49ers play the game that was needed, winning in the chill

It was the type of football dictated by the conditions, cold and windy; the type of football often needed in northern Ohio, where the NFL came into existence more than 100 years ago. 

Grind-it out, shove-the-other-guys-around- football, and Sunday, perhaps surprisingly it was produced by the San Francisco 49ers, with a 26-8 win over the Browns in Cleveland, with weather around 35 degrees, and wind-chill 24 degrees.

That gave San Francisco a 9-4 record, not far behind the Rams, who were surprised by a mediocre Carolina team, and Seattle. The Niners now have one of the latest bye weeks imaginable—it’s almost next season—before the close of the regular schedule.

The Niners did things carefully and intelligently. They hung onto the ball (no turnovers) and except for 39 seconds late in the first half hung onto the lead. They didn’t have a lot of yardage, but they had control making first downs when needed, and touchdowns when possible. They also got a 66 yard punt return by Skyy Moore in the opening quarter that set up a Christian McCaffrey score. 

Robert Saleh’s well-scripted defense was as much responsible for the victory as anything, in a game where the 49ers, as needed, played error-free. 

“This was a huge one with Skyy on the return,” said Kyle Shanahan, the Niners coach. “I’m proud of the guys for not turning over the ball.”

Shanahan also praised receiver Ricky Pearsall for making a big third down catch with the wind in his face in the second quarter. 

The weather was never out of Shanahan’s thoughts. Normally he would defer when winning the coin toss, as the Niners did, but this time Shanahan chose to receive because that enabled San Francisco to choose the direction they would go in the fourth quarter, obviously with the wind.

Six days ago when the Niners won on Monday night, quarterback Brock Purdy threw three interceptions, and you wondered what was going on.

Nothing serious it turned out.  Purdy played quite well Sunday, passing for 168 yards and a touchdown.  He also scrambled smartly for another touchdown, not taking any chances of throwing an interception.

“Coming here and knowing the conditions that were here, you  had to have a mindset,’’ said Purdy. “We needed some momentum, had to be aggressive and to push the chains.” Purdy was no less enthusiastic about the pass to Pearsall, completed under pressure from the league’s sack leader, Myles Garrett.

Pearsall also had something to say. 

“It was super important that I had a complete game” said Pearsall. “The defense was great. Skyy was good. I like playing in cold weather. It doesn’t bother me. I feel I’m doing my job and have to see what I can do to make it better.”

He has two weeks to do that before the Niners next game against the Tennessee Titans. Conditions for that one should be better. 

The results, however, could not be any better than this one.

McCaffrey gets his yards, 49ers get their victory

It wasn’t a work of art, but the 49ers won, and as we have been told, that is why we play the game: to win. So knock off the criticism. 

What the 49ers did was knock off the Carolina Panthers, 20-9, at Levi’s Stadium, and if the performance wasn’t enough to impress the weekly Monday night viewing public, well, that is the way it is.

The way the 49ers are after 12 games is 8-4, and if not exactly content, then under the circumstances, missing two great defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, they’re at least satisfied with what has been accomplished.

“Winning in the NFL is very hard,” reminded tight end George Kittle. “Our offense wasn’t as sharp as last week.” 

One reason was that quarterback Brock Purdy, in his second start after missing six games, threw three first-half interceptions. But if Brock was a bit wild—or even more than a bit—Christian McCaffrey was his usual reliable, consistent self, rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown, and catching 7 passes for 53 yards.

A great deal is made about McCaffrey, for the first time facing the Panthers, who traded him to San Francisco in 2022. Understandably. He leads pro football in individual offense, gaining yards on the ground or through the air.

“A great win,” said McCaffrey, perhaps some might consider an overstatement. “We are hungry for more. The team plays together and likes playing together.”

Not exactly a remark out of the Bill Walsh playbook, but McCaffrey prefers to make a statement with his legs and arms as opposed to vocally. McCaffrey likes having the ball. And the 49ers like having him carry the ball. In 11 games, he’s gained 1,439 total yards from scrimmage.

This one began with McCaffrey pounding away for one short gain after another, setting up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to Juan Jennings with 6:17 in the first quarter.

Credit for this victory probably should go as much to head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, as it should to any of the players. Although restricted because of the numerous injuries, the two men came up with successful plans on both offense and defense.

“The offense is striving to score 30 points each game,” said Niners tight-end George Kittle, who is as astute as he is skilled. “We didn’t do that this time, but we did move the ball well.” 

The Niners gained 340 yards and had it not been for four turnovers, Purdy’s three first-half interceptions, and a lost fumble, they might have scored more. True, might is an overly used word in sports, yet it showed the Niners did have their chances. 

San Francisco signed a new place kicker, Matt Gay, who had been on the Washington Commanders, to replace injured Eddy Pineiro. Gay tried two field goals and made them both.

“NFL is a land of opportunity,” said Kittle. “We are getting better each week.”  

They may not have been impressive this week, but they won, and what else really matters?

50 years later, Warriors remember ’75 Finals and ‘Biggest Upset’

Sure, that was an exaggeration, Rick Barry referring to the Warriors' surprise win in the 1975 NBA finals as the “biggest upset in the history of major sports in America.” 

But maybe not that much of an exaggeration.

Does it matter?  History will not change. Nor will the memories. The biggest upset or the least important? What does matter is that the championship will always belong to the Warriors.

Not that Barry and some teammates didn’t feel slighted. No White House visit. No Sports Illustrated cover.

Recognition may have been missing, but appreciation is not.

Friday night seven members of that team—Barry, Jamal Wilkes, George Johnson, Butch Baird, Charles Dudley, Cliff Ray and from the other side of the country, Jeff Mullins—were honored during a game by the current Warriors. 

