It’s been a bleak season for the 49ers, and Sunday was a new low. Facing a Cardinals team missing Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, Chase Edmonds and J.J. Watt, the 49ers were waxed at home, 31-17.
In addition to it being the latest in a troubling trend of 49ers disappointments, it’s also the latest in a troubling trend of poor performances at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers are 23-34 all time at Levi’s Stadium. The .404 win percentage at their home stadium is the fourth worst in NFL history (73rd out of 76). So far this season, they are 0-4.
So, what’s going on? Matt Maiocco believes part of it is circumstantial, but that the stadium itself is also partially to blame.
“I think there’s a lot there to unpack,” Maiocco told Papa & Lund on Friday. “The first thing I would look at for this season is the three worst teams they’ve played this season have been the three teams that they’ve played on the road, and they won those games against Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago. I suppose the Colts are a team that certainly they should have beaten right here at Levi’s Stadium.
“There’s no disadvantage to playing at Levi’s Stadium for the 49ers. In other words if you’re beating those teams on the road, heck yeah you are going to beat them at home too. But I do think as far as home field advantages go, Levi’s Stadium doesn’t give you a great one. I think the way the stadium is constructed, I don’t think the noise is by and large a big issue for the opposition.
“Right now I’m wandering through one of those field level clubs and the amenities here are very nice. If you have tickets that allow you to get into the club, why wouldn’t you duck in here and check out the games around the NFL? Why wouldn’t you have a nice cold beverage of your choice and see how the morning games are wrapping up and maybe even catch the kickoff from down here before heading to your seats?”
Ultimately, the most obvious answer is probably the most accurate. The 49ers have really had only one good team since they made the move to Levi’s.
“I think there are a lot of reasons. Ultimately the one that you touched on is the overriding one. The 49ers are not a good team since they’ve moved in here. That has nothing to do with the stadium, that has everything to do with where that team was after the third year of [Jim] Harbaugh, that team dropped off dramatically.”
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