49ers: Biggest winners, losers from nail-biting Week 14 win vs. Saints

Biggest winners, losers from 49ers nail-biting Week 14 win vs. Saints

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

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Tre'Quan Smith, Fred Warner, Saints, 49ers

Tre’Quan Smith #10 of the New Orleans Saints and Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Loser: 49ers Linebackers

Generally speaking, Week 14 wasn’t a good day for the 49ers defense, which allowed the Saints to pick up 28 first downs and to go 4-of-4 in red-zone appearances.

But one of the bigger liabilities for San Francisco was at linebacker, which along with Marcell Harris, had its share of gaffes and mistakes in the game.

Linebacker Fred Warner had a key pass breakup, yes, but he wasn’t much of a factor in the tackling department, picking up just three and missing another key tackle on a touchdown play for Saints wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith late in the fourth quarter.

Warner might not have had his best game, true. But he wasn’t the biggest liability at this position. That unfortunate role falls upon the rookie, Azeez Al-Shaair, who was regularly out of position and just as instrumental as Harris in allowing some of the early New Orleans touchdowns in the first half.

Al-Shaair is starting only due to the season-ending injury suffered by Kwon Alexander, whose absence has been sorely felt by San Francisco over the past couple of weeks.