Tag: San Francisco 49ers

Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow and Andrei Iosivas celebrate a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday OCT 29, 2023. (Cincinnati Bengals)

by Marko Ukalovic

The sky is not falling in Santa Clara…yet.

Joe Burrow threw for three touchdowns and the Cincinnati Bengals defense created three turnovers in the second half en route to a 31-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco has lost three straight games after beginning the season 5-0. Cincinnati has won three in a row after starting the season 1-3.

It was a long day for the 49ers defense as for the second straight week it was outplayed by the opposing team’s defense. Burrow was 21 of 23 for 170 yards with two touchdowns in the first half. It was the first time he had thrown multiple touchdowns in a first half this season.

Burrow connected with Tyler Boyd for his first touchdown, a seven-yard reception on a fade route to the right side, on its first possession to complete a 10 play 85-yard drive.

San Francisco answered back on its second possession. Running back Christian McCaffery barreled his way in for a two-yard rushing touchdown to complete an eight play 75-yard drive. The big play on the drive was a 31-yard reception by Brandon Aiyuk from Brock Purdy.

McCaffery has a scored a touchdown in 17 consecutive games which tied Lenny Moore, who achieved the same feat from 1963-64 with the Baltimore Colts, for the all-time NFL record.

The Bengals responded with a six play 58-yard scoring drive. Burrow found Andrei Iosivas for a two-yard touchdown reception to give Cincinnati a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Cincinnati had a golden opportunity to go up double-digits just before halftime. However, Celine Ferrell stripped the ball from Irv Smith Jr. after he caught the ball on a screen pass. Isaiah Oliver recovered the ball at the five-yard line with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Purdy used his legs as he was the 49ers leading rusher in first half with 43 yards four carries. Run CMC only had 31 yards on six carries, 16 of those came on the last place of the first half.

Cincinnati opened the second half with a 56-yard field goal from Evan McPherson on a 3:51 drive to go up 17-10. Then both defenses forced punts as they settled in during the third quarter.

It was a nightmare final 15:04 for Purdy as he committed three turnovers, two INT’s and one fumble, that allowed Cincinnati to take control of the game in the fourth quarter. Purdy tried a flip pass intended for Elijah Mithcell at the Bengals four-yard line, but Germaine Pratt deflected the ball to himself for an interception with four seconds left in the third quarter.

The Niners defense held their ground and gave the ball back to Purdy as they forced a three and out on Burrow’s offense. However, Purdy gave the ball back immediately on the next play when his pass over the middle intended for Aiyuk was intercepted by Logan Wilson who returned it to the San Francisco 17-yard line.

Burrow made the 49ers pay on the next play with his third touchdown when he connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a 17-yard touchdown reception to give Cincinnati a 24-10 lead. Chase led the Bengals in receiving with 10 catches for 100 yards.

“He made some bad picks there at the end,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan regarding his quarterback’s five interceptions in his last three games. “I thought he was one of the reasons we were in the game today. Some of those throws he made out there were unbelievable. The mistake in the red zone, missing the handoff was the biggest part. And then once you do that, you can’t throw it or you’re going to get the penalty, but worse that he got the pick.”

San Francisco answered back on its next drive when Purdy found McCaffery in the middle of the endzone for a four-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead down to seven.

The 49ers defense could not get the ball back as Burrows led a methodical 10 play 78-yard scoring drive down the field that ate up 5:18. Running back Joe Mixon pranced into the endzone on a five-yard rushing touchdown to ice the game for Cincinnati.

Burrow finished 28 of 32 for 283 yards to go along with his three TD’s and no interceptions. Mixon led all rushers with 87 yards on 16 carries. Tee Higgins chipped in five catches for 69 yards.

Purdy went led the 49ers in rushing with 57 yards on all scrambles out of the pocket. Tight end George Kittle led the 49ers in receiving, as he has a big fourth quarter, with nine catches for 149 yards. McCaffery chipped in with 54 yards on the ground to go along with six catches for 64 yards.

San Francisco heads into the bye week with things to shore up on both sides of the ball.

