The San Francisco 49ers are back in action in Week 14, either looking to snap their franchise record 11-game losing streak, or securing their chances at a top-two pick. The 49ers dropped a 26-6 loss to the Chicago Bears last week. They entered the game looking like they might be improving. They took a 6-0 lead, but a late second quarter touchdown set Chicago on a 26-point run. The 49ers dropped to 1-11 with the loss.
This week, the 49ers are home facing the New York Jets. The Jets sit at 3-9 following an ugly 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. The game kicks off at 1:05 p.m. PT on CBS with Greg Gumbel and Trent Green in the booth, and Jamie Erdahl handling sideline duties. The television broadcast has a few random locations alongside the regional broadcasts in Northern California and New York/New Jersey. We broke down the broadcast maps here.
This game has draft implications, but nothing like last week against the Bears. The 49ers have all but secured a top five pick, but a loss to the Jets would all but assure the 49ers a top two pick. They are currently 1-11, sitting a game ahead of the 2-10 Jacksonville Jaguars. If the 49ers win and the Jaguars lose, the 49ers will be tied for second, with strength of schedule the difference. The 49ers have an edge on the Jaguars for the time being (.516 vs. .542).
The big news this week is the quarterback situation. Chip Kelly benched quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the fourth quarter last week. Blaine Gabbert finished out the game, but Kelly decided to stick with Kaepernick as the starter. The Jets benched quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick at halftime of their Week 13 loss. Bryce Petty took over and after the game, head coach Todd Bowles said the plan entering the game had been for Petty to start the final four games of the season.
The 49ers head into this game with Joe Staley unlikely to play. Staley suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday, and was added to the injury report on Thursday. He sat out Thursday and Friday, and is listed as doubtful. If he does not play, Zane Beadles would most likely move to left tackle, and Andrew Tiller would slot in at left guard.
Aaron Lynch and Quinton Dial are both listed as questionable. Dial suffered an elbow injury last week, and got in limited work on Thursday and Friday. Lynch has been out with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 7. He has been limited in practice for most of the last month, but Chip Kelly said on Friday that the coaches, “anticipate getting [him] back this week.” Inactives are announced at 11:35 a.m. PT, at which point we’ll know what is up with the questionable players.
The Jets are dealing with an extensive injury report. They will be without right tackle Breno Giacomini, outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, and nose tackle Steve McLendon. Gang Green Nation broke it down for us on Friday.
The 49ers are a field goal favorite against the Jets. The 49ers opened as a one-point favorite, but those lines closed until the quarterback situations were resolved. The line re-opened at 49ers -2.5, and has since climbed to three. It is the second time this season the 49ers will be favored. It also marks the first time since 1993 that a 1-11 team has been favored. In 1993, the 1-11 Patriots were 5.5-point home favorites against the 1-11 Cincinnati Bengals. The Patriots won the game 7-2. Seriously.
Nuts and bolts
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Game time: Sunday, December 11, 1:05 p.m. PT
TV channel: CBS
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass
Radio: 810-AM, 107.7 (Ted Robinson, Tim Ryan) | Full listings
Spanish Radio: KTRB 860-AM (Jesus Zarate, Luis Landero/Gabriel Sotelo)
Matchup history: 17-5
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl
Enemy blog: Gang Green Nation
Twitter: @ninersnation
Facebook: Go ahead and give us a like!
49ers regular season schedule
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams - 28-0 WIN
Week 2: @ Carolina Panthers - 46-27 LOSS
Week 3: @ Seattle Seahawks - 37-18 LOSS
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys - 24-17 LOSS
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals - 33-21 LOSS
Week 6: @ Buffalo Bills - 45-16 LOSS
Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 34-17 LOSS
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints - 41-23 LOSS
Week 10: @ Arizona Cardinals - 23-20 LOSS
Week 11: vs. New England Patriots - 30-17 LOSS
Week 12: @ Miami Dolphins - 31-24 LOSS
Week 13: @ Chicago Bears - 26-6 LOSS
Week 14: vs. New York Jets, 1:05 p.m., CBS Sunday, December 11
Week 15: @ Atlanta Falcons, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, December 18
Week 16: @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., FOX Saturday, December 24
Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, January 1