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That was frustrating.
The San Francisco 49ers blew an opportunity to get back to .500 after losing 27-13 to the New Orleans Saints. The Niners turned the ball over four times and wasted a great performance by the defense.
San Francisco heads into its much-needed BYE Week at 4-6 and will likely miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The injuries killed any hope of a return trip to the Super Bowl, but there are no excuses for how the offense looked against New Orleans.
Here are some Twitter reactions to the 49ers loss to the Saints.
How it started:
#49ers TOUCHDOWN drive eats up 7:17
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 15, 2020
Mullens 4-yard scoring strike to Aiyuk
Mullens 6-7 47 yards to open
Great opening Drive!!!!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) November 15, 2020
It looked good early for the offense and the defense did its job:
#49ers defense forces a 3-and-out vs. Drew Brees (1-of-2)
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 15, 2020
Time for another 75-yard scoring drive by Nick Mullens & crew?
Then it got even better:
Muffed punt, and Marcell Harris with the fumble recovery.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) November 15, 2020
However, the running game didn’t get in on the early fun:
Jerick McKinnon: 8 carries, 14 yards. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 15, 2020
Going up 10-0 and controlling the clock felt good for about three minutes until this happened:
#Saints Deonte Harris scoots 75 yards down the right sideline. Ran about as fast as me away from Bourbon Street last night
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 15, 2020
Again, the defense stepped up and held the Saints to a field goal:
The #Saints now have 2 yards of offense.
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) November 15, 2020
TWO.
No first downs
6 plays
2:29 TOP
Brees is 1/4 for 3 yards
39.6 rating.
And that was when the wheels started coming off the bus:
Nick Mullens always looks so stressed.
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2020
Same here, Biderman!
No clue why Trent Taylor didn’t just catch that.
— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) November 15, 2020
Also, a reminder that the NFL officiating stinks at times. Especially when the 49ers lay a hand on Brees:
The @NFL Roughing the Passer call on Street as he sacked Brees was a huge BS call. Watch it as many times as you like, it was a clean wrap-up and Street didn’t land on him. That TD was a gift and the game should have an asterisk. #SFvsNO pic.twitter.com/hEZOpUMYLm
— Josh McClure (@JoshMMcClure) November 15, 2020
Kentavius Street did absolutely nothing wrong on that sack. He didn't make contact to the head, wrapped up and rolled off to the side rather than falling on Brees. He should not have been flagged there. #49ers
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2020
That is ridiculous. He turned to the side. Nothing more he can do?
— Solomon Thomas (@SollyThomas90) November 15, 2020
No, we are not JLC:
— The Mark ᶜᵒˡᵉ of the Beast (@viznix) November 15, 2020
This would have been nice to see, Barrows:
Imagine: A healthy George Kittle + a healthy Jordan Reed?
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 15, 2020
The Niners were in position to retake the lead and these were the back-to-back play calls:
It was third and less than a yard and the #49ers elect to pass, which falls incomplete at Aiyuk's feet. #SFvsNO
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2020
The fourth down play is blown up and that's a turnover on downs for the #49ers. A QB sneak looked like it would've done it on both third and fourth down. #SFvsNO
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2020
The Saints went ahead and the Niners never recovered:
It took the Saints 35 seconds to score after the failed fourth down play.
— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) November 15, 2020
How were the 49ers trailing at half time?
VERY lopsided stats at the half
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) November 15, 2020
SF 10
NO 17#49ers
13 first downs
40 plays
166 yards
125 pass
41 rush
4.2 yards per play
22:00 TOP#Saints
6 first downs
21 plays
90 yards
76 pass
14 rush
4.3 yards per play
8:00 TOP
We all know what happened after this, so let’s summarize Nick Mullens’ second half:
The #49ers, at worst, could’ve had a 50-yard FG attempt. Instead, Mullens throws a pick.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) November 15, 2020
Nick Mullens got the worst QB Vision ever. pic.twitter.com/2ZwiLC0VNf
— Alex. (@Dubs408) November 15, 2020
Kyler Murray hits a game-winning throw from mid-field on the move.
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) November 16, 2020
Nick Mullens underthrows a fade in the end zone with a clean pocket.
live look at Nick Mullens pic.twitter.com/OLeiGRcTZp
— Peter Pandemic (@The_JayDog) November 16, 2020
How it ended:
Never wanna hear about Nick Mullens being a starter ever again.
— Papa Conks (@PapaConks) November 16, 2020
So happy next week is a bye week can’t watch nick mullens play quarterback again
— grant (@Whiteboyygrant) November 16, 2020
More accurate than nick mullens
— President Airbud (@Airbudburner) November 16, 2020
Enjoy the BYE Week!