The San Francisco 49ers suffered yet another late collapse, falling to the New York Giants 27-23 on Monday Night Football in Week 10. And those fourth-quarter meltdowns have become something of a theme for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.
For the fourth time this season, the San Francisco 49ers were unable to preserve a fourth-quarter lead, ultimately letting it slip away en route to what has now become a 2-8 record in 2018.
This, after falling to the previously one-win New York Giants 27-23 on Monday Night Football in Week 10.
The Niners coughed up a late lead to the Los Angeles Chargers back in Week 4 and saw prime-time hopes evaporate against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night back in Week 6. Then there was the embarrassing fourth-quarter meltdown to the paltry Arizona Cardinals in Week 8 during which the 49ers held a 12-point lead against a rookie quarterback, Josh Rosen, and an inept Cardinals offense.
Now this loss to New York.
"I thought we put ourselves in a position where we should have won that game," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters following Monday's loss. "We're up 20-10 after the first drive in the third quarter, and we gave up a big kick return right after that, followed by two explosive [plays] that got them right back in it, 20-17.
"I thought we had a chance to step on their throat, but we didn't."
San Francisco held a 20-10 lead in the third quarter and managed to hold onto a 23-20 advantage early in the fourth. And for nearly three quarters, the 49ers did a decent job moving the ball on the ground with running back Matt Breida, who crested 100 yards rushing for the first time this season since Week 2 versus the Detroit Lions. Breida also added a touchdown on the ground and an 11-yard touchdown reception through the air too, marking the only time the Niners found the end zone.
Yet a series of mistakes and miscues ultimately cost the 49ers the lead late.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin saw a pass bounce off his hands and into the waiting arms of Giants defensive back B.J. Goodson, who recorded both of the interceptions off 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens.
"It looked like the ball was a little bit behind him," Shanahan admitted. "I would have loved Nick to have thrown a better ball, and I expect Marquise to catch that regardless."
Mullens isn't ultimately to blame for the loss, as he finished with 250 yards passing on the game. And one could argue the second pick he tossed was more on Goodwin than the quarterback.
Instead, a number of key defensive miscuses late hurt San Francisco. There were costly penalties against cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and linebacker Malcolm Smith, which helped extend New York's eventual game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Witherspoon allowed another touchdown earlier to Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., although the 49ers cornerback was expecting safety Jimmie Ward to come over and provide over-the-top help.
Ward didn't. A Giants score.
Just as costly was the fact the Niners pass rush was virtually non-existent. After registering a whopping eight sacks against the Oakland Raiders back in Week 9, the 49ers defense mustered just one on Manning -- split between defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Dekoda Watson -- amid a Giants offense that had allowed more sacks this season than any other team entering Week 10 (31).
A bad pass rush usually equates to a bad secondary. For San Francisco, it's clearly the case.
"We had multiple opportunities to end it and didn't," tight end George Kittle said afterwards. "So it's obviously something we need to figure out, because it's happened multiple times this season."
It doesn't help the vast majority of the defense is comprised by second- and third-string players either. Witherspoon has regressed to being a mere rotational player, while safety Antone Exum Jr. (starting in place of the injured Jaquiski Tartt) is a fringe contributor on the roster. So while the defensive play calling under coordinator Robert Saleh is questionable -- especially blitzing against Manning, who still is one of the NFL's best operating against such -- the lack of talent and depth is certainly telling.
On both sides of the ball too.
49ers Passing/Rushing/Receiving leaders are...
-Rookie UDFA QB
-2nd year UDFA RB
-2nd year 5th rd pick TEAnd people are mad at Kyle Shanahan for the team only putting up 23 points?
— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) November 13, 2018
The 49ers will look to regroup on their Week 11 bye before taking to the road to face off against the struggling 3-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
