Top image: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where the 49ers return on Nov. 8 to host the Las Vegas Raiders. Photo: David290 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
It was a mixed weekend for the region’s football teams. The 49ers took their first loss of the season, Stanford won a late-night shootout at home and San José State came up short on the road in Reno.
49ers: four turnovers, first loss, then the bye
The 49ers fell 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday and go into their Week 8 bye at 6-1, according to the team’s game recap. San Francisco scored touchdowns on two of its first three possessions and led 14-12 at halftime, but four turnovers stalled the offense.
Christian McCaffrey scored on a one-yard leap on fourth-and-goal on the opening drive. It was his eighth rushing touchdown of the season and extended his streak of games with a rushing score to six. That ties Raheem Mostert (2019) and Derek Loville (1995) for the longest such run by a 49ers running back, the team said. McCaffrey left early in the second quarter but came back after halftime. He finished with 39 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey has a mild hamstring strain. It was first thought to be a thigh injury. “We’re pretty optimistic about it. So is he,” Shanahan said, according to 49ers.com. Shanahan said Nick Bosa, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr. and several others have a chance to return after the bye, though none is guaranteed.
Running back Kaelon Black scored the first touchdown of his NFL career, a 30-yard run, and led the team with 63 rushing yards on 12 carries. George Kittle caught eight passes for 88 yards. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk’s one-yard touchdown catch made it 26-20 with five minutes left. On defense, the 49ers held an Atlanta offense that had been averaging 149.5 rushing yards a game to 82, and Bijan Robinson to 63 yards on 20 carries.
“Anytime you have four turnovers to zero, it’s really hard to win in this league,” Shanahan said. He added that the team is open to trades before the deadline, with receiver and defensive line as the obvious injury spots. The 49ers host the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Stanford: Warren throws four touchdowns in a 31-28 win
Stanford beat NC State 31-28 on Friday night at Stanford Stadium to move to 4-4 overall and 4-1 at home, according to Stanford Athletics. Davis Warren threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns, and Micah Ford ran for 150 yards. Nico Brown caught two touchdown passes, and Caden High had nine catches for 103 yards and a score.
Stanford piled up 234 yards in the first quarter, its most in an opening quarter since 2017, the school said. NC State scored late to pull within three, but Stanford recovered the onside kick to seal the win. The Cardinal play at Louisville on Oct. 31.
San José State: offense held to 204 yards at Nevada
San José State lost 28-13 at Nevada’s Mackay Stadium on Saturday and fell to 4-4, 2-2 in the Mountain West, according to SJSU Athletics. Viliami Teu scored the Spartans’ only touchdown on an 11-yard run, and Trajan Sinatra kicked field goals from 38 and 41 yards. Nevada outgained the Spartans 324-204 and answered the Spartans’ late touchdown with a 90-yard kickoff return. SJSU converted one of 14 third downs. Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa had a career-high 12 tackles, and Jayden Robertson intercepted a pass.
Nevada quarterback Luke Duncan threw two touchdown passes, according to Nevada Athletics. The Spartans have not won in Reno since Oct. 21, 2000, SJSU noted. They host New Mexico at CEFCU Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m.
The long view
The 49ers’ bye comes at a useful time. A 6-1 team with McCaffrey’s injury described as mild and a list of starters who could return gets two weeks to reset before a home stretch. For the two college programs, the season’s last month will decide bowl eligibility: both Stanford and San José State are at .500 with four games left.
Sources
- San Francisco 49ers: 49ers Move to 6-1 Following Week 7 Matchup vs. Falcons (Oct. 25)
- San Francisco 49ers: Shanahan Provides McCaffrey Injury Update (Oct. 26)
- Stanford Athletics: Stanford Improves to 4-1 at Home with Late Night Win over NC State
- SJSU Athletics: Spartans Drop Game to Nevada on the Road
- Nevada Athletics: Wolf Pack smothers San José State for Homecoming win
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