Turnovers have now become a pressing theme for the San Francisco 49ers, who committed another four in their 39-10 loss at home to the undefeated Los Angeles Rams in Week 7.
The San Francisco 49ers entered Week 7 with the NFL's worst turnover differential. After falling 39-10 to the visiting Los Angeles Rams Sunday, what was a minus-11 differential now increased to minus-15.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad committed four more turnovers against the Rams. Three of those were directly related to quarterback C.J. Beathard, who lost a strip-sack fumble in the first quarter and also tossed two interceptions during the game.
Running back Matt Breida, who re-injured his ankle early in the game, also lost a fumble the Rams were able to recover. And the Rams scored 24 of their 39 points off San Francisco turnovers. Tack on a blocked punt upon which Los Angeles recorded a safety, and one could argue 26 points should be the total.
"It's inexcusable," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game. "It's impossible to win in this league when you're turning the ball over like we are."
Last week during the 49ers' 33-30 Monday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers, Beathard tossed a deep interception late in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 30. Instead of just seeking the first down, whittling down the clock and settling for what could have been a game-winning field goal, Beathard's deep shot led directly to the Packers' own game-winning drive at the hands of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Beathard and the 49ers committed five turnovers the week earlier against the Arizona Cardinals, ultimately losing 28-18 despite completely dominating every other offensive stat.
"By no means is it 100 percent on C.J.," Shanahan continued.
Perhaps, but Beathard's ball placement in Week 7 was nowhere close to the improvements shown in Green Bay. On one play, Beathard attempted to hit tight end George Kittle. But rather than leading Kittle, who was being covered by Rams safety John Johnson, Beathard threw slightly above Kittle who couldn't contain the pass. Johnson pulled it away for the second of Beathard's two interceptions on the day.
"It's hard to keep your energy up when you keep turning the ball over on the 50-yard line," Kittle explained after the game.
Despite the turnovers, Shanahan reiterated there aren't any plans to make a change under center.
"C.J. is the best quarterback we have in the building," Shanahan told reporters when prompted about a possible switch. Beathard's backup, Nick Mullens, has never taken a regular-season snap at the NFL level. The 49ers also waived No. 3 quarterback Tom Savage earlier this week, although it wouldn't be a shock if he was re-signed at some point later when the Niners' depth issues in the secondary are worked out.
Regardless, the 49ers' issues with turnovers are concerning. But at least the team is slated to rebound against the one-win Cardinals next week.
Hopefully the Niners don't replicate their five-turnover efforts from that Week 5 contest, though.