5 crucial takeaways from 49ers Week 3 win vs. Steelers
By James Jones
The San Francisco 49ers went into their Week 3 matchup sporting a 2-0 start to the season. Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers presented a greater challenge. Niner Noise takes an in-depth look at five crucial takeaways from the game.
Entering their Week 3 home opener last Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers were riding high. They were returning home after winning their first two games on the road. Even more impressive was those contests took place in the Eastern time zone.
The Pittsburgh Steelers came into Week 3 after losing their first two games and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the season. Based on the first two weeks, there was little reason to think the Niners would have much of a problem dispatching with their opponent.
It’s been said for many years now, “that’s why they play the games.” Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team was clearly suffering from home-opening jitters. Either that, or five turnovers per game is what we can expect moving forward from San Francisco.
Clearly, the turnover issues from Sunday’s game aren’t going to be the norm after the team returns from their earlier-than-usual Week 4 bye. Teams simply do not give the ball away five times per game. If a team did, it would be lucky to win a single one.
As it was, the 49ers were lucky, indeed. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw two interceptions
(although neither of those appeared to be his fault) and was responsible for a fumbled snap from center Weston Richburg. Running back Raheem Mostert also fumbled the ball as the 49ers were driving deep into Steelers territory. The team’s fifth turnover came as wide receiver Richie James Jr. ran into a snap from Richburg, allowing Pittsburgh to recover the loose ball.
The 49ers’ new suffocating defense saved the day time and time again, holding the Steelers to six points off five turnovers. That last gaffe on the botched snap could have been the final nail in the Niners coffin.
It wasn’t, as they were given one last gasp to redeem themselves.
The last reprieve came when defensive tackle Arik Armstead crashed into running back James Conner, as he attempted to cutback up field on an outside run. The hit caused Conner to lose the ball, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner quickly recovered it.
Garoppolo didn’t squander the opportunity as he led his team to a game-winning score on a laser pass to wide receiver Dante Pettis. What was even more impressive was the way Pettis came back to take the ball before the defenders could.
After the go-ahead touchdown, the 49ers defense ended the game on a 4th-and-12 incompletion from Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Forcing Pittsburgh’s offense off the field was their calling card on this the afternoon. It was a game they would not have won, if not for the defense.
Here are the five crucial takeaways from the 49ers Week 3 victory.