Kaepernick, Gould cost 49ers victory

by Otis Redding

Blogger, San Francisco Chronicle

Coach Bob Winuvas had a solid gameplan in place - run the ball, control the clock, and rely on a stingy defense to win a game against the vaunted New England Patriots. However, Colin Kaepernick and Robbie Gould had other plans, and their errors cost the 49ers dearly in a 17-16 loss at Levi's Stadium.

The 49ers started off the game well, with a solid run and short pass attack early. However, Colin Kaepernick would make a throw deftly picked off by linebacker Jerod Mayo, ending the promising drive. The defense would answer the bell and hold stout, forcing a New England punt.

Kaepernick would again find a New England defensive player, this time linebacker Dont'a Hightower deep inside their own territory. New England would cash in a few plays later when Alex Smith found Sherrard Crosby for a 22 yard touchdown as the second quarter began.

San Francisco would find a big play on their first play back on offense, as halfback Juwan Thompson would bust a toss play out for an 80-yard run and a quick tie game again at 7.

"Great blocking, great move by Juwan to get us back into the mix after a tough first quarter," Coach Winuvas said of the play.

The teams would exchange punts through much of the second quarter. The 49ers mounted a solid two-minute drive, even with an almost disastrous Colin Kaepernick fumble on a scramble as time was running out. A Robbie Gould 47 yard field goal would give the 49ers their first lead at 10-7 heading into halftime.

The Patriots would adjust in the second half, going more to a pass-based attack over the middle that the 49ers had little to no answer for. Their first drive out of the locker room would culminate in a Stephen Gostkowski 34 yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

Colin Kaepernick would again throw an interception, his second to Jerod Mayo on the day, late in the third quarter on a terribly overthrown ball. However, the 49ers defense would bail him out early in the 4th quarter when reserve safety Jaquiski Tartt would step in front of a receiver and pick Alex Smith off. With nothing but green grass in front of him, Tartt would romp the remaining 69 yards to paydirt and a 16-10 lead. Robbie Gould would miss the extra point off the right side post, however, keeping the score at 16-10.

That would be all New England would need.

Alex Smith and the offense deftly worked the field, driving hard and taking time off the clock at the same time. With under 3 minutes to play, Smith would find Julian Edelman from 5 yards out to score. Gostkowski, unlike Gould, would make the PAT, and put the score at 17-16.

A late 49ers rally would be canned on a 4th down pass that fell incomplete.

For the 49ers, Colin Kaepernick went 12 of 23 for a mere 101 yards and 3 interceptions. The run game was led in carries by Carlos Hyde (8/34), but the big play man was Juwan Thompson (2/81/1TD). Robert Woods led the receivers in catches (5/32), but fellow receiver Torrey Smith led in yardage (3/46). Defensively, defensive back Patrick Robinson (2 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed), linebacker Aaron Lynch (3 tackles, 1 sack), and defensive lineman Quinton Dial (2 tackles, 1 sack) had solid days for the defense.

For the Patriots, it was more of the same from Alex Smith, who went 19 of 27 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns to go with the pick 6. The running game was non-existent, with LeGarrette Blount getting 12 carries for only 29 yards. Julian Edelman led all Partiots' receivers with 6 catches for 65 yards to go with the touchdown. Defensively, Jerod Mayo was all over the stat sheet (4 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 interceptions) in a solid defensive team effort.

"Defensively, I am pleased with our performance. We just didn't make enough plays there to get a victory. They gave effort the whole way, though," Coach Winuvas said. "They just ran out of gas at the end."

Coach Winuvas received question after question about Colin Kaepernick's first game under Josh McDaniels and his offense after the three interception performance.

"We have to evaluate everything right now. I haven't looked at the tape yet. When we get in on Monday, we'll sit down and make some notes and see what he (Colin) and we can do to get better," Coach Winuvas said.

The 49ers (2-10) head to the Meadowlands to take on the 5-6 Giants, while the Patriots (9-3) host a gamey Steelers squad (9-1-1).

UPDATE: Shortly after the game, news broke of a wave of quarterbacks being called in to work out with the 49ers - names such as Matt Moore, Kellen Clemens, and Case Keenum were flown in for tryouts. Clemens and Keenum were signed to one year deals. Does this mean the end of the road for Colin Kaepernick? How did a young man only 4 years ago leading this 49ers team to the Super Bowl fall this far?