© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — Even with their 1-5 start, the 49ers were competitive in every game entering Sunday. You walked away from each loss discouraged by the result but encouraged about something else. If they fixed just one thing there, or converted another first down here, you may say, they win that game.
That was far from the case Sunday afternoon.
This is what the NFL expected.
The 49ers were demoted from the Sunday Night Football slot as they welcomed the Los Angeles Rams, the NFL’s only remaining unbeaten team, in Week 7. On paper, this matchup was as lopsided as they come.
And that’s how San Francisco’s 39-10 loss played out.
This game provided a benchmark for these 49ers, which, despite losing their franchise quarterback and starting running back earlier this year, have competed in each of the past three contests without them. Six days ago, they nearly won in Lambeau Field on Monday night, giving them a chance to stick it to the NFL for flexing them out of Sunday’s primetime slot. But Aaron Rodgers engineered a vintage Aaron Rodgers comeback, scoring 10 points in the final two minutes to steal a three-point win.
That game stung, but it yielded optimism that these young, undermanned 49ers could compete against good teams in challenging environments. But the Rams matchup was another animal.
The 49ers were dominated in every facet of Sunday’s loss.
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald terrorized the 49ers offensive line, compiling four of Los Angeles’ seven sacks. C.J. Beathard never found a rhythm, turning the ball over three times (two interceptions and one fumble) and leading just one scoring drive. Rams running back Todd Gurley ran through gaping lanes. Quarterback Jared Goff stepped up in large pockets and found open receivers all over the field. Even the 49ers special teams, which has been one of the better units in the league, struggled, allowing a punt block in its own territory, resulting in a safety.
The 49ers’ most consistent issue has been losing the turnover battle. They entered the game with a league-worst -11 turnover differential on the year. They lost, 4-0, Sunday. The Rams scored 24 points off turnovers Sunday. Gifting one of the most prolific offenses in the league with favorable field position dug the 49ers into a hole too deep to overcome.
Add all that up, and the result should not be surprising.
It’s possible the 49ers had an off game. They may not be 29 points worse than arguably the best team in the league. But they also lost — by 10 points— to arguably the worst team in the NFL two weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals, which trotted out a rookie quarterback with one career start prior to the matchup. The 49ers dominated that game in every statistical category — doubling the Cardinals in yardage and time of possession and tripling them in first downs — except for one. The 49ers lost the turnover battle, again, 5-0.
Shanahan has continually been asked to specify the root of these turnovers, and he continually labels each one as different than the next. That’s probably the case. But that may also underscore the issue: there is not one common weakness or deficiency within this offense. It may not be Beathard’s supposed lack of pocket awareness, the offensive line’s lack of protection, or the receiving corps’ lack of explosiveness. May be all of those possibilities factor in.
Those turnovers have consistently put a defense with its own issues into difficult spots. The 49ers have struggled with third-down defense, missed tackles, and miscommunication throughout the season. They are allowing more than 31 points per game.
Then again, these problems were sure to sprout even with Jimmy Garoppolo healthy. He probably masked some of them, but the current 1-6 start shows these 49ers are likely a season or two away, with another productive free agency period and draft needed to compete for future playoff births. Garoppolo played in nearly three games this season, and the 49ers fell victim to many of the same lapses.
The Rams game provided a measuring stick for these 49ers. San Francisco’s next two matchups provide benchmarks for opposite reasons. The Cardinals (the Week-8 opponent) and Raiders (the Week-9 opponent) are two of the league’s worst teams. Then, the Giants, another low-tier team, visit Santa Clara in Week 10 before the bye in Week 11.
But Sunday’s defeat proved one thing: the 49ers aren’t currently equipped to compete with the league’s best.