?@ESanders_10 to @RMos_8Ball ????#GoNiners #SFvsNO pic.twitter.com/3AzpuJVbPE
— #ProBowlVote (@49ers) December 8, 2019
The San Francisco 49ers lost on the final kick in Week 13 in Baltimore. That game was a defensive struggle, especially after halftime, in inclement weather. The New Orleans Saints were rested and waiting. Both teams had 10-2 records, but while the 49ers are in a battle with the Seattle Seahawks at the top of the NFC West, the Saints have already clinched the NFC South.
The 49ers pulled out all of the stops against the Saints – in a game where there were not many stops.
Both teams scored four first half touchdowns. But the Saints decided to go for two after TE Jared Cook’s second TD reception of the first quarter; that decision failed. It would leave the door open for San Francisco to end the game in regulation.
San Francisco WR Emmanuel Sanders washed New Orleans safeties Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams on a 75-yard catch-fall-rise TD reception, then followed that up with a 35-yard TD pass to RB Raheem Mostert. Both scores came with the 49ers trailing by 13, the largest lead of this game by either team. Mostert’s 10-yard TD run in the final minute of the first half gave the 49ers a 28-27 lead – again, the failed 2-point conversion attempt by New Orleans being the difference.
This game had only two turnovers, but those two giveaways set up the first two scores of the second half. New Orleans OLB Craig Robertson intercepted San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo, but the Saints did nothing with the takeaway. Fortunately, New Orleans K Wil Lutz converted a 55-yard field goal. The 49ers punted on the next possession, but New Orleans RB Alvin Kamara lost New Orleans’ first fumble of the season on the next play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Garoppolo found TE George Kittle for a 5-yard TD pass.
The Saints trailed 45-40 with 53 seconds left in the game when New Orleans QB Drew Brees found WR Tre’Quan Smith for a go-ahead 18-yard TD pass. But New Orleans failed to convert on the 2-point attempt again. The biggest play of San Francisco’s game-winning drive came with 39 seconds left and the 49ers facing a 4th and 2 from their own 33. Garoppolo had the first down once the pass was complete to Kittle, and Kittle added 31 more yards after the catch. Marcus Williams was penalized for a face mask trying to tackle Kittle, and all that did was make San Francisco K Robbie Gould’s 30-yard field goal a chip shot. Gould’s kick was good, and San Francisco made it to 11-2 and got help from Los Angeles, as the Seahawks were unable to overcome their logistical disadvantage against the Rams.
The Rams lost earlier this season 55-40 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was the highest scoring game of the season. But the quality of teams this late in the season, combined with the finish, puts San Francisco’s win at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as the best game of the 2019 NFL season – so far.
TEAMS OF THE WEEK:
NYJ, BAL, TEN, KCPHI, GB, TB, SF
TOP PERFORMERS:
CHI offensive line (QB Mitchell Trubisky)ATL run offense (RB Devonta Freeman)
BAL pass defense (CB Marcus Peters)
CLE offensive line (QB Baker Mayfield)
GB run defense (SS Adrian Amos)
DEN offensive line (QB Drew Lock)
MIN run defense (DE Danielle Hunter)
SF pass offense (WR Emmanuel Sanders)
NYJ pass defense (CB Nate Hairston)
TB pass offense (WR Breshad Perriman)
LAC pass offense (RB Austin Ekeler)
PIT run defense (OLB Bud Dupree)
KC pass defense (CB Bashaud Breeland)
TEN pass offense (WR AJ Brown)
LA pass offense (WR Robert Woods)
PHI run defense (DE Vinny Curry)
Looking ahead to Week 15
Jets at Baltimore: Much like the 49ers, the Ravens won in Week 14 and then watched the New England Patriots lose to put them in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the AFC. The New York Jets are playing better as of late and should challenge Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson in the passing game, although the Jets will have to overcome the absence of SS Jamal Adams.
Bears at Green Bay: In Week 1, the Packers won in Chicago despite a middling offensive performance. A big part of Green Bay’s win was the pass rush proficiency of OLB Preston Smith in particular. This game will be decided once again on Chicago QB Mitchell Trubisky’s ability to be competent on the road behind an offensive line that played well last week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Rams at Dallas: This is a rematch from the 2018 Divisional, a game that saw the Rams run all over the Cowboys. The Rams seem to have QB Jared Goff back on track, and weather shouldn’t be an issue in Dallas. If current trends are realized in Week 15, then the Cowboys will be staying under .500; this is their last chance to beat a team with a winning record in the regular season.
Bills at Pittsburgh: This game was flexed into Sunday night. Expect the Steelers to continue having success defensively. Pittsburgh is capable of shutting down the run, while the Bills struggled to throw the ball at home against the Ravens last week.
Colts at New Orleans: Neither team defended the pass well in Week 14. Expect Indianapolis QB Jacoby Brissett to get what he can out of WRs Marcus Johnson and Zach Pascal. For the Saints, it’s all about getting the ball into WR Michael Thomas’ hands, though Jared Cook’s availability (concussion) will be an X-Factor.