The San Francisco 49ers watched their NFL-worst turnover-differential margin increase in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams, turning the ball over three times in quarters one and two en route to a massive 22-7 deficit for head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad.
The San Francisco 49ers entered their Oct. 21 matchup against the undefeated Los Angeles Rams with the NFL's worst turnover differential -- minus-11 before the game.
And that number got worse over the first half of both teams' Week 7 bout at Levi's Stadium. It's now at minus-14.
On the Niners' first offensive drive of the game, quarterback C.J. Beathard suffered a strip-sack fumble and the Rams were able to recover and score three points off the turnover. Then late in the first quarter, running back Matt Breida had the ball stripped by Los Angeles All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
That eventually led to a seven-yard touchdown run by the Rams' Todd Gurley, which increased L.A.'s lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
The 49ers nearly suffered yet another disastrous turnover on the ensuing possession, where the center-quarterback exchange between Weston Richburg and Beathard was botched and fumbled. Fortunately Beathard fell on the loose ball, but that's the point -- San Francisco hasn't been able to protect the ball well all season.
And it's killing the Niners' chances. To make it worse, 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt nearly intercepted Rams quarterback Jared Goff on third down. The ball went right through his hands, though, and fell incomplete. The 49ers settled for a punt return and worse field position instead.
San Francisco continued to find new ways to collapse, including a blocked punt by the Rams that went out of the back of the 49ers' end zone for a safety, and the Rams added another field goal on their ensuing possession following the safety punt. Just like that, 15-0 in favor of L.A.
Beathard subsequently tossed an interception on a pass intended for wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, which was picked off by Rams cornerback Troy Hill. Hill is arguably L.A.'s weakest defensive back and is only starting due to the season-ending injury to the Rams' veteran, Aqib Talib. Yet that was Beathard's sixth interception tossed on the year, and it gave way to a 19-yard touchdown for Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks to give L.A. a 22-0 first-half lead.
Beathard was averaging 2.7 turnovers per game over his three starts prior to Week 7. He looks to be on pace with that number over the first half of this game.
At least he hooked up with tight end George Kittle late in the second quarter to get San Francisco on the board before the half.
The 49ers will open up on offense for the second half.
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Written by:Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
