There are defeats, and then there are games that make you question everything.
The 49ers’ loss to the Vikings last week was just a loss. Minnesota played great and the Niners have problems with that defense. The loss wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the end of the world.
The 49ers’ collapse against the Rams on Sunday may have brought about the end of the world.
What else would you call a collapse of this magnitude?
The Niners blew a 14-point second-half and 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Rams in regulation time, dropping to 1-2 on the season.
And if you’re interested, here are three stars and three losers from the game. (I assume the latter will be read first.)
Bolt
Juan Jennings
» You can’t ask for more from the 49ers’ No. 3 wide receiver. With Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out and the Rams’ focus in the passing game rightly on Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings had to step in.
I would say two touchdowns, big first downs and excellent blocking, all in the first quarter, counts as an improvement.
He finished the game with three touchdowns after catching 11 passes for 175 yards. It was the game of his life, and last February he would have been the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player.
And again it was in vain.
Brock Purdy
» Yes, the Niners collapsed, but it would be difficult to blame that loss on the Niners’ quarterback, who completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and the three touchdowns mentioned above.
Purdy had the Niners’ offense completely under control, posting a total EPA of 19.2 and a QBR rating of 77.6. This is a high-level game.
He also ran for 41 yards on 10 attempts and extended plays like Russell Wilson in his prime.
Had Ronnie Bell caught that pass in the fourth quarter, we’d be having a very different discussion about this team today. Unfortunately, he didn’t, but don’t act like the quarterback is to blame after he made a perfect throw to the receiver.
Nick Bosa
» The second best defensive end in Sunday’s game was Sam Okuayinou.
He is a practice squad player who was called up for the game and has made only a few appearances.
So no, Nick Bosa didn’t get much help against the Rams.
Still, he made an impression by breaking up plays in the backfield and giving the Niners defense a chance on Sunday.
It may not be evident from the statistics, but he played a great game.
Unexploded bombs
De’Vondre Campbell
» Was attacked repeatedly. The biggest abuse came on the game-winning defensive play when Matt Stafford threw the ball to Colby Parkinson down the right sideline, even though he knew Campbell was in one-on-one coverage and would have no chance to defend.
He was right. After all, he had caught Campbell off guard in the red zone earlier in the game for a touchdown pass.
Two plays after the pass interference call against Campbell, the Rams kicked a game-winning field goal.
Campbell has struggled so far this season and the Niners apparently do not have a healthy replacement on the roster.
But until the Niners coaching staff decides to bring in someone else, these plays will likely become the norm.
Ronnie Bell
» Bell had two passes thrown to him on Sunday.
Both clinked from his hands in an almost cartoonish manner.
The first one wasn’t a turning point. Drops happen. (Especially with Bell.)
The second game was a loss for the 49ers. There is no sugarcoating that.
On second-and-7 from their own 43-yard line with 1:08 to play in a tied game, Brock Purdy threw a perfect pass to Bell, just outside the correct numbers on the field at the Los Angeles 35-yard line.
The pass hit Bell, who was facing the quarterback, with both hands directly in front of his face.
RATTLE.
Had he caught the pass, the Niners would have been within field goal range and likely would have won a few snaps later.
Instead, Purdy came under pressure on the ensuing third-down play when center Jake Brendel was shoved on his backside (again), forcing the Niners quarterback to run two yards. The Niners’ punt was returned to the 50-yard line, and then Campbell came.
Charvarius District
» His tackling in the running game was extremely questionable and opposing teams saw through that and went straight for him, especially in the crucial moments.
They’re now attacking Ward in the passing game, too. Ward’s coverage has been less than stellar over the last two games, and when he was run over by Tutu Atwell late in the fourth quarter on Sunday, setting up the game-tying touchdown, it showed that the Rams had been waiting for the right moment to run over him.
Between Campbell and Ward, Rams coach Sean McVay chose some devilish plays on Sunday to attack two weak spots at just the right time.
Evil genius stuff.
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