It was another Groundhog’s day game for the San Francisco 49ers, getting off to a fast start and then a total collapse in the second half. No one seems to be able to put their finger on what happens to cause the utter implosion, although today’s second half was partially due to the injuries accrued on the offense. Here are your winners and losers.
Winners:
Carlos Hyde
Hyde finished the day with a career high 200 yards from scrimmage which makes him the first 49er to reach that mark since Anquan Boldin did it in 2013 with 13 receptions for 208 yards vs. Green Bay. This was Hyde’s second 100 yard game of the season and the third of his NFL career. His previous game high was 168 yards in last season’s home opener vs. Minnesota. Hyde’s 193 rushing yards are the sixth most in a single game in franchise history. Frank Gore holds the top two spots on that list with 212 yards and 207 yards, both of those games were facing Seattle.
The Pass Rush
After registering only 20 sacks in the entire season, which is 2nd fewest in the league, the 49ers sacked Bryce Petty six times. The 49ers have not had this many sacks in a game since 2013 vs. Washington. Gerald Hodges registered his third sack of the year and 3.5 of his career. DeForest Buckner recorded two sacks marking his second career multi-sack game and the fourth and fifth sacks of his career. Aaron Lynch and Ronald Blair combined for one sack and Jaquiski Tartt got his first sack of the season.
Losers:
Phil Dawson
He’s been a winner so many times, it honestly hurts to put him in the loser category. Unfortunately, missing two field goals, which is completely uncharacteristic of Dawson, made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. The 49ers may have lost anyways and just prolonged our agony, but it would have made it six points more difficult.
49ers Passing Game
What seemed to be a decent showing the first half turned stagnant in the second. There was little worry about the passing game with 180 yards on the ground in the first half. Colin Kaepernick logged 116 yards through the air which was a balanced enough offense to have he scoreboard read 17-3 in favor of the 49ers. Unfortunately, 17 yards in the passing game in the second half is simply not enough. Yes, you read that correctly, 17 yards passing in the entire second half.
49ers Health
The team lost three starters during the game, all on the offensive side of the ball. Torrey Smith sustained a concussion after his head slammed into the ground on an awkward landing, also possibly aggravating his right shoulder as well. Vance McDonald injured his shoulder after signing a 5 year 35 million extension and was seen in the locker room with his left arm in a sling. Daniel Kilgore left the game with a leg injury, possibly a hamstring. His injury, along with Staley’s absence created a shuffle effect on the offensive line. The OL line up ended up with Zane Beadles at LT, Andrew Tiller at LG, Marcus Martin at C, Joshua Garnett at RG and Trent Brown at RT.
The Fans
It was another week where you think your team has a chance, only for that hope to be snatched away like you’re being woken up from a dream by a fire alarm. There is no action by the ownership or front office to make you feel like anything is being done to make changes and the product on the field is difficult to watch. In my opinion the Yorks do want to win, but they just don’t know how. Eddie DeBartolo had a knack for finding successful people which is a quality we have yet to see from Jed (except for the one with whom he mutually parted ways). Yes, losing means a better draft pick but that’s like giving someone an avocado pit as a gift, telling them you’re giving them future avocados that will grow after they plant it.
The 49ers head to Atlanta next week to face the Falcons who just scored 42 points against the Rams without WRs Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. Stock your bars and refrigerators.