49ers Drop Four Straight
“We have to finish games. It's as simple as that.”—Mike Singletary

By Larry Garcia of Bay Area Sports Drive Magazine
Photo by Al Reyes of Bay Area Sports Drive Magazine
November 08, 2009

The 49erss lose to the Titans in San Francisco with four turnovers that Tennessee converted into 24 points on Sunday afternoon.  

First quarter: Alex Smith was intercepted by Tennessee cornerback Rood Hood for forty-three yards and six plays later Titans running back takes it to the goal for a seven-yard TD. 

In the third quarter Alex smith had the ball knocked out from his hands by Titans DE Jacob Ford who recovered Smiths fumble at the 36 and 7 plays later Titans Johnson takes it in for a 1-yard touchdown for a score of 17-17. 

The 4^th quarter, 49ers have high hopes but Smith is intercepted on the 39 that Titans took advantage off seven plays later for a 28 yard field goal for a Titan seven point advantage.  However, wait, the miserable 4^th quarter for the 49ers still has another page left. Smith goes to Morgan who looks open but lurking from behind Morgan is Titans Vincent Fuller who knocks the ball away for an interception.  

When coach Singletary was asked if he felt Alex Smith blew the game he said, "No. I wouldn't say that at all. I thought Alex was playing well today, for the most part. When you get turnovers, obviously you can't say that, but I thought he made some good decisions. We just have to look at the film and kind of come away from it as to where the fault is. It looked to me that he was getting the ball where it needed to go. Whether the receivers could catch the ball or not, I don't know. I don't know if there was contact at the time of the ball getting there, contact before the time of the ball getting there. I don't know. I have to look at the film and see." 

The 49ers beat themselves.  Give credit to the Titans for the victory but sloppy play is not going to give you victories.  The Titans took those 49er mistakes and gave them a “W” for the record.  

After the game Singletary had this to say:” We have to get out of this situation right now where we get a lead, we have to know that we're going to keep that lead, but we're not trying to maintain. We have to continue to gain. We have to finish games. It's as simple as that. When it came down to whatever else I was talking about, it comes down to finishing football games. And that is the thing that we're not doing. We're not finishing football games. If you go back to Minnesota, if you go back to Indianapolis, if you go back to the game today, take your pick, we're not finishing games. We have to finish games."

--- BASD ---