarran Reed on third down. Carr immediately grabbed his upper left arm after sitting up before being medically evaluated by the training staff.

Even if Carr had time to throw, Carr didn’t have his best wide receiver in the game in Amari Cooper, who was lost for the game after suffering a concussion on a nasty hit from Seahawks strong safety  Bradley McDougald in the second quarter.

Cooper ran a drag route over the middle of the field and attempted to catch a loss pass from Carr, before McDougald led with his shoulder resulting in the hit, that also showed the players made helmet-to-helmet contact was made.

No penalty was called.

Reserve wide receiver Seth Roberts, who replaced Cooper, left the game too with a concussion and didn’t return.

Roberts finished with five catches for 31 yards.

Backup running back Jalen Richard led the team with seven catches (on 8 targets) for 48 yards, largely due to Carr having to get the football out quick and relying on check-downs to running backs.

Early in the game for Oakland, it appeared that the Raiders wanted to get starting running back Marshawn Lynch more involved in the game, touching the football four times on Oakland’s first drive of the game (three runs and one pass), but the former Seahawk only managed one yard.

Lynch finished the game with 17 touches for 59 yards of total offense (13 carries for 45 yards and 3 catches for 14 yards) against his former team. Oakland only managed just 79 yards rushing in the game.

Oakland’s offense lacked fluidity and explosion in mustering just three points on Sunday. In the last two games, the Raiders have scored just 13 points combined after rolling up 45 points against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4.

Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense made life difficult for Raiders’ defense
The former Super Bowl MVP engineered a 14-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown thrown from Wilson to wide receiver Jaron Brown that staked Seattle to a 7-0 lead on the Seahawks’ first drive of the game in the first quarter.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, it was the first time that the Seahawks scored on their first offensive possession in a game since Week 3 of the 2016 season against the San Francisco 49ers, spanning 34 games. It was the NFL’s longest scoring drought for any team without a scoring touchdown on its opening possession.

Wilson completed 17-of-23 passes for 222 yards with three touchdowns and one interception to Raiders’ cornerback Daryl Worley after trying to force a pass to wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who was double-covered.

On top of his touchdown throw to Brown, Wilson  threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver David Moore in the second quarter, and a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Lockett that gave Seattle a commanding 27-0 lead in the fourth quarter.

Seattle was nearly flawless on third down, converting 9-of-13 opportunities. By the same measure, the Raiders only converted 4-of-12 third downs.

Running back Chris Carson rushed for 59 yards on 14 carries for Seattle, while rookie running back Rashaad Penny added 43 yards for Seattle who racked up 369 yards of total offense on the day. Seattle held the edge in time of possession, holding onto to the football for 31:26 to Oakland’s 28:34.

If it weren’t for head-scratching penalties by Seattle (8 for 64 yards) to Oakland’s (5 for 38 yards), the Seahawks could’ve really embarrassed Oakland in the United Kingdom.

Rookie Arden Key recorded his first-career sack in the game and linebacker Tahir Whitehead led the Raiders in tackles with six total (4 solo).

Key along with linebacker Bruce Irvin seems to be taking the loss, well per their comments to the media postgame.

“We lost, but I got a beautiful wife I get to go home to… I’m going to try to make some babies man,” Irvin said to reporters after the game.

“I mean, we came in and we got our ass whooped,” Key said. “Like there’s no way around it. We got our ass whooped from the first whistle to the last whistle.  So we just gotta remember that and come out fire next week and continue to come out with fire.”

Sebastian Janikowski scores nine points against former team
Janikowski, who joined the Seahawks in the offseason after 17 years with the Raiders, did his part in defeating his former team Sunday, knocking down both of his field goals — from 44 and 26 yards — and all three of his extra points.

UP NEXT

Seattle faces the Detroit Lions on Oct. 28 on the road after a bye week, while the Raiders will host the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 28, also after a bye week.

