49ers 20 - Eagles 25: Failure
Nick Mullens plays the worst game of his career as this defensive game ends with the Eagles on top.
(Santa Clara) - That was… bad. Very bad. The Eagles shock the 49ers behind a big game from the defense and Carson Wentz’s late game heroics, to the tune of a 25-14 score. What went wrong?
Nick Mullens had the worst game of his career on the biggest stage of his career. 18 for 26 for just 200 yards, including only 1 TD. The turnovers were the killer: he lost a fumble and threw 2 picks, one which was returned for a TD. Generally looked out of sorts the entire game - he could not find his rhythm and it was bad enough that CJ Beathard ended the game as QB. The worst game of his career - Mullens was primarily the reason for this loss. Beathard had some late game positives but it was too little, and too late.
While Mullens played abysmal, the offensive line did zero favors. They could not block the Eagles DL for most of the game - a DL that includes Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, and many more good defensive lineman. Trent Williams likely had the worst game of his career - giving up multiple pressures, at least one sack, and missing run blocks throughout the entire game. Daniel Brunskill was being manhandled. They also could not get the run game to work at all on early downs.
Finally, the secondary was terrible all game. Outside of Jaquiski Tartt who had an elite game, Jimmie Ward and Dontae Johnson were abysmal with multiple blown coverages and flags, including the late game TD from Wentz to Travis Fulgham. This game was a failure on every side - and the worst part: the 49ers got pressure on Wentz. With 6 TFLs and 8 QB hits, Wentz was being pressured all game. The secondary just could not capitalize.
In general, this game proved one thing, unmistakably. Jimmy Garoppolo is needed, and desperately. And this team is not the same as last year. Do not let Week 2 and Week 3 cloud your mind: the 49ers blew out the two worst teams in the league. The two halfway-decent teams the 49ers have played: Cardinals and Eagles, and both were devastating losses. The real question is: when we reach the gauntlet that includes teams like the Bills, Patriots, Packers, Saints, and the red-hot Seahawks - can this team stick with explosive offenses and good defenses like those teams? That remains to be seen. But the 49ers need Jimmy Garoppolo back, and they need the good version of him.
Scroll down for the positives from today.
Score Summary:
1st Quarter:
15:00 - Eagles receive kickoff, touchback.
10:35 - Carson Wentz is intercepted by Azeez Al-Shaair at the SF 35 yard line.
3:51 - Carson Wentz rushes 11 yards for TD, 2 point conversion is GOOD, Wentz to Ertz.
0:21 - Brandon Aiyuk 31 yard rushing TD, Extra point from Gould is GOOD.
2nd Quarter:
2:51 - Nick Mullens is intercepted by Rodney McLeod, McLeod returns it to the PHI 27 yard line.
3rd Quarter:
8:26 - George Kittle 5 yard receiving TD, Extra point from Gould is GOOD
0:55 - Jake Elliott 35 yard FG is good.
4th Quarter:
5:50 - Travis Fulgham 42 yard receiving TD from Carson Wentz. Extra point from Elliott is GOOD.
5:50 - Nick Mullens is intercepted by Alex Singleton, Singleton returns it 30 yards for TD.
5:42 - CJ Beathard enters the game for Nick Mullens.
2:02 - Jerick McKinnon rushes for 1 yard TD. 2 point conversion pass to George Kittle from Beathard is NO GOOD.
The positives: CJ Beathard looked amazing in limited snaps at the end of the game - and especially compared to the previous time we saw him. He looked poised, he made good decisions, and was accurate on almost every pass he threw. Jason Verrett also had a good game, surrendering only a few catches and zero big plays - a good sign for a team with minimal CB depth. But it was too little, and too late.
George Kittle was absolutely dominant throughout the entire game, catching 15 of his targets for 183 yards and a TD. Jerick McKinnon also caught 6 of his targets for 38 yards, and was generally a safe, great option out of the backfield. Deebo Samuel looked healthy but was minimally used outside of a backfield option to run jet sweeps. Brandon Aiyuk was amazing but should have gotten more targets - he had an electric play in the 1st quarter which included a hurdle and multiple broken tackles.
Kwon Alexander also had a great game, with 9 tackles and he was generally all over the field making stops. No missed tackles, although he had one bad flag.
Arik Armstead was DOMINANT with all caps - he had 5 tackles, a TFL, 0.5 sacks, and 6 QB hits by himself and looked like the guy the 49ers expected to get when they paid him earlier this offseason.
This article will be updated with post-game reports.
UPDATE: Ezekiel Ansah has likely sustained a torn biceps and if confirmed, will be out for the season.
Kyle Shanahan also is unsure about Jimmy Garoppolo’s status - making it likely that we may see CJ Beathard next week. Which would be a devastating turn of events.
I can’t help but wonder: do we see Mullens traded away?
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This was depressing. Made way too many mistakes and lost this one in embarrassing fashion. While it's probably true that we win this with our healthy squad, we still had the chance to win it and we just blew it. This one hurts because there's not going to be a lot of "easy wins" left in our schedule. Pray for our guys to get healthy soon and for us to figure this out.
McGlinch played like Dumbo on ice skates; Trent, who once played like a witchdoctor under a full moon, had no mojo at all; Bruns was a kid among men; Kittle muffed the one pass, the 2-point conversion, that would've made it a field goal game at the end instead of a touchdown game; Mullens picked this game to have the right side of his brain go on vacation; the secondary play (Dontae Johnson for crying out loud) had one of those games that leaves you yearning for the good ole Joe Woods coaching days. Unless KS has a genie to rub out of forgotten lamp this season is headed for the boggy moors.