6-1.
The unbeaten run is over. The San Francisco 49ers lost 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons, and they did it in the most 49ers way possible: three turnovers, a missed extra point, and a parade of defensive penalties on the drive that decided it. Yes, they were injured and a loss was expected, but it was a brutal display of errors they simply couldn’t afford to make. Taking it one step further, even with backups, they were very uncharacteristic errors on top of it.
To make matters worse, the 49ers special teams picked a bad time to remember they were 49ers special teams, with some atrocious kickoff coverage letting the Falcons start with good field position.
It started fine. Running back Christian McCaffrey ripped off chunks on a 10-play opening touchdown drive, and when a thigh injury sent him to the sideline, rookie running back Kaelon Black ran in a 30-yard touchdown for a 14-3 lead. His first touchdown, mind you.
Then the giveaways started, the 49ers’ lead was blown, and anything bad that could happen, pretty much did.
After all the gifts, 29-20. The 49ers go into the bye up two games over the Seattle Seahawks, and desperately need to get healthy.
Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
The Seattle Seahawks beat embarrassed the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 on Sunday Night Football. That leaves the Minnesota Vikings as the lone undefeated team.
After two straight losses (which we, as 49ers fans, enjoyed), the Seahawks smothered Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 165 yards and an interception. Kansas City never reached the red zone.
Sam Darnold forgot he was Sam Darnold and went 20-of-28 for 257 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception, and not a single sack. Running back Emanuel Wilson also notched his first 100-yard game as a Seahawk against the Kansas City defense.
However, a bill is coming in injuries. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) and running back Velus Jones Jr. (hamstring) were ruled out, and left tackle Charles Cross was rolled up on in the fourth quarter.
To add insult to the Chiefs, running back Kenneth Walker, who left the Seahawks in the offseason for the Chiefs and was a sleeper MVP pick this year, got only 36 yards on 14 carries. Basically, Walker was doing what the Seahawks had been struggling to do up until this game: run the ball.
And thus, the Seahawks begin digging themselves out of the hole.
Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
The Arizona Cardinals put Larry Fitzgerald in their Ring of Honor and retired his No. 11 at halftime. Nice of the Denver Broncos to bring enough fans to make it feel like a road game. It was more Denver than it was Arizona, which is probably what you get as Arizona when you go into the game 2-4.
Then there was the actual game. A game Denver won 30-16. Arizona gave up a 62-yard touchdown run to quarterback Bo Nix and a 52-yard screen touchdown to running back R.J. Harvey, and the Broncos tied their season high in points.
Tight end Trey McBride caught 10 passes for 111 yards receiving and the Cardinals’ first touchdown in over 100 game minutes. Yes, you read that right: 100 game minutes. Congrats to McBride. Running back Bam Knight averaged nearly seven yards per carry. Those highlights aren’t going to matter because the Cardinals who marched for a walk-off win in Los Angeles last week couldn’t finish anything here. The Cardinals went 1-for-5 in the red zone, and they’re 12-of-28 on the season.
If you really want a single drive that can recap this game, just look to the final drive: five snaps inside the 1-yard line thanks to Denver penalties, a sack back to the 5, and nothing on fourth down.
I don’t think 49ers fans need to worry about the Cardinals this year…
Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
The Los Angeles Rams are no longer in last place. It’s not quite “Ram-ing” it, but going to third place is certainly progress. They beat the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21, and it was closer than that sounds—at least in the fourth quarter when the Raiders managed 15 points and their first two touchdowns.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three first-half touchdowns, and running back Kyren Williams added one on the ground for a 28-6 halftime lead. Then the Rams did Rams things. Las Vegas converted a fake punt. Williams fumbled. Running back Blake Corum’s touchdown run came back on a facemask. Stafford threw an interception when tight end Colby Parkinson popped the ball into the air. Corum finally put it away late with a rushing score.
Special teams, turnovers, penalties: the same problems that have followed this team all season. They just won anyway. The Raiders, meanwhile, are starting to remember they are the Raiders. This was not the game we wanted them to remember that detail.
Onto Week 8
The 49ers are on bye. This means Christian McCaffrey’s thigh also gets a bye. It also means that we can do something else on Sunday. So, bye.
The Seahawks host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Bears had quite a Thursday Night Football game, beating the New England Patriots 30-24. Playing on Thursday night gives them extra rest before they travel to Seattle. If anyone can get the 49ers’ three-game lead back, it’s da Bears. Do it for Ditka.
The Cardinals travel to face the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are doing NFC East things on Monday Night Football, but sit at 2-4 as of this writing. The NFC East hasn’t been anything special lately, and that shouldn’t change after Monday. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a Cardinals win here.
The Rams host the Los Angeles Chargers in the battle for Levi’s South housesitters SoFi Stadium. The Chargers have failed to win a game yet this season, so maybe Jim Harbaugh and company can get their first victory over the Rams. The last thing 49ers fans want is to have the Rams crawling back into this, so there’s a three-way battle for the division. Please Chargers?
1st:San Francisco 49ers; Next: BYE
2nd:Seattle Seahawks; Next: vs. Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)
3rd:Los Angeles Rams; Next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
4th:Arizona Cardinals; Next: at Dallas Cowboys