SANTA CLARA – Back-to-back losses have the 49ers (1-2) in the dumps. Or at least in the NFC West cellar. Then again, that’s also a share of second place. What does it all mean? Here is our weekly look at their Super Bowl compass:
NEXT UP
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. against the New England Patriots (1-2).
This is only the Patriots’ second time at Levi’s Stadium, the previous one coming in 2016 when Tom Brady was their quarterback and Jimmy Garoppolo his backup in a victorious 30-17 visit over Colin Kaepernick, Chip Kelly and assorted others.
LAST GAME
Leads of 14-0 and 24-14 were enough to convince the 49ers they would win, only they did not Sunday as the Rams won their home opener in 27-24 fashion. Jauan Jennings (three touchdowns, 11 catches, 175 yards) joined Jerry Rice as the only 49ers receivers ever to reach those three marks in a game. Special teams woes invited the Rams’ comeback, from their fake-punt conversion to the 49ers’ follies (missing a 55-yard field goal, allowing a 38-yard punt return). The 49ers’ defense caved, too, whether it was surrendering a 50-yard bomb at the 5-yard line, or committing pass-interference penalties, or allowing Kyren Williams to thrice waltz across the goal line.
NFC WEST STANDINGS
That’s right, the 49ers are in second place — and last place. The undefeated Seattle Seahawks won 24-3 over the Dolphins, after opening with 26-20 and 23-20 escapes against the Broncos and at the Patriots. The Cardinals couldn’t parlay their Week 2 rout of the Rams into another home upset, falling 20-13 to the visiting Lions. And the Rams, well, you know already how they won their first game.
NFC CHALLENGERS
The Minnesota Vikings and the Seahawks are the only 3-0 teams. As well as 49ers prodigy Sam Darnold has led the Vikings, their defense has allowed just 10 points per game. The NFC’s 2-1 teams: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Green Bay Packers and the Lions. Everyone else is 1-2, and by virtue of an 0-2 mark against conference opponents, the 49ers reside with the New York Giants at the bottom of the NFC standings.
THE REIGNING CHAMPS
The Kansas City Chiefs finally didn’t have to win on the last play, but it still came down to the last minute before they fled the Falcons’ nest with a 22-17 win. So, three games down, three wins recorded for the Chiefs’ three-peat bid.
49ERS INJURIES
Brock Purdy’s back soreness bears watching even if an MRI checked out OK on Monday. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps tear) is done for the season with one sack and seven tackles. Deebo Samuel (calf) is expected to miss a second straight game. George Kittle (hamstring) missed last game but might practice this week. Linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) played only six defensive snaps Sunday upon relieving De’Vondre Campbell. Nick Bosa played all 52 defensive snaps despite aggravating an oblique injury in Thursday’s practice that he traced back to the Week 2 loss in Minnesota. Fred Warner’s ankle took a stray near the goal line so that is worth monitoring. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall must wait one more game before his potential NFL debut. Running back Christian McCaffrey is in Germany for treatment on his Achilles tendinitis, so it seems unlikely he will be rushed into action after a minimum two more games on Injured Reserve.
STAR TURN
Jennings excelled in Samuel’s starting spot, so much so that the 49ers make a concerted effort to use his receiving skills more rather than just be grateful for his physical presence and third-down charms.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
Everything, but the greatest focus this week should be on special teams. Already this season the 49ers have been burned with a blocked punt, an opponent’s fake punt, a muffed punt, a missed field goal in crunch time, and a long return (38 yards that set up the Rams’ winning field goal).
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QUOTABLE
“I think we have to feel the loss for sure. We can’t just move on and act like it’s fine. You feel the loss and you just start stacking week by week.” – Bosa
COMPASS DIRECTION
If you think things can’t turn further south, well, how about a three-game losing streak Sunday against a Patriots team that’s supposed to be in rebuild mode? Those Patriots also are seeking to avoid a three-game skid, having won their opener 16-10 – on the road – in Cincinnati.