There are losses, and then there are games that make you question everything.
The 49ers’ loss last week to the Vikings was just a loss. Minnesota played well, the Niners struggle against that defensive scheme. The loss wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the end of the world either.
Sunday could have brought the end of the world.
How else would you describe a collapse of such magnitude?
The Niners blew a 14-point second-half lead and a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to lose in regulation to the Rams and fall to 1-2 on the season.
And if you’d like, here are three highlights and three misses of the game. (I’m guessing the latter will be read first.)
Studs
Jauan Jennings
» You couldn’t ask for more from the 49ers’ No. 3 receiver. With Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out and the Rams’ passing game focus, rightly, on Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings had to step up.
I would say two touchdowns, big first downs and great blocking all in the first quarter is a step forward.
He finished the game with three touchdowns on 11 receptions for 175 yards. It was the game of his life, and he would have been voted Super Bowl MVP last February.
And again, it was in vain.
Brock Purdy
» Yes, the Niners collapsed, but it would be hard to pin that loss on the Niners quarterback, who completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and the aforementioned three touchdowns.
Purdy has had the Niners’ offense under control, posting a 19.2 EPA and a 77.6 QBR rating. That’s high-level play.
He also rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries and extended plays like Russell Wilson’s best.
If Ronnie Bell had caught that pass in the fourth quarter, we’d be having a whole different conversation about this team. Sadly, he didn’t, but don’t pretend the quarterback is at fault after throwing a perfect pass to the receiver.
Nick Bosa
» The second-best defensive end in Sunday’s game was Sam Okuayinou.
He was a practice squad player who was called up for the game and played a limited number of snaps.
So no, Nick Bosa didn’t get much help against the Rams.
But he still made an impact, consistently exploding plays in the backfield, giving the Niners’ defense a chance on Sunday.
The stat sheet won’t show it, but he had a great game.
NIPPES
De’Vondre Campbell
» He was attacked again and again and again, the biggest exploitation coming on the game-changing defensive play, when Matt Stafford threw to Colby Parkinson down the right sideline, knowing Campbell was in man coverage and would have no chance of defending him.
He was right. After all, he had burned Campbell in the red zone for a touchdown pass earlier in the game.
Two plays after the PI, the Rams kicked a game-winning field goal.
Campbell has struggled mightily so far this season, and the Niners don’t have a seemingly healthy replacement on their roster.
But until the Niners staff decides to take a chance on someone else, expect these games to become commonplace.
Ronnie Bell
» Bell received two assists on Sunday.
Both of them clapped against his hands in an almost cartoonish manner.
The first one didn’t change the game. Price cuts are coming. (Especially with Bell.)
The second one cost the 49ers the game. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.
On a second-and-7 from their own 43-yard line, with the game tied with 1:08 left, Brock Purdy threw a perfect pass to Bell just outside the right numbers on the field at the Los Angeles 35-yard line.
The pass hit Bell, who was facing the quarterback, in both hands, right in front of his face.
CLICKING.
If he had caught the pass, the Niners would have been in field goal range and likely would have won a few snaps later.
Instead, Purdy was tackled on the next third down, while center Jake Brendel was pushed onto his butt (again), and the Niners quarterback couldn’t escape the pressure. The Niners punt was returned to the 50-yard line, and that’s when Campbell arrived.
Charvarius district
“His tackling in the running game has been extremely suspect, and opposing teams have picked up on that, going straight at him, especially in big moments.
They’re now attacking Ward in the passing game, too. Ward’s coverage has been anything but elite the last two games, and the fact that he was burned by Tutu Atwell late in the fourth quarter Sunday, setting up the tying touchdown, showed the Rams were waiting for the right moment to burn him.
Between Campbell and Ward on Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay made some devilish plays to attack two weak links at the right time.
Evil genius stuff.
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