“The biggest disappointment,” said Barry, “was not getting the recognition we deserved—who we were and are.”

The Warriors emphasized togetherness, perhaps more so than other teams. In fact, that word is engraved on the Championship ring each player received.

It was the belief of the late head coach, Al Attles, that everyone on the roster should play, which kept the athletes happy as well as well-conditioned. They accepted whatever role was assigned, Mullins and Beard performing as subs after starting for other teams. 

That the Warriors even made it to the finals was stunning to some basketball experts. Golden State had a mediocre 48-34 record during the regular season. They beat Seattle in the Western Conference semifinals and made it past the Chicago Bulls in the conference finals (in seven games). That was when Bulls coach Dick Motta offered his famous quote, “It isn’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.” That series was rough and tumble, Chicago grabbing and shoving the Warriors at every opportunity. But somehow the Warriors survived.

Washington was a startlingly heavy favorite in the Finals. Which, because of arena conflicts, changed what would have been the normal playoff schedule. The series did open in Washington, but then moved to San Francisco’s Cow Palace for games two and three.  When the Warriors unexpectedly won the first game—“destiny,” said Beard, as he ran off the court. Washington was in a bind. Before the finals, there was a story in Baltimore that the Warriors were the worst team ever to reach the finals.

They may have been, but they still won, the result Barry called “The biggest upset in US history of sports.”  

Attles got tossed by the officials early in game 4, trying to protect Barry from getting ejected for fighting. Joe Roberts took over for Attles.

Sadly, Attles, Roberts, and three Warrior players—Derek Dickey, Steve Bracey, and then rookie Phil Smith—are deceased. 

Brock is back and so is the Niners’ joy

Brock Purdy was back, and the question was whether he or his teammates on the San Francisco 49ers were more excited about the return than he was.   

Not that the issue is anything but minor, and quite acceptable, as for the Niners was the result of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, a 41-22 victory, at State Farm Stadium in  Glendale, AZ.

The 49ers hardly collapsed the six games Mac Jones was their quarterback, as Purdy recovered from that turf toe injury. But Brock is their $50 million man, the one who is supposed to lead them again to a Super Bowl, and so the focus has been as much on his absence as the team’s progress or lack of same.

Sport is as much mental as physical, however, and Purdy’s comeback seemed enlightening, as if the world would now be a better place. And it certainly seemed to be in the game against the Cardinals when the 49ers' Scott Moore took the opening kickoff and ran it 98 yards to the Arizona one.

Christian McCaffrey scored on the next play, and the feel-good memories came rolling back.

This was what the 49ers used to do in their not-long-ago championship seasons: grab an advantage early and then take control. This is not to imply there is a title in the immediate future—right now the Rams look like a better team—but suddenly the Niners appear revitalized. 

And Purdy is ecstatic. As are his teammates.

“It feels great to be back out, to be with the boys. It’s one play at a time, I know we got the guys and we work together.” 

Purdy completed 19 out of 26 passes for 200 yards and, no less importantly, three touchdowns. One of those scoring receptions was by the man often called San Francisco’s best all-around player, Christian McCaffrey, who also ran for two TDs. 

“He was very vintage Brock today,” McCaffrey said of Purdy. “He kept us in the game. To come back in the middle of the year and play the way he did, is very impressive.”

Niners tight end George Kittle was just as enthusiastic about Purdy rejoining him. Kittle caught six passes, two for touchdowns.

“Brock's presence in the huddle is amazing,” said Kittle. “He plays with so much joy that it is infectious.”

That’s understandable. When you are the last man selected in the draft, the so-called “Mr. Irrelevant,” of course you’d be joyful when unexpectedly you’ve become a star in the NFL. 

“I got into a rhythm and felt like we were playing well together,” said Purdy. “It felt good for my confidence.To come back after six weeks, I was very excited.” 

Purdy grew up in the greater Phoenix area, and his family and friends attended the game, an added incentive and reward.

The 49ers still need a defense. The Cardinals' backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, set an NFL record by completing 47 passes, good for 452 yards.

Fortunately, in this one, the offense was enough. In fact, more than enough. 

Brock Purdy, back once more, had an enjoyable return.

Curry’s play, Kerr’s words shine for Warriors

What a magnificent performance by Golden State Warriors’ guard, Steph Curry, with 46 points. 

What a perfect observation about Steph’s brilliance from the Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr: “The sun in our solar system.” 

Curry’s baskets and Kerr’s words came Wednesday night when the Warriors ended two streaks—one of their own, six straight road losses; one of the San Antonio Spurs, who had been unbeaten at home, with a 125-120 victory.

A league schedule dictated as much by finance as airline schedules allows little time for contemplation. The same teams, the Warriors and Spurs, play again Friday night in the same place, San Antonio.

What happened even a few hours in the past quickly becomes history, although for the Warriors in this season of battling age as well as opponents, the win is the best kind of history.

We’re told great players, no matter how old and battered, somehow find a way. Which the 37-year-old Curry and long-time teammate, Draymond Green, 35, definitely did. Steph erupting for 29 points in the 2nd half. Green holding Victor Wembanyama, 7-foot-5, who is nearly twelve inches taller, scoreless for long stretches. 

If this is the last hurrah for the Warriors dynasty, four championships starting in 2015, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be one without excitement.

Especially with Curry still able to make shots from long range, which, after missing a couple of games because of illness, he certainly was able to do.

“He’s just such an incredible player and teammate, and it’s great to see him back out there,”  said Kerr.

As you are aware, Kerr was once a teammate of Michael Jordan, who broke scoring records in his years on the Chicago Bulls in the 1980s and gained prominence as arguably the NBA’s best player ever.

