It's a good thing the San Francisco 49ers have a bye in Week 8. They need it.
After a humbling 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, one that ended the Niners' previous undefeated streak to start the year, head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. have plenty of big questions to ask themselves.
One of those will be about penalties, specifically why they've become something of a trend over the last two weeks.
San Francisco was the least-penalized team from Weeks 1 through 5, but it was slapped with 11 penalties for 88 yards in the nail-biting Week 6 win over the Washington Commanders. And while the 49ers cut down on the total number of flags against Atlanta with seven for 55 yards, the nature of those infractions has to be frustrating.
Penalties were 49ers killers vs. Falcons in Week 7
Five of the Niners' seven flags stand out as truly egregious:
- Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa's encroachment on a 4th-and-4 when Atlanta was trying to get San Francisco to jump.
- Holding and illegal contact against the 49ers defense on a 2nd-and-20 at the Falcons' 13-yard line in the fourth quarter.
- Cornerback Jack Jones' pass-interference call on 3rd-and-8.
- Too many men on the field and offsides when the Niners defense held Atlanta on a 3rd-and-2 play, giving up a touchdown subsequently thereafter.
- Wide receiver Brandin Cooks' false start on a 3rd-and-4 late in the game, and quarterback Brock Purdy tossed an interception the very next play.
One or two of these flags would be devastating in a game where there were plenty of other factors working against the 49ers. But five penalties of this kind were insurmountable.
Unfortunately, it appears as if it's a trend that needs attention.
49ers are suddenly becoming penalty-prone
As stated earlier, the Niners were the least-penalized team in the league over the first five weeks, but that trend has headed in the opposite direction.
With seven games now in place, San Francisco boasts 43 penalties against, tied for seventh fewest but now far removed from the top spot. And the beneficiary yards surrendered because of those flags is now at 374, 13th best in the NFL.
The last two weeks have seen the 49ers go from the league's best, in terms of fewest penalties, to a relatively middle-of-the-pack squad in this department.
That might work against subpar competition. And it's true, the Niners were facing plenty of other challenges in Atlanta other than the flags.
But, when matched up against other elite teams, the trend of self-inflicted penalties (and often their nature) means Shanahan will have some serious homework to do over the bye to ensure San Francisco works itself back in the correct direction.
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