 

NCAAFB podcast with Michelle Richardson: LSU proves to be dominate SEC school; Michigan #12 give no room for #15 Wisconsin; Colorado State just gets by New Mexico 20-18

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LSU Tigers safety Ed Paris (21) celebrates after a win against the Georgia Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium.(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)

On the NCAAFB podcast with Michelle Richardson:

#1 Is it true all roads go through LSU (6-1) to the SEC playoffs. LSU upset #2 Georgia (6-1) with a 36-16.

#2 No.12 Michigan (6-1) made work of No.15 Wisconsin (4-2) 38-13 with a 320 yard rushing attack 48 carries, Wolves quarterback Shea Patterson threw 14-20 passes.

#3 In the Mountain West Colorado State (3-4) just got by New Mexico (3-3) 20-18 Saturday for the Lobos quarterback Sheriron Jones 165 yards two touchdowns. For Colorado State quarterback KJ Carta-Samuels 311 yards and one touchdown.

Michelle Richardson does the NCAAFB podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Championship series gets off to an edge of your seat start; D-Backs will play on turf in 19th season; Mr. Baseball joins FOX for Brewers series

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awfulannouncing.com photo: Fox announcer John Smoltz left will be joined by Bob Uecker for the NLCS series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel:

1 Championship series are off to a great start!

ALCS – Houston beats Boston in Game 1; Astros 7 Red Sox 2; Astros lead 1-0

NLCS – Dodgers come from behind to earn a split in Milwaukee; Series tied at 1-1

2 Chase Field in downtown Phoenix going to artificial turf next season.

3 FOX invites Bob Uecker to join the booth for an inning at the NLCS game in Milwaukee

Daniel does the MLB The Show podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks take seven straight penalties; cough up goal on 5-on-3 play to New Jersey

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

Another tough loss for the San Jose Sharks as the Sharks took seven penalties in a row,. They gave up a 2-1 lead on a 6-on-4 power play. They later gave up a goal on a 5-on-3 power play. The Sharks did out shoot the New Jersey Devils, but couldn’t get a goal in third period as the Devils scored twice to take a 3-2 win.

Sharks goaltender Martin Jones stopped 33 of 36 shots and the Sharks on the trip scored three goals in LA, eight in Philadelphia, two against the Rangers, zero in Brooklyn against the Islanders, twice against New Jersey. The Sharks went 3-2 on the trip and come back to SAP Center on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres the puck drops at 7:30 PM.

Join Len on Saturdays for the Sharks podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Wilson throws three touchdowns in Seahawks’ 27-3 win over Raiders in jolly ol’ London

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Photo credit: @SportsCentre

By Jeremy Kahn

Maybe heading across the pond to London would possibly change things for the Oakland Raiders, but it seems that they are not getting any better on two continents.

Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Raiders 27-3 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Wilson went 17-for-23 for 222 yards plus those three touchdowns and an interception, as the Seahawks go into the bye week with a 3-3 record.

Chris Carson helped out on the running game, as he ran for 59 yards, while Rashad Penny gained 43 yards before the largest crowd to ever attend a NFL game in London, as 84,922 were in attendance in the legendary stadium.

Despite going 23-for-31 for 142 yards on the afternoon, Derek Carr was forced to leave the game with 8:52 remaining in the game, as he was hit by Jarran Reed and immediately went to the sideline grabbing his upper left arm.

Jaron Brown was the receiving end of the first Wilson touchdown of the afternoon, as he took it in from five yards out. Wilson then found David Moore for a 19-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and then threw his third and final touchdown in the fourth quarter, as he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett.

To make even worse for the Raiders, who fall to 1-5 on the season, former kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who played for the Raiders for 17 years, kicked two field goals for the Seahawks.

Marshawn Lynch, who was playing against his former team carried the ball 13 and gained just 45 yards during the game.

The Raiders finally got on the board with 8:30 remaining in the game, as Matt McCrane kicked a 48-yard field goal. McCrane could have gotten the Raiders on the board in the second quarter; however, his 48-yard attempt went wide left.

NOTES: It was a tough day for the Raiders with injuries, as besides Carr, they will leave London not healthy.

