Maiocco’s 49ers Report Card: Team grades in MNF loss to Lions

SANTA CLARA — There was no opportunity to play spoiler on Monday, but the 49ers were up against a Detroit Lions team that sits atop the NFC. Coach Kyle Shanahan said nothing about the team's approach changed with the 49ers already eliminated from NFL playoff contention. "Try to approach it the same way we approach every game, try our hardest to win and try to play our best," Shanahan said following the 49ers' 40-34 loss to the Lions at Levi's Stadium. "I thought the guys played real hard. I thought they competed and had every chance to beat a real good football team there." But the 49ers did what they've been doing all year. They made crucial mistakes in every phase of the game. There is no consolation prize. And there are no great grades for teams that lose — even if the team they lost to has the best record in the NFC (14-2) and will play the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed on the line. Here is the report card from the 49ers' Week 17 game against the Lions: Rushing offense The 49ers averaged a respectable 4.2 yards on the ground, but they were not able to get consistent yards and only ran the ball 18 times. Their two rushing touchdowns came on quarterback...