Third-string QB Beathard throws 3 TDs, 49ers stun Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson (30) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with quarterback C.J. Beathard threw three touchdown passes, Jeff Wilson ran for 183 yards, and the San Francisco 49ers dealt a brutal blow to the Arizona Cardinals' playoff hopes by defeating them 20-12 on Saturday. If the Chicago Bears win their final two games, they will reach the playoffs because of a tiebreaker over the Cardinals. The 49ers (6-9) pulled ahead 14-6 in the third quarter on Beathardโs 9-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Cardinals: LB Haason Reddick (hamstring) left the game in the first quarter, but returned early in the second quarter.
49ers blast Jets 31-13, but lose Garoppolo, Bosa, Mostert
It was a costly victory for San Francisco, which was already short-handed before losing Garoppolo to an ankle injury and Mostert to an injured knee. Defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas were both carted off the field two plays apart with left knee injuries in the first quarter. Bosa was carted off the field with a left knee injury. Two plays later, Thomas needed to be carted off โ also with a left knee injury โafter an 8-yard reception by Chris Hogan. The drive was prolonged by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Henry Anderson when the Jets appeared to have stopped San Francisco on third-and-8.
Mistakes doom 49ers and create tight NFC West race
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan could have easily played for a tie at the end of overtime and protected the 49ers' safe lead in their division. Instead, his decision to put the ball in Jimmy Garoppolo's hands backfired, giving the Seattle Seahawks plenty of time to rally for a game-winning field goal that tightened the NFC West race significantly. San Francisco then drove down to the 29 before Raheem Mostert was stopped just short of a first down on third-and-2. San Francisco was unable to do much of anything offensively against a defense that has struggled in recent weeks. Garoppolo was also sacked five times as Jadeveon Clowney and the Seahawks' front dominated San Francisco even with starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey back from injuries.