FROM MVP STUDS TO BIGGEST DUDS
SF lost Bosa early, but it did have some shining moments to ease pain
The 49ers felt your 2020 pain, from their Super Bowl collapse to this season’s injury-plagued encore that mercifully ends Sunday against Seattle.
“It wasn’t fun,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s not what we or our fans wanted.
“But I believe the way we went through it, if you go through things the right way, I think it hardens you and makes you stronger and makes you better.”
There’s no making it back to the playoffs, however, not after a late- season slide that accompanied their eviction from Santa Clara County because of COVID-restrictions. At least we can offer the 49ers these yearend, consolation prizes: DEFENSIVE MVP » Linebacker Fred Warner. He celebrated his first Pro Bowl with an all-encompassing show last game (14 tackles, fourth- down pass breakup, fum-
ble forced/recovered). Time now for “All-Pro Fred” to get a Well-Paid Fred extension.
OFFENSIVE MVP » Left tackle Trent Williams. Traded from Washington after missing 2019 in a cancer battle, Williams earned his eighth Pro Bowl and aptly replaced the retired Joe Staley. Other contenders: George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jeff Wilson.
OFFENSIVE OVERACHIEVER » Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. His 12-game rookie season goes down among the top five in 49ers rookie history (60 catches, 748 yards, seven overall touchdowns). A high ankle sprain will keep him out of Sunday’s finale.
DEFENSIVE OVERACHIEVER » Defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. Who figured this bargain free agent ($1.5 million) would deliver a career-high 8 ½ sacks so far, helping cover the early exits of injured stars Nick Bosa and Dee Ford?
BEST WIN » 26-23 at the L. A. Rams, Nov. 29: Robbie Gould won it with a 42-yard field goal as time expired, snapping the 49ers’ three-game skid and sweeping the season series.
EASIEST WIN » 33- 6 at the New England Patriots, Oct. 25. Jimmy Garoppolo’s victorious return to New England came with Jeff Wilson’s touchdown hat trick. A swarming defense got Cam Newton benched. And the Niners’ record climbed to 4- 3, their final time above .500.
WORST WIN » 31-13 at the New York Jets, Sept. 20. They lost Bosa and Solomon Thomas to seasonending knee injuries in a three-play span, and the MetLife Stadium turf also took out Garoppolo (ankle), Raheem Mostert ( knee) and Tevin Coleman (knee).
WORST PLAYER LOSS » Bosa. The NFL’s reigning defensive rookie of the year tore his ACL on a Jets rushing play, by 49ers all-time rushing king Frank Gore.
WORST GAME LOSS » Pick ’em, from their four Levi’s Stadium embarrassments, against the Arizona Cardinals ( Week 1 choke), the Philadelphia Eagles (winning QB: Carson Wentz), the Miami Dolphins (poor cornerback Brian Allen) or Green Bay Packers ( NFC Championship Game revenge).
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAY » Aiyuk made quite a primetime debut in Week 4, hurdling an Eagles defender on a 38-yard touchdown run down the sideline.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAY » It wasn’t a sack or a fumble but rather an end-zone interception. Make that two of them, in rare wins: Jason Verrett’s at home Oct. 18 against the Rams, then Ahkello Witherspoon’s Saturday against the Cardinals. Honorable mention: Javon Kinlaw pick- six at the Rams.
QUARTERBACK THEME » Of the team’s 30 turnovers (second-most in the NFL), 23 have come from their quarterbacks, including Nick Mullens (12 interceptions, four fumbles), Garoppolo (five interceptions) and C. J. Beathard (two fumbles). Bonus theme: Shanahan went to his QB bullpen in 5 of 15 games, so far.
MOST COMMON INJURY » High ankle sprains. That forced Garoppolo out against the Jets, the Dolphins, and, finally, the Seahawks on Nov. 2. Others with high ankle sprains: Aiyuk, Mostert, Wilson, K’Waun Williams and Jordan Willis.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR » “Now I’m taken care of and my family is taken care of. I don’t have to worry about money or anything else. And I can just go play football. And run through someone’s face. And I’m really excited about that.” — Tight end George Kittle on Aug. 15, after securing a five-year, $75 million extension.