Game review

The biggest stat: They had just one turnover, which didn’t lead to any points, after they had at least two giveaways in eight straight games. RT Mike McGlinchey had a pass- protection breakdown that led to QB C. J. Beathard’s fumble, but he also helped le

OFFENSE

MDEFENSE Five days after he was voted to his first Pro Bowl, LB Fred Warner looked worthy of all- world status: He had 14 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, batted down a 4th- and- 2 pass in the fourth quarter and was the biggest reason the NFL’s third- ranked offense spent three hours gasping and wheezing. Arizona managed 12 points — less than half its season average — thanks to a host of other standouts. CB Jason Verrett locked down WR DeAndre Hopkins ( 48 yards) and CB Ahkello Witherspoon, buried in the doghouse not long ago, continued his recent resurgence with a fourthquarter INT.

NSPECIAL TEAMS Was this Robbie Gould’s way of signaling he’d like to return to his beloved Bears in 2021? A week before the deadline for the 49ers to pick up his contract option for next season, the almostautomatic Gould turned into Charlie Brown in the second half. Gould missed field goals of 41 and 37 yards, along with an extra point. Gould had made 31 straight kicks from less than 50 yards, which had been the longest active streak in the NFL.

JCOACHING Kyle Shanahan said he didn’t have a conservative game plan designed to stop the flood of turnovers, but the team had 13 runs and nine passes in the first half and the score allowed him to stay fairly buttoned- up in the final two quarters. And he gets kudos for one of his most enjoyable play calls of the season: FB Kyle Juszczyk’s successful QB sneak. As for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, he might be able to fashion a top- 20 defense from Ohio State’s scout team.

MOVERALL They appeared to give it all in a game in which motivation could have been an issue. Considering the mail- it- in performance in Saturday morning’s game ( Tampa Bay 47, Detroit 7), the spirited 20- 12 win speaks to the culture created by the current regime.

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