Because of time, matchups, and other factors, comparisons are difficult if not silly. Still, what Curry has accomplished in his 17 seasons has elevated him into a status of players such as Jordan, Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and the other superstars. That description, by the way, was coined in the early 1960s when the NBA was still seeking recognition and approval. Even to play in the NBA, you had to be a star. Thus, the very best players were “superstars.”

No matter what you choose to call him, there’s no doubt Curry, the all-time leader in 3-point field goals, is special. And as we know it is remarkably accurate on long-range jumpers. The 46 points he scored Wednesday in 33 minutes was the 73rd time Curry has reached 40 in his career and the 43rd time since he turned 30.   

Curry was the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Of those selected ahead of him, only James Harden, now with the Clippers, remains in the NBA. 

Maybe you never know what you’ll get, but what the Warriors know is who they got, someone accurate, magnificent, and special.

Was that only a game where the Los Angeles Rams defeated the 49ers 42-26, or was it a game-changer?

We’re aware in baseball that the Los Angeles Dodgers own the San Francisco Giants.  And in the NBA, more often than not, the Lakers take control of the Warriors. But if there was one place where a Northern California franchise was superior, it was in the NFL, where the Niners inevitably handled the Rams. 

That favorable result apparently is doomed to history, at least after Sunday’s seeming mismatch at Levi Stadium, the Rams leaping to a quick 21-0 lead.  

The 49ers were missing key defensive players, including Nick Bosa, who’s been out since Week three, linebacker Fred Warner, and rookie end Mykel Williams. Still, injuries are frequent in pro football, and good teams compensate for them.

The Niners, however, had no chance against a wonderfully offensive quarterback by Matthew Stafford. The veteran quarterback completed 24 of his 36 pass attempts for 280 yards—an overwhelming total—and four touchdowns.

The Niners couldn’t pressure Stafford, nor could they defend his receivers, a combination that not only proved the Rams to be a better team but proved destructive for San Francisco. If you can’t stop the opponent, you’ve got no chance, and the Niners couldn’t and didn’t.

It’s almost hard to believe that a month ago, San Francisco defeated the Rams down in LA, but that was before Stafford and his offensive line grew relentless. He has the time to throw, and with that time, he finds receivers and points.

Niners coach, Kyle Shanahan, had his reasons for the team dropping its first division game and falling to 6-4 overall, which at the moment, not quite at the halfway point of the schedule, would be out of the playoffs. 

“We could have made it a game,” said Shanahan, perhaps a bit unrealistically. “We had seven penalties in the first half. We had so many guys missing on defense. We can play better than we did today.”

You would hope so. But throughout the first few weeks of the season, they have lacked the consistency demonstrated by a solid team. And you can’t give the ball away on a fumble and an interception when the other team has no turnovers.

That the 49ers even made a game out of it should be considered significant, although when you are down 21-0, only minutes into the second quarter, the game virtually is over at that point.

Mac Jones started at quarterback again for the 49ers in place of Brock Purdy, the $50 million man with the injured toe, and Jones was more than competent, which is more than you can say for the defense. Jones, playing from behind the entire game, meaning he had to throw, completed 33 of 39 attempts for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

The talk is Purdy will be healthy enough to start the next game. If only the injured defensive players could, the Niners might fare better than they did against the Rams.

Jones, McCaffrey and Shanahan’s offense; the way it’s supposed to be

This was Mac Jones, completing every pass he threw in the first half. This was Christian McCaffrey, setting an NFL record. This was Kyle Shanahan’s offense, looking efficient and effective.

This was the San Francisco 49ers reminding us they could be a factor in the playoffs, after their biggest scoring output Sunday, defeating the New York Giants, 34-24, at the Meadowlands. 

Agreed, the Giants are hardly among the NFL’s best. In fact, their run defense ranks the worst—but the 49er victory on the road and their apparent improvement should not be dismissed. The Niners now are 6-3, but still undefeated in the NFC West. We’ll find out a great deal more when the 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams Sunday at SoFi Stadium. But that’s a few days in the future. For the present, it is time to deal with San Francisco’s quite impressive win over the Giants, a game in which Jones again proved to be the best backup quarterback in the league and a game in which McCaffrey verified his talent as both runner and receiver.

As in the most recent games, the question before kickoff was whether the $50 million dollar-man, Brock Purdy, would finally be the starter at QB, having missed every opportunity because of that lingering “turf-toe” injury. The answer came quickly enough. Brock still couldn’t make it, but Jones, as in every game so far, did make it—and made the 49ers move. He was 14 for 14 on pass attempts before halftime, and finished 19 for 24 with 235 yards and two touchdowns.

“Mac played really well,” said Shanahan. “He got the ball where he should.” 

That the Niners even have Jones is part of the magic and mystery of pro football. He was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2021, the heir apparent to retired superstar—and now TV personality—Tom Brady.

But after three seasons, Jones fell into disfavor, was traded to Jacksonville, who subsequently released him. The Niners signed him as a free agent this past summer. 

Five of Jones’ 14 completions Sunday were to McCaffrey. Two of those were for touchdowns. McCaffrey also scored running the ball, and in the process, set a league record.  

He has now scored a touchdown running and receiving in 17 games, one more than Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

“Our team stayed emotionally sharp the whole game,” said McCaffrey.

The Niners’ No. 2 halfback, Brian Robinson, who was acquired in a trade in August, scored his first touchdown of the season on an 18-yard run in the 4th quarter.

That was the good news. The bad news was that rookie defensive back Mykel Williams, a first-round selection, incurred what might have been a season-ending knee injury.

So the Niners probably are looking to make a trade before Tuesday’s deadline, although they don’t want to give away a potential young star to acquire a player who may only be here for the year.

That said, trade or no trade, the 49ers are a contender. In the rough, unpredictable sport of pro football, it’s hard to wish for much more.  

Vitello aware of Giants’ historic past; future will be his

The everlasting comment about a baseball manager is he’s hired to be fired.

