NFL

It was important for the 49ers to win game two. They couldn’t start the season 0-2. They needed to beat a divisional rival. They needed to win their home opener. They needed to let Trey Lance build some confidence. They accomplished all these goals except one. During the 49ers second possession, Trey Lance went down with a season ending injury after running quarterback power and breaking his ankle. Lance is done for the season. It is quite an unfortunate circumstance. Lance will lose a year of development on the field. He will lose a year of reps. At the end of the season, the 49ers will have a difficult decision to make. We will cross those bridges later. Let’s discuss the win!

The 49ers lose at Soldier Field. It was a game they were supposed to win and win by a wide margin. The weather had a say. The Bears defense had a say. However, the biggest concern is the discipline of the 49ers themselves. Having watched them live in their last preseason game at Houston, I noted it but quickly dismissed the issue. It seems the 49ers lack of discipline in game three of the pre-season has followed them from Houston to Chicago. Eleven penalties for close to 100 yards cannot happen.

Thursday Night marked the third game in thirteen days that the 49ers played. Perhaps the fatigue led to the mistakes. Perhaps a well-coached Texan defense playing fundamental Tamp 2 Defense aided in that fatigue. Whatever it was, the 49ers performance on the whole was abysmal. Over the course of the game the 49ers committed an uncharacteristic eleven penalties for 104 yards. Conversely the Texans were flagged five times. Eleven penalties are eleven avoidable mental mistakes. Eleven penalties can lead to eleven reasons why a team loses an important football game. I don’t think the 49ers committed eleven penalties in their first two preseason games combined. Perhaps fatigue led to eleven lapses of judgement. However, the problem could be more systemic.

Saturday night’s game capstones at two-day joint practice with the Vikings. The 49ers sat most of their starters. Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy traded snaps, with an ever-changing offensive line. The 49ers executed 5 drives into scoring range, coming away with points four of those drives. The one time they failed, the Vikings defensive line jumped offsides, forced and recovered a fumble. The referee’s failed the Niners during that drive. Overall, the Niners have depth. Their depth shows that they have very difficult cut decisions ahead.

The 49er’s off season seems to have centered around where in the NFL will Jimmy Garoppolo end up. While others debated Jimmy G’s future, the 49ers quietly prepared for the season. Step one was to execute the best draft possible. Judging by the performance of game one, the 49ers brass executed the draft and rookie free agent market masterfully. Step two involved Trey Lance’s continued development as the team’s signal caller. He executed 11 plays, throwing 4-5 for 92 yards and a TD. 76 of those yards came on a 3rd and 9 wherein Lance hit a wide-open Danny Gray for a house call. The Jimmy G drama has had no effect on the team. It’s time to leave him in the past where he belongs.