“I’ll talk to them more tomorrow. But my message was we’ve got to take that. I mean, we didn’t play well. That team beat us straight up. We talked about tackling better, having less penalties. I think we only had five, but in comparison to them, I think it was one. We had some ones in some crucial situations that gave first downs. My bottom line to them was we’ve got to get better in every aspect. The things that disappointed me today were some of the fundamentals of just throwing and catching, tackling and some of those penalties that cost us,” Shanahan said.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 5-for-9 on third down conversions. Cincinnati went 3-for-8.

UP NEXT: San Francisco is on their bye week. They return back to action on Sunday 11/12 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 10:00am at TIAA Bank Field.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery looks to run past the Minnesota Vikings defense at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday OCT 23, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a reversal of fortune when it came to preserving the game at the end.

Kirk Cousins had a great game and the Minnesota Vikings defense closed out the game with two defensive takeaways en route to a 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium.

San Francisco has lost two games in a row for the first time since Weeks 6 and 7 of last season. Minnesota has won two games in a row and three out of its last four games after starting out the season 0-3.

“We got to find ways to win the grimy games,” 49ers lineback Fred Warner said.

Both teams turned the ball over on their opening possessions. Cousins was intercepted by Charvarius Ward, who wrestled the ball away from wide receiver Jordan Addison at the Minnesota 48 yard-line. Then five plays later, Christian McCaffery fumbled the ball at the 12-yard that was recovered by Dean Lowry.

Minnesota (3-4) cashed in the turnover when Cousins led a 10-play drive that went 89 yards that was finished off with a 20-yard touchdown reception by Addison. It was the rookie wide receiver’s fifth touchdown of the season. Running back Mattison aided the drive with runs of 16 and 13 yards.

San Francisco (5-2) was able to score on its final drive of the first half. Brock Purdy led a 12-play 75-yard drive down the field with McCaffery running the ball in for a three-yard touchdown. McCaffery has scored a touchdown in 16 consecutive games, making him number two in the NFL for consecutive games scoring a touchdown.

The Vikings answered back in just 54 seconds to end the half with its second touchdown. On a third and 16, Cousins threw a 50-50 ball that Addison was able to win the battle this time against Ward as ripped the ball away from him and cruised into the endzone for a 60-yard touchdown reception, his second of the game. Greg Joesph missed the extra point.

San Francisco’s defense held Minnesota to a 22-yard field goal by Joesph after having first and goal at the one-yard after a passing inference penalty by so and so on their first possession of the second half.

Purdy connected with McCaffery on a pass out to the flat and “Run CMC” took it to the house for a 35-yard touchdown reception that completed a quick three play 75-yard drive.

Jake Moody cut the lead to five points when he kicked a 55-yard field goal with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter. Moody had missed a 40-yarder earlier in the first half but made all two of his extra points.

Despite the 49ers defense tightening up in the fourth quarter, after allowing 270 yards offense in the first half to Minnesota, it was the Vikings defense that sealed the deal with two interceptions late in the game.

Camryn Bynum made his first interception of the game when Purdy overthrew a deep ball down the middle where Bynum, playing center field on the play, dove down to come up with the ball.

Minnesota wasn’t able to close out the game on offense as head coach Kevin O’Connell elected to try a 50-yard field goal instead of punting the ball with San Francisco out of timeouts with 1:16 remaining. Joesph’s attempt sailed wide right setting up the 49ers at their own 40-yard line.

However, Purdy, who had a good first half, forced a ball down the middle of the field while throwing off his back foot into the hands of Bynum for his second interception to seal the game for the Vikings with 26 seconds left.

“We got beat. We’ve got take it like a man…We’ve got 5 1/2 days to figure out a way to beat the Bengals and make sure we go into the bye week 6-2 and not 5-3,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Cousins, who was not sacked during the game, finished the game 35 of 45 for 378 yards to go along with his two touchdowns and one interception. Addison led all receivers with seven catches for 123 yards to go along with his two scores. Alexander Mattison chipped in 39 yards on eight carries.

Purdy went 21 of 30 for 272 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. McCaffery, who was a game time decision due to an oblique injury he was dealing with throughout the week, had 45 rushing yards on 15 carries while chipping in three receptions for 51 yards. Tight end George Kittle led the 49ers in receiving with five catches for 78 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 5-for-9 on third down conversions. Minnesota went 8-for-13.