Which, of course, happened to Bob Melvin a few days ago, and was the reason that the San Francisco Giants on Thursday introduced Tony Vitello as the man who would assume the position as the most unique manager in major league history.

As you surely know, until now, Vitello has had no experience managing or coaching in professional baseball. His sterling record as a college coach at Tennessee, including a national championship, and no less his support from Giants general manager Buster Posey are the reasons he has been chosen.

The how and why, while fascinating to long-time baseball buffs, are insignificant. What matters in baseball, as in all pro sports, is winning.

That detail will depend more on the individuals who work for him, the players, than perhaps Vitello, not that the person in control doesn’t have a great effect on results.

Baseball is different. While leadership is required, there are no deep pass routes or zone defenses to be created and utilized. The game is basically a group of individuals going about their business, whether batting, fielding, or hitting. Not that a feeling of unity is unimportant.

While a Shohei Ohtani or Vlad Guerrero Jr. may go about their business apparently on their own, inevitably, they play better when they feel better. That is where the manager comes in.  Unquestionably, the best teams have the best players, and no advice will turn a .120 hitter into a .240 hitter. Still, a manager can add to a team’s success through his teaching, persuasion, and general understanding of both the athlete and the sport. 

The modern ball player certainly is more sophisticated than his predecessors of decades past, mostly college-educated and very aware. That was why the Giants broke precedent and chose a path that surely will be followed in the coming months.

The question from some skeptics is whether a major league baseball player will pay attention to the words of someone who hasn’t played professionally at any level, or managed at any pro level.

Vitello, 47, leaving a unique program at the University of Tennessee, where he won the 2024 College World Series, the first national championship in the school’s history, was unpretentious in his remarks during the media conference at Oracle Park.

“I never dreamed of being a major league baseball player,” said Vitello. “I don’t know why. My skill level wasn’t very high. I think it was just so far about the clouds that I never even saw it.  And for me as a coach, I was just kind of trying to make my way.”

He's made it to the bigs. Now will the Giants be able to make it to the World Series, in which this year the dreaded Dodgers are involved—if trailing 3 games to 2 to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Vitello made no promises or predictions as understandable. But he comprehends what had been accomplished in San Francisco’s glory years. 

“I’m fully aware of the tradition that’s here and the excellence that’s been brought by managers like (Bruce) Bochy, and Dusty Baker, the toughness from guys like (Madison) Baumgarner and (Sergio) Romo, the records that have been set by guys like (Willie) Mays and (Tim) Lincecum.”

What is important now for San Francisco is the record that will belong to Tony Vitello.

Was 49ers’ loss to Texans merely a game or an indication?

The 49ers' offense wasn’t very good against the Houston Texans. The defense was worse.   That combination is terrible when you are trying to win a football game.

No surprise then, the Niners lost, 26-15, to the Texans Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. 

The question was whether this merely was a game—nobody wins them all in the NFL—or an indication.

There is no question that the 5-3 Niners were outplayed from start to finish by the Texans. The team was making progress, while San Francisco seemed to be making errors. 

The brief time the Niners even had the football—the Texans kept it more than 40 minutes during this frustrating game—San Francisco did little, not even recording a first down until 19 seconds left in the first half.

“They kicked our ass,” was the unadorned message from San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan told to NBC Bay Area TV. “We have to come back and play better next week.”

That will be against the Giants in New York. They can hardly play worse. 

“It was a little bit of everything,” said Shanahan, against the 3-4 Texans. “We struggled to tackle and to run.” 

A week after gaining more than 174 rushing yards against the Atlanta Falcons, the Niners gained only 48 against the Texans. Then again, if you don’t have the ball, you’re not going to make many yards. And if you can’t stop the other team, you are never going to have the ball.  What was wrong with the Niners' defense desperately needs to be corrected if they are to be any sort of a factor the rest of the season. That may not be easy unless key injured defenders recover quickly enough.

Of course, Nick Bosa is out for the season. But also missing Sunday were Jordan Elliot and Dean Winters. 

Still absent on offense is the $50 million quarterback Brock Purdy, who continues to recover from a sprained toe. His backup, Mac Jones, who had done impressively in the previous games, was not quite as effective in this one—although that in part could be because the offensive line was out of sorts.

Texan head coach DeMeco Ryans was the 49ers' defensive coordinator not long ago, and his knowledge of the San Francisco offense more than likely enabled him to help prepare for this game.

Sometimes it is difficult to judge whether a team is playing poorly or is being outplayed.

There is a reason the term “any given Sunday” is so prevalent in pro football. All that really matters is to somehow get to the playoffs. In the first few games this season, it appeared the 49ers would be able to do that. After the defeat by the Texans, there are doubts. But there are many games to go and many opportunities to be taken.

This surprising Niners team is making its own type of history

It doesn’t compare with the game that gave us The Catch. Nothing in the history of the San Francisco 49ers ever will. That changed everything.

And those five Super Bowl victories unquestionably will always rank high.

But what the Niners achieved Thursday night, all injured and battered, upsetting the Los Angeles Rams 26-23, in overtime, must be given its own place of importance.

This belief comes from a quite biased individual (blush!) who has followed the Niners from Grandstands, Press Boxes, and over TV screens, for more than a half century. 

An ordinary game? Hardly. Not when the Niners were missing numerous starters, including their quarterback Brock Purdy—and we know how significant a QB is in the NFL—had lost their previous game, looking decidedly ineffective, and were facing the rival and heavily favored Rams in Los Angeles.

The location may be the least meaningful part of this equation. Niners fans abound in Southern California, often overwhelming those cheering for the Rams. Two days before the game, the Los Angeles Times carried a story that the responsibility for this apparent disparity belonged to the late John McVay, grandfather of the current coach, Sean McVay. 

