Like his teammates and coaches, George Kittle is frustrated. After starting their 2023 campaign with five straight wins, his San Francisco 49ers have lost their last three contests. The team needs to turn things around quickly to rekindle their Super Bowl aspirations.
Since their commanding 42-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on October 8, the 49ers have suffered defeats on the road against the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings and, most recently, a home loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's been a rough three weeks for a team that, not too long ago, was considered the best in the league.
When asked if the dominant win against the Cowboys may have instilled a false sense of confidence heading into the last three games, the tight end quickly dismissed the notion.
"No, I don't think it's a confidence thing," Kittle told reporters after the 49ers' 31-17 defeat on Sunday. "We go into Cleveland ... I wouldn't say overconfident. We should be confident because of the players and the staff that we have. I'm not worried about that.
"I think you look at Cleveland, what did we have? Fifteen penalties? You can't win a football game with 15 penalties and multiple turnovers. I mean, you can. It's just really [difficult].
"And then we had an opportunity to win at the end. We didn't. And I don't think it's an overconfidence thing."
While Kittle was pressed for other reasons why the 49ers have taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, everything came back to the team's failure to protect the football.
"Besides turnovers, I don't think we're running the ball enough, and situationally, I don't think we can run the ball because of the situation we're putting ourselves in," Kittle said.
"Also, I think we have an offense with explosive players all over the football field, and we can win these games. And we had an opportunity down there where it's 17-10, and hey, we have a turnover. Turnovers really hurt you.
"And there's no pointing of fingers like that. There's plays that can be made all over the football field, but it's hard to win football games when you have three turnovers."
The 49ers opened the season scoring 30 points in each of their first three games. Over the past three weeks, they have scored 17 points in each.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence that the 49ers have the people inside the building to turn things around. Kittle shares this sentiment.
"We have a very good, talented football team," Kittle affirmed. "We have good coaches, and we're just not winning the game right now."
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