Bad 2nd quarter dooms Raiders in loss.
Rout gives upstart 49ers their first 2-0 start since 2012; Staley suffers broken leg
CINCINNATI >> A 2-0 start to the season became sweet reality Sunday for the 49ers’ traveling party.
How they ruined the Bengals’ home opener with a 4117 rout will make the NFL take notice beyond an undefeated record. This 49ers win was way more convincing than their 3117, season-opening victory at Tampa Bay.
Tempering the 49ers’ joy was left tackle Joe Staley’s broken left fibula, which will sideline him the next two months
and perhaps prompt the team to seek a veteran replacement (Washington holdout Trent Williams?).
Staley vowed to return for “an end-of-season run,” and that looks possible after the 49ers’ first 2-0 start since 2012, a striking contrast to coach Kyle Shanahan’s 0-9 and 1-7 starts in his previous two seasons.
“I’d definitely say it’s the most decisive win we’ve had,” Shanahan said. “... We haven’t had too many games where we’ve felt that comfortable over the final 45 minutes.”
Jimmy Garoppolo rebounded and threw three touchdown passes for the first time in a 49ers uniform, and he passed for 297 of the 49ers’ overall 572 yards. Complementing the onslaught was a 244-yard rushing attack, led by 121 yards from starter Matt Breida and 83 by backup Raheem Mostert.
Defensively, the 49ers dominated from the first snap, as Arik Armstead recorded the first of four sacks on Andy Dalton.
“I know everybody’s out there probably going crazy at the bar and having a good time. Everybody, just stay humble,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “This a franchise that’s won five championships. We’re trying to get back to that. We’re working hard and it’s a work in progress. But we appreciate your support.”
Staley’s wasn’t the only injury worth noting, or was defensive end Dee Ford’s left-knee aggravation. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained an elbow
injury Sunday; the Steelers make their first trip to Levi’s Stadium in the 49ers’ home opener next Sunday.
Here are the studs and duds from the 49ers’ first 2-0 start since 2012, when that Super Bowl-bound season also included a week-long layover in Youngstown, Ohio, which is where this team sequestered itself ahead of Sunday’s rout:
Studs
GAROPPOLO >> He finished 17 of 25 for 297 yards with three touchdowns, one interception, no sacks and a 131.2 passer rating. After his first pass produced a third-down conversion to Kyle Juszczyk, he found Marquise Goodwin wide open for a 38-yard touchdown 47 seconds into the game. The other touchdown passes went to Mostert (39 yards) and Deebo Samuel (2 yards). Even Garoppolo’s second-quarter interception didn’t cost the 49ers points as the Bengals missed a field goal.
ARMSTEAD >> Taking advantage of left tackle Cordy Glenn’s absence, Armstead powered his way past Andre Smith to sack Dalton on the game’s first snap. DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas and Ronald Blair had the other sacks.
GOODWIN >> He slipped wide open down the left side of the field, snagged Garoppolo’s pass at the 15-yard line, trotted into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season and celebrated with an Olympic-esque long jump. He had three catches for 77 yards, after just a 7-yard reception in the opener.
BREIDA >> Highlighting his 121-yard effort was a 34yard, reverse-field, avoiddefenders run to the Bengals’ 15-yard line (on thirdand-1) is one of the best we’ve seen in years.
BLAIR >> He had a sack on the Bengals’ first series after halftime. He also showed up big in a first-half series, recording tackles behind the line of scrimmage against running backs Joe Mixon (minus-2 yards) and Giovani Bernard (minus-3 yards).
KWON ALEXANDER >> Ejected in the first quarter last Sunday, he keyed this win’s strong defense with seven tackles, his signature swagger, rediscovered speed and, last but not least, an interception while covering tight end Tyler Eifert 74 seconds before halftime. SAMUEL >> His first career touchdown came on a 2-yard reception as he broke open on the right side of the end zone. That made amends for a drop late in the first half. “When you have a guy that plays that physically and isn’t scared of the moment or scared of contact, we’re going to be a lot more willing to live with (growing pains),” Shanahan said of Samuel (five catches for 87 yards, two carries for 7).
NICK BOSA >> That right ankle injury doesn’t seem to negatively impact him, or his snap count. He narrowly missed at least three sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS >> Mitch Wishnowsky’s secondquarter punt was caught by 49er D.J. Reed at the Bengals’ 3 with 4:42 remaining. Mostert and Emmanuel Moseley had excellent tackles in coverage earlier. Robbie Gould made 33and 38-yard field goals before missing from 39 in garbage time.
Duds
K’WAUN WILLIAMS >> He struggled on the Bengals’ first-quarter touchdown drive, first allowing a 47yard completion, then a third-down conversion and finally Eifert’s 1-yard touchdown catch. He missed a tackle on the second series, but he made seven tackles, including a touchdown-saving one on John Ross. SOLOMON THOMAS >> He committed a late-hit, roughing-the-passer penalty after Dalton completed a pass (for no gain) with Bosa grabbing at Dalton’s right ankle. His persistence paid off in the second quarter by hustling to tackle a scrambling Dalton for a 1-yard sack.
FORD >> “Irritation” with his problematic left knee and quadriceps kept him out after halftime. He was not a dud as much as this is concerning news for a player who missed three weeks of training camp for treatment on his knee tendinitis. RICHIE JAMES >> He managed just 13 yards on a kickoff return, so the 49ers’ second possession started at their 16-yard line.
MIKE MCGLINCHEY >> He committed a false-start penalty to back the 49ers up to the 20-yard line, then almost allowed a sack to Carlos Dunlap on the next snap.
Staley injury puts damper on victory
Staley’s broken leg dampened the 49ers’ mood after an impressive victory.
Shanahan expects Staley’s broken left fibula to keep him out for eight weeks, and it is not likely the 13th-year veteran will go on injured reserve.
“It’s football. It is what it is,” Staley said. “I’m real happy we got the win. It was a great road win.
“I’m going to do everything I can to be part of this team for an end-of-season run.”
Staley, 35, also broke his left fibula in the 2010 season, and Shanahan referenced that as to Staley’s potential comeback this season.
Staley was on crutches in the locker room and jokingly told fellow lineman McGlinchey not to reveal much about his condition, after McGlinchey already told reporters that Staley “luckily” only had a hairline fracture and does not require surgery.
“He’s obviously a huge, key part of our team and the offensive line, McGlinchey said. “But next man up, and Justin Skule has been preparing the past couple weeks and we’re confident in his ability to get the job done.
“We’re going to play hard for Joe these next couple weeks while he’s out.”