Niner Noise
FanSided

3 reasons why SF 49ers lost ugly to Cardinals in Week 1

By Nathan Bannerman

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled just shy of the goal line by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The Arizona Cardinals scored the game-winning play on the next play. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled just shy of the goal line by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The Arizona Cardinals scored the game-winning play on the next play. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Kyle Shanahan, SF 49ers
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: The SF 49ers failed on third and fourth down conversations

One word describes how the SF 49ers converted third and fourth downs: Brutal.

They went 2-of-13 combined and you can throw in a blocked punt for good measure.

A drive which sticks out is when the 49ers made it to the Cardinals 1-yard line. A sack and penalty put the offense back 10 yards. Luckily, running back Jerick McKinnon ran the ball right up to the goal line, giving the team a chance to score.

This is where head coach Kyle Shanahan needed to make a decision. Scoring a touchdown is the ideal plan, but the way things were going, a field goal would’ve been guaranteed points and potentially could’ve put the Niners in a better position at the end of the game.

Of course, if running back Raheem Mostert scores or gets the review to go his way, the momentum swings to San Francisco and we could be breaking down a victory.

The rest of the 49ers drives didn’t last very long. Many were under two minutes long, which gave the Cardinals defense lots of time to relax on the sideline and enjoy the cardboard cutouts in the stands.