The Niners became the NFL’s dominant team in the 1980s when John McVay was the general manager, working with head coach Bill Walsh.

When the Rams shifted first to Anaheim, then to St. Louis, many of their fans, seeking not only a new team to support and, not the least, a championship one, adopted the Niners.

“I blame my grandpa,” Sean McVay said, not entirely serious.

That was three days ago. Thursday night, Sean McVay blamed himself for a call on a Rams failed fourth-and-one running play by Kyren Williams that the Niners stopped to end the game. 

That was just one of many strong defensive plays from the Niners, who, while supposedly outmanned, came up with big stops on defense and big go’s on offense.

If the Niners—playing without Brock Purdy, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and, on defense, Nick Bosa—are commended for their play, undeniably, Kyle Shanahan had to be for his coaching.

He called short passes from Matt Jones that compensated for the Niners' lack of a running attack. And in his third emergency start of this season, Jones was both tough—his forearm was cramping in the 4th quarter, but he worked it out—and brilliant, going 33 of 49 for 342 yards passing.  

“The guys were unbelievable,” said Shanahan. “Good team. They tightened it up. The D line stood up. Pulled this one out, and I was very impressed.”

He was not alone. The 4-1 Niners, off until playing the Bucs at Tampa Bay on Sunday, Oct. 12, moved into first place in the NFC West. 

One game later, and all the problems that plagued the Niners no longer were problems. They didn’t fumble, and they rarely missed a tackle. 

Who knows where this season is going? But the Niners have to be very much satisfied with the way it has gone.

Conclusions: Niners not as good as thought, Euro Ryder Cuppers better

Two conclusions from watching a weekend of TV sports: the San Francisco 49ers are not as good as some had hoped, and the European Ryder Cup team is better than many of us imagined.

We’re always seeking reasons for success and/or failure. Some are undeniable—it’s difficult to win when you turn the ball over four times, as did the Niners. Some are unbelievable.

That the Niners were beaten 26-21 by the previous inept Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium was not surprising under the circumstances. You can’t keep giving away the ball as San Francisco did with two interceptions and two fumbles.

This was confirmed by head coach Kyle Shanahan.

“Four turnovers, and giving up the punt return for a touchdown,” said Shanahan. “We had a chance at the end, but had another turnover.”

There are no turnovers in golf. Although, according to the thinking of some people, the American Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley, should be turned away. 

I’m not one of them.

Yes, the Ryder Cup was in America at Bethpage, on Long Island. And yes, the US team included the man ranked No. 1 in the world, Scottie Scheffler. But there’s no sport as unpredictable as golf. Especially in match play, which of course is the basis of the Ryder Cup.

Some contend that the course, as set up by Bradley, restricted the US golfers.  But these are the best players on the planet, and they should be able to handle any course in any condition. Yet, inevitably, the Ryder Cup comes down to who makes the putts. In this tournament, as is often the case, it was the Euros. 

America will have to wait two years to respond to its 15-13 defeat, since the next Ryder Cup is not until 2027 in Ireland. The 49ers' wait for retribution is considerably shorter—a few days. They play the Rams Thursday night in Los Angeles.

“The offense has to be better,” said Brock Purdy. “And it starts with me.” 

Purdy was back as the starting quarterback, having missed the previous two games because of a turf toe injury, but he wasn’t back to his productive ways. Some of that can be attributed to an ineffective running game—the Niners rushed for only 83 yards, compared to 151 yards for Jacksonville—along with those turnovers.

“We gave the ball away,” said Purdy.  

Maybe that was because Purdy was out of rhythm after his absence.

Still absent was tight end George Kittle, who not only is a great receiver but a great blocker whose importance in the running game cannot be underestimated.

As in the Ryder Cup, the ability to make the key putts can’t be underestimated. Just check the results.

In the Ryder Cup, as usual, a faltering US team needs to make more putts

This was when Lanny Wadkins was at Wake Forest—yes, a long time ago. And the golf squad, failing to take the college golf championship, was criticized for “not playing as a team.” 

Watkins, who of course became a star pro, won the PGA Championship and then moved on to a career in announcing, had a quick sarcastic response. 

“What were we supposed to do,” he asked, “pass the ball around more?” 

No, make more putts. Which right now is exactly what the struggling US Ryder Cup Team needs to do.

After getting blitzed in Europe two years ago, the US team supposedly had everything on its side at the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York. The world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, and the home course advantage. 

But going into Saturday’s second day of the cup, America trailed 5½ to 2½ against a European squad that was making its putts—and making a U.S. comeback seem doubtful, even with two days left, including Sunday’s singles matches. 

We know golf is an unpredictable sport.  

“Sometimes, the harder you try, the worse you play,” US team captain Keegan Bradley told USA Network. 

Or sometimes the opponent simply plays better, which, on Friday, was very much the case.

In both the morning foursomes (alternate shots) and the afternoon four-ball (better ball), Scheffler ended up on the losing end. 

In foursomes, Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Matt Fitzpatrick of Britain smashed Scheffler and Russell Henley, 5 and 3. Then later in the day Scheffler and J.J. Spaun were beaten by Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka, 3 and 2.

Dropping both matches on an opening day of a Ryder Cup hadn’t happened to someone on top of the world ranking since 2002 and that unfortunate man was named Tiger Woods. 

Indeed, the sport can be very confusing and deflating, even for the very best.

That the US would falter in the foursomes, alternate shot, maybe shouldn’t be that great a shock. The format rarely is utilized in the United States except in international competition, such as the Ryder Cup or the President’s Cup.

Still, you’d expect players as skilled as Scheffler to adapt, especially since this is Scottie’s third Ryder Cup. 

If the top player in the world couldn’t quite make things work at the start of this 45th Ryder Cup, at least some of his teammates found a way.

