Much like the similarly hyped Titanic, the San Francisco 49ers sunk without trace on the opening voyage of the new National Football League season, but conditions in Chicago — plus the fact that kid QB Trey Lance needs to be given a fair chance — means that there should be no call to launch the Jimmy Garoppolo lifeboat.
Torrential rain in the build-up to the 49ers road game against the Bears threatened not only to wash away the markings from the brand new hybrid Bermuda grass field, but potentially the game itself, with ground staff spotted feverishly squeegeeing the playing surface once the covering tarps came off to allow the teams to warm up.
Although the deluge abated enough to allow the 1pm Eastern kickoff and following quarters to continue as planned, the rain returned with a vengeance in the latter stages, making it difficult for anyone to make a good impression on anything other than the sodden sod beneath their cleats.
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The 49ers headed north-west as 7+ point favourites and enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, but only had a Deebo Samuel rushing touchdown — the superstar receiver already kickstarting his contractual bonus pot — to show for it at the half. Given the conditions, the ground game was the only viable option for both teams as their respective quarterbacks struggled to complete 50 per cent of their passes but, unlike Lance, Bears' QB Justin Fields — taken eight picks after his counterpart in the 2021 NFL Draft — doesn't have a Super Bowl-calibre replacement looming over his shoulder.
Although many are billing this as 'The Year of Trey Lance', an equally large contingent are waiting for the third overall pick out of tiny North Dakota State to fall on his face, if only to be able to say 'I told you so' amid suggestions that the Niners not only reached, but over-reached, in their desire to land the future face of the franchise. Re-signing Garoppolo as Lance's back-up, and on a much reduced salary, was seen as a coup for San Francisco, but will also continue to test the team's resolve should results like last Sunday's continue in the coming weeks.
Lance, of course, possesses attributes that Garoppolo does not. Amid the occasional spectacular completions and anything-but-conservative attempts in Chicago, the youngster showed what he can contribute to the run game, with 54 yards on 13 carries to go along with his 13-of-28 for 164 yards, albeit with an interception, through the air. However, while he showed the potential that caused the 49ers to trade the farm and jump up the draft order in Cleveland 2021, Lance also missed opportunities — notably an airmailed first quarter pass that missed a wide-open Tyler Kroft — that could have paved the way to the road win most expected against a team tipped for next year's number one pick.
On top of the late game interception, a self-recovered fumble and the misguided passes, however, Lance was also sacked twice. Starting without tight end George Kittle and losing running back Elijah Mitchell to injury in the second quarter added impossible expectation to the pass game, but the Niners' O-line played poorly, with the Bears hurrying Lance multiple times despite not employing the blitz more than once. Stats compiler PFF gave both Lance and the line reasonable grades despite that, but San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan knows that his team could have been better in all areas.
“We felt very much in control and I thought we had every chance to run away with it in those first three quarters, but one play changed the game,” Shanahan conceded, noting the momentum change that followed a Bears touchdown from former 49er Dante Pettis. “However, then you look at 12 penalties, the turnovers and going one of three in the red zone because of missed opportunities… "
In terms of his starter under centre, who drew a scathing review from former 49ers offensive coordinator and Rams Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Martz, Shanahan was a little more lenient in his assessment.
"I thought he did some good things," Shanahan insisted, "but, with the way it got there at the end, everything kind of fell apart. Trey running the ball was kind of what we were given — especially at the end, when we were down two points and the rain started to come down. It was a little hard to just go two-minute [offense] in that situation, because it became really tough to throw.”
Despite fresh suggestions that injury-hit teams like Dallas may come calling for Garoppolo, the 49ers should still be patting themselves on the back for rehiring the veteran QB. However, while Lance was quick to assume culpability for the defeat, there will not — and must not — be any temptation to reach for the replacement.
"Trey is a guy who is always hard on himself," Shanahan noted, "I don't account for criticism. That's outside of here, and doesn't have to do with what we're doing."
MVP OF THE WEEK
Talanoa Hufanga, safety
As comforting as it may be to have rewarded Samuel, who scored the 9ers only touchdown, and Jauan Jennings, who became Lance's go-to receiver in difficult conditions, second year safety Hufanga showed that he too has a nose for the ball, picking off Bears QB Justin Fields in the first quarter to embellish a strong defensive game in which he also racked up 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and another pass breakup.
STAT OF THE WEEK
12 for 99
Although the offense hardly covered itself in glory, San Francisco's vaunted defense contributed to the shock defeat in Chicago with a string of reckless penalties, especially on third down in the third quarter, which allowed to game to get away from the visitors as the Bears capitalised to the tune of go-ahead touchdowns.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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