Amari Cooper left the game with 13:40 remaining in the first half, as he suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Strong Safety Bradley McDougald. Joe Feliciano, who started in place of the inactive Kelechi Osemele, who was out with a knee injury was forced out of the game with a rib injury and Seth Roberts suffered a concussion like Cooper in the fourth quarter and did not return.

UP NEXT: After their bye week, the Raiders will return to the field on October 28 at the Coliseum, where they will host the Indianapolis Colts at 1:05 pm PT on CBS.

Sharks Lose 3-2 to Devils, Power Play Struggles

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks finished their five game road trip with a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday. Devils’ goals came from Kyle Palmieri (2) and Jean-Sebastien Dea. Keith Kinkaid made 37 saves on 39 shots for the win. Joe Pavelski and Timo Meier scored for the Sharks, while goaltender Martin Jones made 33 saves on 36 shots.

Asked whether the team might be showing fatigue from the road trip, Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said:

This game felt exactly like a couple of the other ones we’ve lost so far: they’re right there for us, you know, a few chances, power play opportunities, you know, all those certain situations. We expect to win these, that’s why they’re frustrating right now.

Asked about the power play’s struggles, Pavelski said:

It could be a little bit cleaner, the execution could be a little bit better. We’re making some plays, we’re having some looks. Either we’re not shooting or we’re shooting it too quick. The rhythm just.. it’s close. It does feel close but we’re still not where it needs to be.

Sharks forward Logan Couture’s comments on the power play were more succinct: “We’re six games in, we have one goal on the power play. I don’t think it’s close.”

Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer summarized the team’s situation as:

We’re not scoring enough, that’s the bottom line, and we’re not getting enough saves too. It’s a bad combination so we’ve got to find a way to get another goal a night. Part of that’s power play, part of that’s five-on-five and we’ve got to find a way to get another save a night. Part of that’s defending a little tighter, part of that’s getting another save.

The first period on Sunday was scoreless, but showed some back and forth in momentum. The Devils started fast, but a Sharks’ power play at 3:14 gave the Sharks some life. As the penalty expired, the Sharks peppered Kinkaid with shots and established a shot lead that carried through the period.

Penalties, on the other hand, did not favor the Sharks in the first, and by the end of the game the Devils had eight power plays to the Sharks’ three. Two of those penalties were for delay of game, puck over glass.

The Sharks scored first at 3:51 of the second period. Evander Kane fought for the puck below the goal line and then, while being tripped by Mirco Mueller, got the puck to Brent Burns at the blue line. Burns took a quick shot that went right into Kinkaid’s pads. Pavelski was right in front of the goalie and pulled the puck back for a swift shot around the pads for the goal. Assists went to Burns and Kane.

The Devils tied the game during a 5-on-3 power play at 7:06. Taylor Hall made a pass across the ice to Kyle Palmieri in the right circle. Palmieri took the shot and scored on the far side.

Meier got the puck to Tomas Hertl in the neutral zone to set up San Jose’s second goal at 15:35. Hertl carried the puck across the line and passed it to Couture above the faceoff circle. Couture carried the puck in front of the net. As Couture seemed to lose control of the puck, Meier had come down for the follow up and he was able to poke the puck in. Assists went to Couture and Hertl.

The Devils tied it back up just 37 seconds into the third period, with another goal from Palmieri. Andy Greene took a shot from below the blue line and three Devils converged on the net. Palmieri’s stick beat out the others to get the puck in after Jones stopped the initial shot. In the midst of all that, Couture ended up in the net and it looked like the puck came up and hit him in the face. He went to the locker room. Assists on the second goal went to Greene and Damon Severson.

A few minutes later, at 3:25, Dea gave the Devils their third goal, the game-winner. The Sharks had just killed off their fifth penalty and followed it up with a couple of shots when Dea got the puck away from their zone to Hall in the neutral zone. Hall carried it into the Sharks zone and made a pass to Mueller, who took the shot. Jones slowed it down, but it squeezed through under his arm and sat in the blue paint for a moment. Dea was the first to find it and he put in away. Assists went to Mueller and Hall.

The Sharks next play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres in San Jose at 7:30 PM PT.