Patrick Cantlay, who possesses the short game and putting touch required in this competition, teamed with Xander Schauffele for a 2-up win over Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre. And then Cantlay, a one-time star at UCLA, and Sam Burns got a half in the final match of the afternoon, giving America the ultimate half point.

As most are aware, the players on the European team have strong US connections. Virtually all of them play on the PGA tour, and many went to school in the United States. An unfair advantage?

Not really. The advantage comes from the Euros’ great play when it matters most.

In the Ryder Cup, as usual, a faltering US team needs to make more putts

This was when Lanny Watkins was at Wake Forest—yes, a long time ago. And the golf squad, failing to take the college golf championship, was criticized for “not playing as a team.” 

Watkins, who of course became a star pro, won the PGA Championship and then moved on to a career in announcing, had a quick sarcastic response. 

“What were we supposed to do,” he asked, “pass the ball around more?” 

No, make more putts. Which right now is exactly what the struggling US Ryder Cup Team needs to do.

After getting blitzed in Europe two years ago, the US team supposedly had everything on its side at the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York. The world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, and the home course advantage. 

But going into Saturday’s second day of the cup, America trailed 5½ to 2½ against a European squad that was making its putts—and making a U.S. comeback seem doubtful, even with two days left, including Sunday’s singles matches. 

We know golf is an unpredictable sport.  

“Sometimes, the harder you try, the worse you play,” US team captain Keegan Bradley told USA Network. 

Or sometimes the opponent simply plays better, which, on Friday, was very much the case.

In both the morning foursomes (alternate shots) and the afternoon four-ball (better ball), Scheffler ended up on the losing end. 

In foursomes, Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Matt Fitzpatrick of Britain smashed Scheffler and Russell Henley, 5 and 3. Then later in the day Scheffler and J.J. Spaun were beaten by Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka, 3 and 2.

Dropping both matches on an opening day of a Ryder Cup hadn’t happened to someone on top of the world ranking since 2002 and that unfortunate man was named Tiger Woods. 

Indeed, the sport can be very confusing and deflating, even for the very best.

That the US would falter in the foursomes, alternate shot, maybe shouldn’t be that great a shock. The format rarely is utilized in the United States except in international competition, such as the Ryder Cup or the President’s Cup.

Still, you’d expect players as skilled as Scheffler to adapt, especially since this is Scottie’s third Ryder Cup. 

If the top player in the world couldn’t quite make things work at the start of this 45th Ryder Cup, at least some of his teammates found a way.

Patrick Cantlay, who possesses the short game and putting touch required in this competition, teamed with Xander Schauffele for a 2-up win over Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre. And then Cantlay, a one-time star at UCLA, and Sam Burns got a half in the final match of the afternoon, giving America the ultimate half point.

As most are aware, the players on the European team have strong US connections. Virtually all of them play on the PGA tour, and many went to school in the United States. An unfair advantage?

Not really. The advantage comes from the Euros’ great play when it matters most.

Jones, the QB no one wanted, and great D keep Niners undefeated

The New England Patriots gave up on him. Even the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t want Mac Jones.

That Jones would then come to the 49ers has been beneficial to both parties.

If you contend the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 16-15, Sunday at Levi's Stadium,  because of their defense, you wouldn’t be incorrect. But you could also point out that Jones, as the quarterback of a winning team, had an important role. 

And, of course, so did Eddie Piniero, who hit the 35-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining that provided the winning margin.

The Niners are undefeated in three games this season. That D certainly played a major role.

Yet Jones, a first-round pick by the Patriots, Rickey Pearsall, and not the least having gone through struggles at the position, Pineiro, the new place kicker, all took part.

The key in sports is taking advantage of an opportunity. You can be a first-rounder or you can come off the bench, as did Jones and, in a way, Pineiro, who was signed as a free agent only a few days earlier.

Maybe no one better verifies this idea than Brock Purdy, who, as we know, was the last man selected in the 2022 NFL draft. Purdy, of course, became the Niners starter and star. But Sunday, for a second straight game, he was unable to play because of a foot injury.

On came Jones again, and doing what prime back-ups always seem to do, performing successfully.

He completed 27 passes in 41 attempts for 284 yards and San Francisco’s lone touchdown in a game when it didn’t seem that the Niners would score any touchdowns. Jones was the 15th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Alabama. The thinking was that he would be Tom Brady’s eventual replacement. However, according to some stories, he did not get along with the Patriots' coaching staff and head coach Bill Belichick.

He lost games, he lost confidence, and was traded to the awful Jaguars in 2024. They gave up on him soon enough, and the Niners cleverly picked him up as a free agent in 2025.

There is a good history of backup quarterbacks with the 49ers. In the 1980s, Jeff Kemp took over for the injured Joe Montana and was a winner.

As Sunday so were the 49ers. You could debate whether it was Jones’ throws, Pearsall’s 117 receiving yards, or Christian McCaffrey’s 88 receiving yards that made the biggest difference. Working together, which is what good teams do, the Niners produced enough points. 

And the defense, even though Nick Bosa incurred a possible ACL injury in the second quarter, was stout enough. Lying on the ground immediately after the injury incurred, Bosa looked up at the stands where his parents were sitting and gave the thumbs-down signal.

San Francisco’s coach, Kyle Shanahan, said, “Bosa injured himself on an early drive. But he never quits. The way he came back on the last drive was incredible.”

Scheffler prepares for the Ryder Cup by winning the Procore Championship

NAPA — Scottie Scheffler understands our task as journalists, “I think y’all’s job is to try to find something to write about,” said Scheffler, “which is a good thing for me.”

Scottie is a very good thing for us, as well as for golf. He won another tournament Sunday, the Procore Championship at Silverado Country Club.

