Niner Noise
FanSided

Good, bad and the ugly from 49ers’ Week 5 loss to Colts

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 08: Marlon Mack #25 of the Indianapolis Colts rushes for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 08: Marlon Mack #25 of the Indianapolis Colts rushes for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown in front of Malik Hooker #29 of the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown in front of Malik Hooker #29 of the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

The Good

It’s always good to see former 49ers running back, now with the Colts, Frank Gore still churning it out at 34 years old.

Gore surpassed Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson for sole possession of seventh place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list, and both Niners and Colts fans were happy to see Gore reach the achievement on his first carry of the game.

One also has to give credit to the 49ers for tying things up after trailing 23-9 in the fourth quarter. Had this been the 2016 Niners, the results would have been easy to predict.

Not including an overtime frame, of course.

Running Back Matt Breida

The guy who took over for Gore back in 2015, Carlos Hyde, hardly saw the field in Indianapolis, and he managed just eight carries for 11 yards.

Instead, rookie tailback Matt Breida was the more-featured runner in Week 5, and he surely didn’t disappoint. The undrafted free agent accounted for 49 of San Francisco’s 66 rushing yards — an average of 4.9 yards per attempt.

San Francisco’s rushing attack has yet to take over a game this season, but at least the Niners are proving they can get some production out of someone else other than Hyde.

George Kittle & 49ers Receiving Targets

Rookie tight end George Kittle has flashed moments of brilliance this season, but we’ve yet to see him have a true impact game.

Until now.

This red-zone touchdown to Kittle set up the game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter and was one of seven receptions he had en route to an 83-yard performance:

Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk might have been rewarded with the touchdown-reception awards. But a lot of the hard work was performed by wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin.

San Francisco’s top-two receivers combined for 13 catches for 210 yards.

The 49ers Pass Rush… Sort Of

On one hand, the Niners pass rush managed four more sacks on Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett and 12 hits — all this for a pass rush that had struggled prior to the 49ers’ game in Arizona against the Cardinals last week.

So that’s good, especially with second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner making continuous impacts.

Yet San Francisco’s best pass-rusher was, with little doubt, veteran EDGE Elvis Dumervil, who registered 1.5 sacks during the game.

But it could have been better.