The theme of last night’s game is dropped balls. None was more apparent than Deebo Samuel’s drop midway thru the third quarter. The Niners had driven the ball to just outside the red-zone. Brock Purdy takes the snap and throws the ball in-stride to Deebo who was running a slot slant with nothing but daylight to the end-zone. He dropped it. The Niners settled for a field goal.
During the next drive, on a 2nd and 20, Purdy targeted Samuel on a deep post and the ball went right through Deebo’s hands. Had he caught it, the drive would have continued as he would have secured a first down.
Last week Deebo noted he was not getting the ball. Coach Shanahan and Brock Purdy gave Deebo seven opportunities thru the air to get the ball and he only managed to make three receptions for a paltry sixteen yards. He was given chances, and he failed.
Deebo was not the only player that struggled. Jauan Jennings had an uncharacteristically tough night as well. Targeted nine times, he was only able to pull in two receptions. A couple of those balls were tipped away, but not all of them.
Brock Purdy targeted five receivers 31 times and only fourteen receptions were made. One might blame the weather. Six of those passes were tipped away by defenders. One pass was an interception due to a Purdy anticipatory throw that overshot its mark. The remaining ten passes were flat out drops by George Kittle, Jennings, Deebo and Ricky Pearsall. The only receiver that caught all his targets was rookie running back Isaac Guerendo.
The 49ers defense should be proud of their performance. They played like their old selves with Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga on the field. Greenlaw accounted for a game leading ten tackles in the first half alone. When Greenlaw was forced to sit out much of the second half, the Rams offense suddenly found life. Greenlaw is the literal X-factor for the defense. He locked down Travis Kelce in the Super Bowl until he tore his achilles. When Greenlaw went down, the Chiefs came to life and the rest is history.
It is safe to say the 49ers playoff chances are nil. After a predictable win against the Bears last week, the Niners dropped the ball and lost a winnable game against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. They failed to put together a touchdown drive. The Niners were just not up to the task, despite a brilliant performance by their defense.
As a team, they likely want to finish strong heading into the off season. I don’t think post season play is a good idea for this team. They need to heal up…mentally and physically. Tough off-season decisions are coming. Will the team resign players like Hufanga? What type of extension does Purdy get? Will Deebo be traded? Already we are starting to turn our attention to the off season and hope for Super Bowl success next season. Yet, a 50-meter target remains in Miami in nine days.