It was his sixth of the year, the 19th of his seemingly unstoppable career, but as he was told, the first in this state.

“I had no idea that I never won in California,” he said with a hint of humor and sarcasm. “I don’t think I’ve won in Oregon or Washington either—you know what I mean? I think your job is just to find something to write about.”

When Scheffler is involved, there is plenty. 

His victory Sunday was as narrow as possible when friend, Ben Griffin, missed a five-foot par putt on the 72nd hole. But as the cliché reminds us, it ain’t how, but how many.

Two shots behind Griffin at the start of the round, Scheffler came in with a 5-under par-67 that put him into a tie with Griffin. 

Griffin was on the green on two, 60 feet short of the cup on the 575-yard 18th, and a playoff seemed certain. But Griffin left his lag putt five feet short and missed the next one. So Scheffler, number one in the world, was the champion with a four-round total of 269. 

As he was earlier in the year at the PGA Championship and the British Open. 

Lanto Griffin, no relation to Ben, was third at 271.

Jackson Koivun, the Auburn sophomore, who’s number one in the world amateur rankings, was tied for fourth with Emiliano Grillo at 272.

The only reason Scheffler, Griffin—who was a recent captain’s pick for the US squad—and other members of the Ryder Cup team, who will play Europe in two weeks, were at the Procore was preparation for the Cup. But Scheffler looked at things a bit differently. 

“I’m present, I’m ready to play this week,” said Scheffler on Wednesday. “I didn’t show up to Napa to talk about the Ryder Cup for four days, I’m here to play a golf tournament.”

He played, and as usual played it beautifully.

“This was a week in which I was playing a new golf course,” said Scheffler, “a golf course that was pretty challenging to play for the first time. Did a really good job of staying in the tournament the first two days, and then the last two I played some really good golf in order to be in this position.”

A position he and the American team hope they’ll be in when the Ryder Cup concludes.

Griffin still leads Procore, but Scottie is closing fast

Remember that bit of advice supposedly by the great Satchel Page, “Don’t look back, something may be gaining on you”? 

Make that someone, and in this situation, it’s the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer.

Ben Griffin is still in front after three rounds of the Procore Championship, but the lead that was two shots after Friday was narrowed Saturday to one shot.  

And maybe because that golfer a shot behind is an amateur—if the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world Jackson Koivun—Griffin acted as unconcerned as possible. 

“I’m hitting it solid, just got to continue to play long,” said Griffin.

Then again, another shot back is Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1, who has been closing on Griffin and everyone as the tournament progressed. Griffin had his highest score of the week, a 70, and a 3-round total of 16-under par 200. Koivun, with a 68, was at 15-under. Scheffler, after having his best score of the tournament, an 8-under 64, was at 14 under.

“I had a good day today,” said Scheffler, “better than the last two days, for sure. Got off to a good start, had a good front nine, turned nicely.” 

Scheffler, Griffin, and others who normally might not be in a fall tour tournament entered as a final warm-up for the Ryder Cup, which is the end of September at Bethpage Black on Long Island.

But competitors that they are, once the pros teed off at Silverado Country Club in Napa, they were dead serious about winning the Procore.

“Having a one-shot lead on the PGA TOUR going into Sunday,” said Griffin, “and my game feels great, so I can’t complain at all.”

The only complaint you’ve heard this week in the Napa Valley, where the weather has been beautiful, is the usual one about California courses, including Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines, the poa annua greens. They get bumpier as the day goes along and require a great understanding.

“It’s always challenging putting on afternoon Poa, the ball has a tendency to move around. These greens have a lot of pitch in them as well, but I did a good job of holding some nice putts today,” said Scheffler.

Griffin did the same thing until 18, when he made his only bogey of the round.

Koivun, 20, a sophomore at Auburn, had a pre-Procore advantage by playing in the Walker Cup a week ago at Cypress Point.

Same coastal conditions and Poa annua. Koivun said he is learning as he is competing. 

“I think learning and confidence for me go hand in hand,” said Koivun. “The more I learn, the more confident I get. I think as I learn more, I’m just going to be more confident out here.”

The rest of us can be confident that the final round of this Procore should provide a finish to be remembered.

Amateur Jackson Koivun becomes a factor in the Procore Championship

All these guys are playing in the Procore to get ready for the Ryder Cup. And along came a young man who figured in another international match, the Walker Cup.    

That’s for amateurs, between the United States and Great Britain. As opposed to the Ryder Cup, which is for pros between the United States and Europe.

This bit of information is presented because of Jackson Koivun, who on Friday became a notable presence in the Procore Championship at Silverado after his 6-under par 66.

That lifted him into a tie for second after 36 holes with Russell Henley, one of the PGA Tour's best, who shot 68 Friday.

Yes, the leader of the Procore after the second round was Ben Griffin, a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup, who Friday was at 64-66–130.

Mackenzie Hughes, who had a stunning 9-under 63 Thursday for the opening day lead, was eleven shots worse Friday with a 74. Indeed, golf can be frustrating.

Enter, Ryder Cuppers.

Scottie Scheffler, No. 1 in the world rankings, was tied for 13th at 138. After a 70 on Thursday, which ended his streak of consecutive rounds in the 60’s at 21, Scheffler came in Friday with a 68.

In golf, unlike some sports, sometimes there is not a great deal of difference between some amateurs and the pros.

Koivun proved as much at the Procore. He’s in front of such solid players as Matt Kuchar, Cameron Young; a Ryder Cupper, and Maverick McNealy.

Koivun goes to Auburn University, but he has a very slight West Coast connection. He was born in San Jose.

“There is a lot to learn out here,” said Koivun, the 1st-ranked amateur in the country. “I’m trying to do it as quickly as I can before I turn pro, whether that’s the end of this year, or the end of next year.”