San Francisco fell to 0-36 under Shanahan when trailing by 8+ points in 4th quarter in regular season or playoffs. Niners have lost 37 straight in all in that scenario. Only the Carolina Panthers have a longer streak at 45 straight losses.

UP NEXT: San Francisco hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday 10/29 at 1:25pm at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kelvin Givens makes a tackle on Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday OCT 15, 2023. (Kym Fortino-San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

In a game that was marred with penalties, turnovers, and missed opportunities, the San Francisco 49ers suffered its first regular season defeat in over a season in a 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon at First Energy Stadium

San Francisco played their worst game in the past 16 games as they amassed 12 penalties for 105 yards, two of them which continued the eventual game winning field goal drive by Cleveland.

“We just made too many mistakes,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

The 49ers suffered more than its first regular season loss since October 23, 2022, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Star players Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffery did not finish the game as they suffered shoulder and oblique injuries respectively. Also, all-pro tackle Trent Williams played with an injured leg when it was rolled up on in the second half.

The Browns defense made 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy look human as they and the rainy weather made life hell for 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant throughout the ballgame. Purdy threw his first interception of the season that was a direct result of the Browns pass rush. He also had trouble gripping the ball as he fumbled trying to the throw the ball but was able to recover it for a loss.

“As an offense, we played into their hands a bit too much to get the win,” Trent Williams said.

The game start for the 49ers could have not been better. Purdy led a five play 84-yard scoring drive when he connected with McCaffery for a 13-yard touchdown reception to give an early 7-0 lead. Then on Cleveland’s opening possession Fred Warner intercepted quarterback PJ Walker, who was starting for injured Deshaun Watson, and returned it 32 yards to the Browns 26-yard line.

“We definitely didn’t underestimate them, but they played better than us,” Nick Bosa said.

San Francisco wasn’t able to capitalize as rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a 54-yard field goal, in what was a foreshadow for the end of the game.

After a Moody 25-yard field goal, Cleveland marched down the field 83 yards in just five plays that was finished off with a Kareem Hunt direct snap 16-yard rushing touchdown.

The Browns shutout the 49ers in the third quarter while getting two field goals from kicker Dustin Hopkins to gain its first lead of the game 13-10.

The 49ers defense took back control of the game early in the fourth quarter when Deommodore Lenior intercepted Walker and returned the ball 28 yards to the Browns 8-yard line. The ensuing next play Jordan Mason cashed in the turnover with an eight-yard rushing touchdown.

Cleveland kept chipping away as Hopkins kicked two more fields in the fourth quarter. His fourth from 29-yards out with 1:40 left in the game gave the Browns a 19-17 lead.

Purdy then led the 49ers down the field that included a 25-yard reception by wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and a Jauan Jennings nine-yard reception to convert a third down conversion. However, Moody’s 41-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with :06 left to seal the Niners fate.

Walker finished 18-of-24 for 192 yards with no touchdowns to go along with his two interceptions. Wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was the offensive catalyst for Cleveland with clutch catches in the fourth quarter, led all receivers with four catches for 108 yards. Jerome Ford chipped in 84 yards on 17 carries.

Purdy, who had his worst game of his pro career, went 12-of-27 for just 125 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Aiuyk led the 49ers in receiving with four catches for 76 yards. McCaffery, despite not playing in the fourth quarter, led San Francisco in rushing with 43 yards on 11 carries.

Newly acquired defensive end Randy Gregory had a sack and three tackles in the game.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 3-for-12 on third down conversion. Cleveland went 3-for-13.

San Francisco had its 8th-consecutive regular season game where they have scored on the opening drive of a game, dating back to Week 16 of 2022 [at LV (1/1/23)], which is the team’s longest streak in at least 45 seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The 49ers has scored 38 points on opening drives this season (5 TDs & 1 FG). 

McCaffrey’s 15-consecutive games with a TD tie HOF RB John Riggins and HOF RB O.J. Simpson for the 2^nd-most consecutive games (postseason included) with a TD in NFL history. 

