SF 49ers: Counting down the top 10 plays of 2020 season

The 2020 season didn’t go the SF 49ers’ way, although there were plenty of individual plays that made the year more than exciting.

Well, to say the SF 49ers‘ 2020 season was a disappointment would be a massive understatement.

Before the season began, the hope was the team could rebound from a close Super Bowl loss last February to the Kansas City Chiefs and make another deep run to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the devastating injuries suffered by EDGE Nick Bosa and defensive end Solomon Thomas in Week 2 against the NY Jets were only a precursor to an entire season of devastating injuries for San Francisco.

However, in a season of such misfortune and what-could-have-been sentiments, let’s instead focus instead on some of the brighter moments this season gave Niners fans.

From the immense talent and promising futures of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, the emergence of linebacker Fred Warner to Pro Bowl status, to the continued strong play of the SF 49ers defense as a whole, there are certainly reasons to be optimistic about the team’s roster and immediate future in 2021 and beyond.

But, before we move on to the future, let’s take a look back at the top 10 plays from the Niners’ 2020 campaign.

SF 49ers Top Play No. 10: Kendrick Bourne dives for the end zone

With the SF 49ers trailing the Miami Dolphins 30-7 at home in the third quarter in Week 5, there was little to get excited about for Niners fans.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had struggled in the first half against Miami after returning from a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2 against the NY Jets, going just 7-of-17 for 77 yards and two first-half interceptions. Head coach Kyle Shanahan felt Garoppolo’s injury was affecting his play, and Shanahan subsequently elected to put C.J. Beathard in after halftime.

With 8:13 left in the third quarter, Beathard and the offense executed a misdirection play to perfection.

With the entire offensive line pulling left on a fake handoff, Beathard rolled to his right and found receiver Kendrick Bourne sliding underneath the Dolphins defense:

After making the catch, Bourne quickly turned upfield and went 19 yards down the sideline, diving past Dolphins safety Eric Rowe, reaching for the pylon and into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.

While the SF 49ers ultimately lost the game 43-17, Bourne’s diving touchdown was certainly the highlight of the game for San Francisco.

But the Bourne Legacy (had to do it) does not stop here.