Penalty on Tartt turned the tide
SANTA CLARA — Jaquiski Tartt’s unnecessary-roughness penalty “changed the game,” 49ers coach Chip Kelly said after Sunday’s 24-17 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers held a commanding 14-0 lead when Chris Davis and Ronald Blair wrapped up Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for a third-down sack. Once Tartt came in to finish the play and push Prescott from behind to the ground, officials intervened with a controversial call against Tartt.
“I didn’t hear a whistle so I just kept playing,” Tartt said. “I was just pushing him back.”
“They said they blew a whistle. I didn’t hear a whistle on the field,” Kelly said. “I know no one on our sideline heard a whistle on the field. But if they called it, it’s correct.”
That indeed was the correct call, according to former NFL supervisor of officials Mike Pereira, now a Fox Sports analyst who said on Twitter: “Look at that hit in real time. It’s unnecssary and it’s a shot from behind of a QB that’s being held up.”
Three snaps later, Prescott threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams, cutting the 49ers’ lead to 14-7 with 2:58 left before halftime. Those were the first points allowed by the 49ers in five-plus quarters at home this season.
After failing to convert n their first 10 thirddown situations last Sunday in Seattle, the 49ers started 7 for 7 against the Cowboys. That included their touchdown plays: a 17-yard pass from Blaine Gabbert to Jeremy Kerley, and a 3-yard run by Carlos Hyde.
But then the 49ers cooled, going 1 for 7 on their ensuing third-down opportunities.
“We got the looks that we were looking for, and made the plays we needed to make,” Kerley said of the early third-down success. “Later on, we just have to make sure we keep the momentum going.”
Rookie cornerback n Rashard Robinson made his first career start, in place of the inactive Jimmie Ward (quadriceps). Robinson tackled Prescott on the game’s first snap and later broke up a third-down pass.
Robinson’s practice efforts earned him the start over Keith Reaser, who was used as an extra defensive back.
49ers injuries n weren’t limited to linebacker NaVorro Bowman and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, both of whom were carted off the field with lower-leg issues. Robinson and receiver Jeremy Kerley suffered unknown ailments but came back into the game. Left guard Zane Beadles also played through an apparent left-ankle injury.
Right tackle Trent n Brown allowed his first sack of the season when Tyrone Crawford slipped past Brown (and idle guard Andrew Tiller) midway through the second quarter, forcing the 49ers’ third series to stall. Brown had a false-start penalty to hinder a scoring drive in which the 49ers settled for a third-quarter field goal and 17-14 lead.
Jeremy Kerley led n 49ers receivers with six catches for 88 yards (three for 32 yards on the final drive). He also had a 26-yard punt return.
With Vance McDonald n out with a hip injury, Garrett Celek saw most of the action at tight end and caught all five passes targeted to him for 79 yards.