UP NEXT: San Francisco concludes its two-game road trip with a Monday Night Football matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on 10/23 at 5:20pm at U.S. Bank Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates one of his three touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday OCT 8, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was only a matter of time before George Kittle had his own breakout game.

Kittle scored his first three touchdowns of the season, a career high, in the San Francisco 49ers 42-10 route of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium.

The 49ers all-pro tight end had three catches, all for touchdowns, with 67 yards as he tied a San Francisco franchise record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single game.

San Francisco has started the season 5-0 for the first time since starting 7-0 back in 2019. Dallas dropped to 3-2 on the season as both losses have been to NFC West opponents.

“We have a really good team, we’re healthy and we’re clicking right now,” Kittle said.

The 49ers scored on its opening possession. Quarterback Brock Purdy hooked up with Kittle on his first touchdown of the game, a 19-yarder, to finish off a seven play 75-yard drive.

It was not a good start for Dallas as they started with back-to-back three and outs as San Francisco’s defense led by Fred Warner, who played like a man possessed with eight tackles, a sack and an interception, kept the Cowboys from establishing any kind of a rhythm.

“Being the competitor that I am, I wanted us to be the top defense and I think we did that tonight,” Warner said.

Both teams exchanged fumbles. Warned punched the ball out of running back Tony Polard’s hands at their own nine-yard line, which was recovered by Kevin Givens at the 16-yard line. Then two plays later running back Christian McCaffery fumbled at the Dallas 2-yard line that was recovered by Jourdan Lewis.

The 49ers defense disrupted Prescott all game long as they intercepted him three times and sacked him three times. San Francisco won the turnover battle four to one.

Purdy connected with Kittle for their second touchdown of the game, a 38-yard touchdown reception after a reverse flee-flicker from McCaffery to Deebo Samuel who pitched it back to Purdy who then threw to a wide-open Kittle down the right sideline as he cruised into the end zone with 13:16 left in the second quarter.

“That play was a great a draw up,” said Purdy regarding the trick play. “We were excited we finally got to call it (in a game).”

The Cowboys cut the lead in half with a 11 play 78-yard drive when Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin for a 26-yard touchdown reception with 7:45 remaining in the first half.

The 49ers closed out the first half with a 21-7 lead when McCaffery rushed for his seventh touchdown of the season as he powered his way up the middle for a one-yard touchdown with 2:36 left in the second quarter. The all-pro running back has now scored a touchdown in a 49ers uniform in 14 consecutive games.

The Purdy-Kittle connection hooked up for a third touchdown of the night when Kittle got underneath the defense inside the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown reception on its first possession of the second half.

“Being able to see (Ex 49ers tight end) Vernon (Davis)pre-game. He told me to score three to tie his record. I was like (sigh) fine all right Vernon (Davis) I’ll do it, I’ll tell Brock…It was fun being able to get in the endzone,” Kittle said.

Purdy, who finished 17-for-24 for 252 yards with no interceptions, threw for his fourth touchdown of the game when he found fullback Kyle Juszczyk out in the flat for a one-yard touchdown reception with 14:19 left in the fourth quarter.

San Francisco scored its final touchdown after Prescott’s second interception. Backup running back Jordan Mason went untouched for a 26-yard rushing touchdown 20 seconds later.

It was a forgettable evening for Prescott as he finished 14-for-24 for 153 yards with one touchdown to go along with his three interceptions and quarterback rating of just 51.6. CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys in receiving with four catches for 49 yards.

Mason led the 49ers in rushing with 69 yards on 10 carries and McCaffery had a modest night with 51 yards on 19 carries. Brandon Aiyuk chipped in four catches for 58 yards. Pollard had a quiet game with only 29 yards on eight carries.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 6-for-11 on third down conversions. Dallas went 4-for-10.

San Francisco now leads the all-time series against Dallas 20-19-1.

Purdy remains undefeated in the regular season (10-0) and is 12-1 in his career with San Francisco.

The 49ers lead the NFL in first drive points with 31.

UP NEXT: San Francisco travels out to Cleveland to take on the Browns on Sunday 10/15 at 10:00am at FirstEnergy Stadium.