This isn’t as happy a Monday as we could have after,well… that. Regardless of how poorly the 49ers played yesterday, they are still in first place for a few more days. Unfortunately, the two teams we care about, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, won. And the 49ers have the Rams in a few days. Should the 49ers win that game, the Jaguars’ loss won’t sting nearly as much, and the 49ers will have beaten all their division rivals once.
But this is the 49ers. And I still don’t know what this team is.
Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
For a moment, you thought the Indianapolis Colts would help the 49ers out. Despite a turnover, they had a 10-3 lead over the Rams. Then lost it. Then had a chance to make it 17-13. Except, like the 49ers, they have issues holding onto the ball. Unlike the 49ers, they didn’t have anyone bashing into them to lose the ball:
The Colts managed to get the lead back in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13. The Rams tied it up thanks to a Puka Nacua touchdown on fourth and two with 3:21 left in the game. The Colts had another chance to take the lead with a would-be 53-yard touchdown run by running back Jonathan Taylor, but it got called back with a holding penalty.
The penalty, and botched touchdown showboat were both executed by Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
With a minute and a half left, Matthew Stafford found Tutu Atwell for a one-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that sealed things.
So now the Rams are 3-1 with their only loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile the Colts can go back to doing whatever it is the Colts do.
Seattle Seahawks (3-1)/Arizona Cardinals (2-2)
Before Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, I wasn’t feeling too concerned about either team in this matchup. I mean, the 49ers managed to beat both of them.
The Cardinals managed not to let the Seahawks run away with it and even had a chance to take the game to overtime in the final seconds. You had Marvin Harrison Jr., a draft pick approaching bust territory before (and at points during the) game, scoring the game-tying touchdown with left. Then, Arizona kicker Chad Ryland made an unfortunate brain fart on the ensuing kickoff, failing to kick the ball into the landing zone. The penalty gave the Seahawks enough field for a walk-off field goal, not unlike the way the Cardinals lost to the 49ers. Final score 23-20, Seahawks. It was somewhat similar to the 49ers-Cardinals game in Week 3, but the Seahawks had a more capable offense.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray went 27-41, getting a cool 200 yards passing. A very Kyler Murray-esque performance. At some point, the Cardinals are going to need to realize that throwing the ball is probably just as, if not more, important than running it. Yes, they are down a star running back, but the numbers Murray puts up just aren’t going to cut it.
But as a 49ers fan, keep him as long as you want.
The Seahawks defense is legit. I think we can all agree on that. I will also argue that the game was very much like when the Cardinals played the 49ers. If the 49ers had an offense, the 16-15 score might have been a bit different. Yes, there were missed penalties that could have benefited the Seahawks, but there were missed penalties that would have benefited the 49ers when they played the Cardinals.
Onto Week 5
The 49ers will be the only NFC West team on the road this week. They travel to SoFi Stadium Levi’s South for a divisional matchup against the Rams. It is a Thursday Night Football game and we know what comes with those. Regardless of the Jaguars, a win over the Rams should have the 49ers sitting comfortably.
The Cardinals will be hosting the Tennessee Titans. You think the Cardinals had issues after last week? Look to the Titans, who just got shut out by the Houston Texans. The Titans were a disaster on Sunday. Quarterback Cam Ward had a cool 10 completions for 108 yards and a passer rating of 35.4. Meanwhile, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has been struggling a bit, went 22 for 28, two touchdowns, and a 125.1 rating.
The Seahawks host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers looked like they may pull off the win against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, but a really bad interception by quarterback Baker Mayfield late put a stop to any of that. That could actually be a good game.
1st: San Francisco 49ers; Next: at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday Night Football)
2nd: Seattle Seahawks; Next: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3rd: Los Angeles Rams; Next: vs San Francisco 49ers
4th: Arizona Cardinals; Next: vs Tennesse Titans
About the Author: Insidethe49
