Plus, tracking Jordan Mason and how the special teams luck did not work out so well after all
The 49ers managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on Sunday.
San Francisco entered the locker room at halftime with 23 points and a 13-point lead. At the end of the game, the 49ers walked into their locker room with 23 points as the losing side. A couple of weeks ago, it was the Los Angeles Rams, and on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals took advantage of a San Francisco collapse.
There wasn’t one big reason the 49ers fell apart in the second half, but many factors played into it. A quick review of the 49ers second NFC West loss of the season:
The Brock Purdy Experience
If Brock Purdy ever gets a Michael Vick experience-style commercial, it would be a nausea-inducing ride that ends in a seven-yard gain and getting out of bounds after getting the first down. Sometimes, I am unsure Purdy knows where his legs are going; his body is just along for the ride.
Sometimes, that chaos can lead to good things, like the three first downs Purdy scrambled for. But sometimes, that chaos can lead to negatives, like taking a sack after running around for 11 seconds, setting up a third-and-23, and knocking the offense out of the already limited field goal range.
Purdy’s entire game–both with his feet and arm–was a roller coaster experience. Kyle Shanahan put a lot of trust in Purdy, having the quarterback drop back 41 times–35 pass attempts, two sacks, and four scrambles. And there were some ups. Purdy relied heavily on Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, targeting the duo 24 times, with Aiyuk’s best performance of the season and connecting with Kittle for San Francisco’s lone offensive touchdown.
Unfortunately, the Purdy coaster had more downs than ups. Purdy threw two second-half interceptions and turned the ball over at least once for the fourth consecutive game, the longest streak of his career.
There were a couple of throws in the second quarter that, with better accuracy, could have resulted in touchdowns. With the offense knocking on the door inside the Arizona five, Purdy found Kittle in the flats with the pylon near, but the throw was high, forcing Kittle to halt his momentum to secure the catch short of the goal line. Two plays later, the 49ers would choose to kick a field goal. With the quarter coming to a close, nearing the red zone, Jauan Jennings had a step on Jalen Thompson, but Purdy didn’t get enough on the throw to lead Jennings, allowing Thompson to catch up and force an incompletion.
Purdy has impressed in recent weeks, but there was too much commotion in his game on Sunday, and there’s a case to be made it cost the 49ers the game.
Special teams play of the game
Finally! An unexpected positive special teams play for the 49ers to review.
Arizona had a chance to tie the game at 13 late in the first half, with Chad Ryland lined up to attempt a 45-yard field goal. The kick got off the ground but not for long, colliding with Jordan Elliott’s massive, fully extended hand, knocking the ball down at the line. The ball took a favorable 49ers bounce into the pocket of Deommodore Lenoir, who returned it for a touchdown.
THE 49ERS ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT ALL THE WAY BACK!
A BLOCKED FG FOR A TOUCHDOWN!!
: FOX pic.twitter.com/LKrMalnGMi
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024
Not only was it a ten-point swing, but one forced by a special teams unit known more for its mistakes finally got one to go their way. It could even be a sign from the football gods that the 49ers’ special teams’ luck was turning.
The special teams’ luck did not turn
Coming off the Lenior score, San Francisco kicked the ball back to Arizona with DeeJay Dallas back to return. Dallas took the ball out of the endzone and got a decent return of 38 yards.
During the return, Dallas ran through a Jake Moody tackle attempt–Moody entered Sunday with zero career tackles–rolling Moody’s right ankle in the process. Moody had to be helped off the field and later carted to the locker room.
Not even five real-time minutes later, the blocked field goal returned for a touchdown was rendered the 49ers’ second-most important special teams play.
From there, the game strategy changed. Mitch Wishnowsky would make a 28-yard field goal before halftime but wasn’t to be trusted on Sunday. With a chance to extend a ten-point lead, a Jenning penalty and a Purdy sack set the 49ers back to a fourth-and-23 at the Arizona 27. Unsure if Wishnowsky could handle a 45-yard attempt, Shanahan was forced to keep the offense out to try the fourth and forever. Kittle got rocked as he tried to haul in Purdy’s pass–short of the marker, might I add–and the drive ended. Arizona would respond with a touchdown and the two-point conversion to cut the San Francisco lead to two.
Even on the 49ers’ final offensive possession, what would be considered comfortable field goal range for Wishnowsky? 30 yards? 25? The Moody injury ultimately led to the 49ers’ need for a touchdown in a situation where a field goal would suffice.
Somehow, the San Francisco special teams unit found a way to make an impact in a 49ers loss.
Introducing the Jordan Mason tracker
This tracker strictly depends on Christian McCaffrey’s health but is something to keep an eye on. After finding out he’d be the Week 1 starter a mere few hours before the start of the season, Mason has been on a pace that’s better than McCaffrey’s impressive 2023 season.
And that’s where we will begin to track. The most rushing yards through five games in 49ers franchise history:
- Jordan Mason (2024) – 536
- Chrsitain McCaffrey (2023) – 510
- Garrison Heart (1998) – 481
- Wendell Tyler (1984) – 477
- Frank Gore (2006) – 465
Not too bad for a running back who made his first career start this season. Mason added 89 yards to his total on 14 carries on Sunday but was held without a touchdown for just the second game this season. His 34-yard run in the second quarter was the 49ers’ longest run of the season and Mason’s first 30-yard rush of the season, and even then, it wasn’t the impressive run of the day for him. The running back sent Sean Murphy-Bunting to the shadow realm with a stiff yard en route to a 20-yard run, but that drive would end with a Mason fumble.
The start of Mason’s season has been remarkable, and he’s earned a better touch share for whenever McCaffrey returns. We will periodically keep track of Mason’s progress as he attempts to climb up the ranks of 49ers’ history.