49ers Suffer a Tough Loss Against the Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers recently experienced a severe setback during their game against the Cardinals. Just after celebrating their season’s most significant special teams play, disaster struck again. This time, it wasn’t a one-off incident like the Rams’ successful punt fake, a blocked punt by the Vikings, or a fumbled kickoff return against the Patriots. Instead, the team’s kicker, Jake Moody, sustained a high right ankle sprain while trying to tackle a kick return.

This unfortunate incident had a more profound impact than the past mishaps that have haunted the 49ers. They had to play the remainder of the game, nearly 35 minutes, without their kicker. This led to a defeat where they surrendered a 13-point lead, losing 24-23 to the Cardinals. It was the 49ers’ second loss after leading by double digits in the fourth quarter this season, with the other loss against the Rams in Week 3.

Before this season, under coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers had an impressive record of 51-2 when leading by double digits in the fourth quarter. However, after this recent defeat, their record dropped to 2-3 for the season, with 0-2 in the NFC West and 0-3 against NFC opponents. They now face the challenge of playing against the division-leading Seahawks with limited rest.

“Losing your kicker is a massive blow,” said George Kittle, the team’s tight end. “Jake is an exceptional kicker, and not having him on the field was tough.” This setback was felt several times during the second half, where the 49ers failed to score. This marked only the tenth time they didn’t score in either half of a regular-season game since Shanahan took over in 2017.

Moody’s injury occurred with less than five minutes left in the second quarter. After a field goal attempt was blocked by 49ers’ defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and a 61-yard touchdown return by cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, Moody was all set to kick the following kickoff for a touchback. However, Cardinals returner DeeJay Dallas seized an opportunity, and Moody was injured in the ensuing skirmish. The impact of the incident saw Moody falling backward, with his body folding over his right (kicking) leg.

The 49ers’ Season: Overcoming Challenges

Are the Bengals’ season prospects dwindling? Should the Jets recruit Davante Adams at the earliest? 4h ago, Dan Graziano reported on Kyler Murray’s stellar 50-yard touchdown at the Cardinals’ opening game. 7h ago, Josh Weinfuss declared the NFL’s best player of the first four games. 3 days ago, Bill Barnwell selected winners for seven awards. But the spotlight today is on the 49ers’ recent game and the challenges they faced.

Moody’s Frustrating Injury

Moody, after an intense play, forcefully took off his helmet in disappointment. The incident was eerily reminiscent of a similar one in his eighth grade, which resulted in a leg fracture. The current preliminary diagnosis suggests a high ankle sprain. This is a better prospect than a fracture, but further tests are necessary to confirm and determine the recovery timeline.

“I felt relief when I didn’t sense any breaking or cracking sensation, unlike the time I fractured it,” shared Moody. “Nevertheless, I instantly knew something was off. It’s truly unfortunate.” Post-injury, Moody was quickly transported to the locker room. Subsequently, Mitch Wishnowsky took over kicking responsibilities, with Kyle Juszczyk acting as the holder.

Impact on the Game

Despite the sudden role change, Wishnowsky successfully made a 26-yard field goal, pushing San Francisco’s score to 23-10 just before halftime. However, Moody’s absence was a significant blow to the team’s offense, which had already been relying too heavily on the kicker.

The 49ers’ first red zone visit following Moody’s injury concluded at Arizona’s 27. The quarterback, Brock Purdy, endured a loss of 9 yards due to a sack. Instead of having Wishnowsky attempt a 45-yard field goal, the Niners opted for a fourth-and-23.

The Niners’ final drive strategy was also influenced by the absence of a regular kicker. Usually, they would be comfortable with Moody attempting a winning field goal from about 57 yards. With Wishnowsky, however, they aimed to reach at least Arizona’s 15.

While the lack of a regular kicker certainly affected the Niners’ end-of-game plans, it wasn’t the biggest factor contributing to their loss. The primary reasons were the red zone difficulties, three turnovers on offense, and weak late-game defense.

The 49ers were leaders in red zone efficacy in 2023, scoring touchdowns on 67.2% of their drives inside the 20. As of the recent Sunday night game, however, their red zone performance has dropped significantly.

Moreover, the absence of running back Christian McCaffrey, due to persistent Achilles tendonitis, has been keenly felt. His absence might be affecting the team’s scoring potential more than any other factor.

“Everything is pretty tight,” admitted Purdy. “I need to step up and be more aggressive down there. It’s a collective effort, and we all need to improve.”

Addressing the Challenges: A Closer Look at the Niners’ Game Strategy

As a team, when we reach the end zone, the collective mindset has to be about scoring a touchdown. Sure, settling for a field goal is an option, but our ambition should be higher – we need to cross that goal line. The San Francisco 49ers are well aware that this is an issue that needs immediate attention, along with several others.

Revisiting the Battle Plan

The Niners will resume training on Tuesday before heading off to Seattle. Meanwhile, on Monday, they will scrutinize potential kickers, with the aim to find a suitable replacement for Moody for the upcoming weeks, as per Coach Shanahan’s comments.

No Time to Dwell on Disappointments

There’s simply no time for the reigning NFC champions to dwell on their wounds, or wonder why this season has commenced on a sour note. Shanahan stated, “We might feel the urge to vent our frustrations or wish we could alter the outcome of past games, but that’s not possible. Once a game ends, there’s nothing you can do about it. I remind the guys that our next opportunity to make a difference is on Thursday. Trust me, it’s always better to only have a few days to wait, rather than a whole week until next Sunday.”