This Weekend in NFL Stupid highlights the dumbest moments and decisions in football throughout the season. Coming out of Week 3, we’re focusing on two stupidly conservative decisions from the San Francisco 49ers in Kansas City.
The stupidest of the stupid
Down 35-7 late in the first half against the hottest offense in the NFL, the 49ers shied away from taking a shot at the end zone and kicked a field goal.
They had time to spare inside the San Francisco 25-yard line when they became conservative. They weren’t likely coming back anyway, but what’s the point in settling for three points when you’re trailing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs?
Down 38-24 with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the 49ers shied away from taking a shot on fourth down and kicked a field goal.
Come on, Kyle Shanahan. Again, I know it was a long shot on 4th-and-goal from 17 yards out, but you don’t get much out of three points there. Have to assume you’re only getting the ball back one more time and do everything you can to make it a one-score game. San Francisco had just scored but the touchdown was nullified by offensive pass interference. Shanahan should’ve had quarterback C.J. Beathard air it out and hope for a catch or a defensive penalty on Kansas City.
Lightning round
This was a 15-yard penalty Thursday night…
This is unsportsmanlike conduct in 2018 in the NFL.
Please give us football back. Please. pic.twitter.com/0U1Zszw7uA
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweetss) September 21, 2018
The NFL is doing so much to protect quarterbacks, but these guys have to do a better job protecting them from themselves…
Team announced to make it official.#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo's age-26 season ends after only 3 games. pic.twitter.com/qdhNKsLvyG
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 24, 2018
Clay Matthews is now barred from touching or breathing heavily on any Quarterbacks the rest of his career , not allowed to participate in commercials with QB's or face suspension. smfh
Hey @nflcommish nice on the field product ya got ⚰️pic.twitter.com/epZnk5L94h
— IB 💵 🔌 (@incarceratedbob) September 24, 2018
And again…
"Roughing the passer" on Tyrone Crawford #DALvsSEA #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/Rm2LWeSSEn
— Joey Hayden (@_joeyhayden) September 23, 2018
Final stupid word
Ya’ll see what Baker Mayfield did? Ya’ll wonder if the Cleveland Browns might have won in Week 1 or Week 2 had Mayfield been the starting quarterback? Hue Jackson and the Browns’ decision-makers get a special shoutout here for stubbornly sticking with Tyrod Taylor for two and a half weeks, even though it was plainly obvious at the conclusion of the preseason that the more capable No. 1 overall pick gave them a better chance to win.
Jackson made the same mistake Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien made with Deshaun Watson last year.
Stupid.