2018.10.21 – Beathard’s turnovers – 49ers fall to Rams
San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) passes against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2018.10.21 – C.J. Beathard and the San Francisco 49ers couldn’t shake their habit of frequent turnovers, and it cost them dearly with a 39-10 rout by the rival Los Angeles Rams.
Rams’ Aaron Donald and his dominant defense kept taking the ball away from the 49ers and Todd Gurley Rams RB turned those turnovers into touchdowns to keep the Rams unbeaten after seven games.
The signal caller for the Rams QB Jared Goff threw two TD passes as the Rams took advantage of the four takeaways and a blocked punt to beat San Francisco.
“With the offense we have to just keep feeding and feeding them ball,” Donald said. “If we do that, they are going to put points on the board. Our offense is so explosive. We know that if we give them the ball good things are going to happen.”
The 49ers (1-6) have lost five in a row largely because of their own mistakes, all due respect to the unbeaten and all-around stellar Rams (7-0).
“We’re the reason we’re losing these games,” said 49ers running back Matt Breida, who lost a first-quarter fumble before leaving with an aggravated ankle injury.
With 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo observing Sunday from an upstairs suite with team officials, Beathard got harassed by a Rams defense into three turnovers and a career-high seven sacks.
But Beathard, as if by default, remains entrenched in his role heading into next Sunday’s game at Arizona, where he will look to improve on his 1-8 record as a starter.
“By no means is 100 percent of this on C.J.” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Of course he’s got to do better, I’ve got to do better and we’ve got to do a lot better around him.”
Overall, the Rams scored 24 points off their two interceptions and two 49ers fumbles, including a first-quarter fumble by Breida against Donald, who had four sacks.
“It’s inexcusable,” Shanahan said. “It’s impossible to win in this league when you’re turning the ball over like we are and when you don’t get any (takeaways).”
The 49ers only points came off a 10-yard touchdown catch by George Kittle and a 51-yard field goal from Robbie Gould.
“It’s always embarrassing when you lose like that,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We’ve got pride and we’re also confident in what we do. We’re not proud of our record right now. We’re definitely not proud of today. When we played better, we still feel the same way. We’re not into any moral victories here. We’re as far away from one as we could have today. We have to fix the turnovers. Once we fix the turnovers, then we have a chance to start playing football.”
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL: www.apnews.com/tag/NFL
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