SF 49ers vs. Cowboys: C.J. Beathard should start in Week 15

The SF 49ers need to make a change at quarterback. It’s time they give C.J. Beathard a legitimate chance vs. the Cowboys.

New week. Same SF 49ers quarterback controversy. This time, there is a definitive direction the team should go and it’s C.J. Beathard.

After quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got placed on the shelf for the second time, the SF 49ers have relied on his backup, Nick Mullens. There was a bit of hope he could lead the team to the promised land, but he’s quickly gone downhill and the team needs to make a change ASAP.

Over his seven starts, Mullens has compiled a 2-5 record, a double-double in touchdowns and interceptions (10 each), and a quarterback rating of 43.5. For a team that’s still mathematically in the playoff picture, these numbers need to be better.

Unfortunately, they’re not trending in the right direction.

Now, we can come up with a variety of excuses for this 2020 season. Lots of key players on the injured reserve list, the COVID-19 list, and players just outright not playing great. But the NFL waits for no one. And if you aren’t playing at your best, you’re going to be left in the dust.

Here’s the wild part, if Beathard comes in and picks up a win against a Dallas Cowboys team that is also struggling without its top quarterback, Dak Prescott, the SF 49ers can make a run at the final Wild Card spot.

A win for Beathard would also mean he gets the keys for the rest of the season, which would be to the delight of the SF 49ers Faithful.

We’ve only seen the 27 year old three times in 2020, but from what we’ve witnessed, he’s clearly an upgrade and could provide a much-needed spark to make sure the SF 49ers finish 8-8.

Beathard has completed 60 percent of his passes, has a touchdown, and seems to be more confident in the pocket. The argument will be “these are garbage-time stats,” and while it may be true, this team needs something positive.

Against the Philadelphia Eagles, he came in with less than five minutes to play and the SF 49ers down 24-14. His pocket presence was calm and quick. His passes were accurate and he was able to get his team down the field to score a touchdown.

Beathard’s only questionable play on the touchdown drive was not running the ball on the two-point conversion. Seriously, how do you not run it when there’s nobody within 5 yards? But it gave his team some hope and a bit of life. Even on the Hail Mary with no time left, he threw a decent ball and it was just well defended with three 49ers in the area.

It’s hard to say what head coach Kyle Shanahan is thinking when he keeps sending Mullens back into games. Is he secretly trying to tank for a better draft position? Maybe that’s obviously ludicrous. Does he truly believe Mullens will save the season? Is he allowing Mullens to prove himself to other teams?

Shanahan almost pulled Mullens after a pick-six against the Washington Football Team on Sunday afternoon. Why he didn’t make the change about four weeks earlier is still up in the air. So we really don’t understand what the coach is thinking.

Beathard does give the SF 49ers a different look at quarterback, which could make it difficult for the Cowboys to scheme against. He’s obviously more accurate than Mullens, his decision making is faster and typically a bit better as well.

As much as we’re all crossing our fingers the SF 49ers make a late playoff push, it seems extremely unlikely it’ll happen. So there shouldn’t be any excuses to not have Beathard start the remaining three games of 2020 to at least see what he can do and where he’s at.