0 of three
Jed Jacobsohn/Associated Press
The rematch of closing season’s NFC Championship Sport didn’t flow as properly for the San Francisco 49ers this time around.
On Thursday night, the 49ers misplaced to the Green Bay Packers 34-17 at Levi’s Stadium, falling to 4-5 this season. It became San Francisco’s 2nd loss in a span of 5 days, and it fell to 1-4 at dwelling this year.
The Packers scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, and they managed it the the leisure of the manner, building an 18-level lead by halftime. The 49ers trailed 34-3 with 5 minutes to head in the contest sooner than scoring two leisurely touchdowns to fetch the uncover rather nearer.
Or now not it has been a tough season up to now for San Francisco, which entered with high aspirations after winning the NFC title closing season and playing in Ultimate Bowl LIV. But it absolutely’s starting to lag out of time to fetch things aid heading in the real direction if it hopes to fetch the playoffs over again this season, specifically since the NFC West is currently the toughest division in the NFL.
Listed right here are three takeaways from the 49ers’ loss on Thursday night.
1 of three
Tony Avelar/Associated Press
Who exactly were the 49ers missing on offense? Get ready, for this reason is a prolonged checklist.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (high ankle sprain), running backs Raheem Mostert (high ankle sprain) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (high ankle sprain) and tight pause George Kittle (foot smash) are all on injured reserve. Working aid Tevin Coleman became out with a knee hurt. Huge receivers Kendrick Bourne, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel and left take care of Trent Williams were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 checklist and sat out. Samuel would accept as true with neglected the game regardless thanks to a hamstring hurt.
So, as you might maybe ask, San Francisco’s offense didn’t be aware mighty in opposition to Green Bay. Its first eight possessions resulted in four punts, an interception, a misplaced fumble, a turnover on downs and a important-quarter discipline aim by Robbie Gould, which became its lone aspects for the most valuable 55 minutes of the game.
“We knew it became going to be a blueprint back,” head coach Kyle Shanahan stated, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. “We knew first and most valuable of the week it can maybe maybe be a blueprint back. Shedding those three guys [to the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday] would be a larger blueprint back. I peaceable thought we can accept as true with a game. … I know we can accept as true with done better.”
But if the 49ers don’t fetch more healthy, there might be a probability things obtained’t admire worthy better. They had only 337 yards of total offense, 155 of which came on their final two drives that resulted in touchdowns when the game became out of hand. They went 3-for-10 on third downs. They rushed for lower than 55 yards. And they had the ball for lower than 23 minutes, 30 seconds.
Even though San Francisco will get some key players aid, Garoppolo and Kittle tend to omit tall time, so things also can continue to be tricky for this offense fascinating forward.
2 of three
Tony Avelar/Associated Press
Within the event you bewitch, it became the 49ers’ protection that powered them to the NFC title closing season. In its victory over Green Bay in the convention championship game, San Francisco compelled three turnovers and held a potent Packers offense to 358 total yards in a 37-20 victory.
On Thursday, Green Bay racked up 405 total yards of offense, powered by a mountainous night from oldschool quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who went 25-for-31 for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. San Francisco compelled no turnovers, allowed 21 first downs and had only one sack.
True admire the offense, the protection is also missing some key players. Defensive pause Cut Bosa is out for the year with a torn left ACL. Neither defensive pause Dee Ford (aid) nor cornerback Richard Sherman (calf) accept as true with performed since Week 1. So a key clarification why the 49ers don’t admire reasonably as stable on protection infrequently is thanks to these losses.
But fetch no mistake about it, San Francisco’s protection is peaceable a solid unit, specifically when or now not it’s more healthy and now not facing offenses reasonably as stable as Green Bay’s. Without reference to Thursday’s tricky displaying, the 49ers are allowing 324.7 total yards per game, which ranks seventh ultimate in the NFL.
It factual might maybe now not be ultimate to ask the identical vogue of dominant defensive performances that the 49ers so continually had in 2019. San Francisco’s offense did it no favors by forcing the protection to be on the discipline for see you later, and that might maybe continue to be a blueprint back that causes each and every gadgets to fight fascinating forward.
3 of three
Tony Avelar/Associated Press
Here’s the upright info for the 49ers: They accept as true with got only one game in the subsequent 23 days, so there might be quite lots of time to fetch wholesome. The frightful info: Their subsequent three games are in opposition to the Contemporary Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills, a trio of teams with a blended listing of 16-7.
Maybe San Francisco’s results will seemingly be better, though, once it will get some leisure. It has a tough road matchup at Contemporary Orleans on Nov. 15, but then its subsequent game is now not till Nov. 29 at Los Angeles.
“You might also uncover we’re rather bit drained,” wide receiver Richie James stated, per Dubow. “We will be all upright after we fetch a few days to get well and regroup and fetch your mindset aid where we must flow.”
The 49ers might even accept as true with a tough time getting to the postseason, though. In line with ESPN Stats & Recordsdata, San Francisco is the 22nd defending convention champion to accept as true with a losing listing after 9 games. Of the most valuable 21 teams to be in this location, only three accept as true with long previous on to fetch the playoffs—the 2018 Eagles, the 2015 Seahawks and the 1995 Chargers.
With three games in opposition to their NFC West rivals final, the 49ers can peaceable fetch up floor. But they face the 5-2 Cardinals and the 6-1 Seahawks in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively, and they’ve already misplaced to each and every teams this season. If San Francisco is going to turn this season around, or now not it will bewitch victories in opposition to quality opponents down the stretch.