This Procore, because of the timing, has been described as a tournament within a tournament.  Ryder Cup contestants are trying to win as much as they are trying to improve their game.  

“I wouldn’t even say my mindset’s been Ryder Cup,” said Griffin. “I’ve been pretty focused on this golf tournament. Without a doubt, off the golf course hanging out with the guys and stuff there’s been some Ryder Cup presence, but once I get on the first tee, I’m thinking I’m trying to play well here.”

Which he has done. Scheffler echoed Griffin’s thoughts about this tournament and the thought that it’s only a warm-up for the Ryder Cup. 

“I’m thinking of trying to win this tournament,” insisted Scheffler. “We can talk about the Ryder Cup later.” 

In a few days, that’s all we will be talking about in golf, especially if the U.S. is unable to win.

Scheffler gets in his Ryder work, MacKenzie Hughes gets the lead

NAPA — It was Scottie Scheffler’s first competitive round in three weeks. He had a 2-under par, 70, seven shots behind the leader. He felt frustrated. He felt rewarded. 

This is the annual Procore Championship, the opening event of the PGA Tour Fall Schedule.

In a normal year, Scheffler, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, surely would not be here, but at home in Texas resting and relaxing.

However, as we know, this is not a normal year. It is a Ryder Cup year, and the matches between the US and Europe are only two weeks away.  

So Scheffler and his Ryder teammates are entered in this event at Silverado Country Club, where MacKenzie Hughes, on Thursday, leapt into a quick first-round lead with a scintillating 9-under par, 63, that put him a shot ahead of Matt McCarty and Ben Griffin. 

The 34-year-old Hughes is from a country, Canada, which is not eligible to play in the Ryder Cup (he’s been in the Presidents Cup).

But Griffin, certainly, is eligible and is a member of the American squad. 

You could call it a tournament within a tournament, because not only are the Ryder players using the event to get ready, but they are also trying to win as they would any tournament.

Scheffler, Griffin, and U.S. Open Champion, J.J. Spaun, who shot 5-under 67, are among the Cup players who are working together as they will need to against the Euros.

“Well, I think we all can learn from each other out here,” said Scheffler.  “Just because you’re good at one thing doesn’t mean you can’t learn from somebody else. I’m always trying to learn

little bits and pieces from guys when they’ll give up some information.”

What we learned about Hughes is that when he gets hot, he stays that way. He had eleven birdies and was unfazed by back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15.

“I did some really nice things,” Hughes confirmed. “I had a nice feel with the putter, so it was really just about like continuing to put my foot on the gas and go forward. 

Putting has been the issue in the Ryder Cup. Europe somehow makes everything it needs, even though the US team would seem to be better overall. 

There’s a theory that Europeans do so well because they have better cohesiveness. 

Thus, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley was allowed to arrange the groupings in the Procore to give it a Ryder Cup feel, with friends Scheffler and Griffin playing together.

“I think mentally he’s really tough,” Scheffler said about Griffin. “I think he does a really good job of staying free and loose while he’s putting, and that’s helped my putting as well.”

That’s probably the only part of the game where Scheffler, straight and long off the tee and on the fairways, can use a little help. Emphasize little.

Scheffler didn’t come to Procore to talk about Ryder Cup—but to play golf

NAPA — Scottie Scheffler not only hits the correct shots, he also almost always offers the proper comments.

When you’re the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, that’s not only enviable, it’s virtually mandatory. So there’s no question why Scheffler is in Napa, at Silverado Resort for the Procore Championship, which began Thursday.

As a member of the US Ryder Cup Squad, which plays Europe at Bethpage Black in two weeks, Scheffler followed the advice of team captain Keegan Bradley to get ready for the matches by competing in a tournament. To the good fortune of an event sometimes overlooked because it is on the Fall Schedule, Procore is that tournament.

“I’m present, I’m ready to play this week,” said Scheffler on Wednesday. “I didn’t show up to Napa to talk about the Ryder Cup for four days. I’m here to play a golf tournament.”

“So I’ve never been to Napa before,” said Scheffler, although he has not been too far away on the Monterey Peninsula. “It’s very beautiful. I will say that, so it’s been cool to see. California’s a beautiful place. Every part of California I come to is just wonderful. The weather’s amazing.”

“I don’t really drink wine,” Scheffler said, alluding to the product for which the region is most famous. 

Scheffler, 29, a winner of three of golf’s four majors and an Olympic gold medalist, told us earlier in the year that while golf was important, it was not where he found fulfillment. 

He said satisfaction came from his family—he has a son born in May 2024—and his faith.

“I don’t focus much on legacy,” said Scheffler. “I don’t look too far into the future. Ultimately, we’ll be forgotten.”

Not really, what any athlete has accomplished, especially a golfer, is there in the record books. We know Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors and Tiger Woods, 16. What we don’t know is how many Scheffler, with his so-consistent style, will win.

And Scheffler conceded that those tournaments, the ones that separate the great players from the ordinary, are never far from his thoughts. 

“When I prepare and practice at home,” said Scheffler, who lives in the Dallas area, “I’m always focused on the next stop and the next tournament. But in the offseason, the majors are always in the back of your head. I think the majors are always on the back of your mind just because they’re the greatest challenges.” 

They say there is no offseason in golf, but in the yearly schedule that goes from January to January, there are gaps, if not large ones. Since the 2025 Tour Championship, won by Tommy Fleetwood, there’s been no tournament until now, which of course is just a space of a mere 17 days.

“I’m excited to get the tournament started,” said Scheffler about the Procore, which marks the resumption of PGA Tour play. “I’m excited to see how the golf course plays, excited for a few days of competition.”

He’s not the only one.

Procore gets boost from Scheffler, other Ryder Cuppers

NAPA — There was the No. 1-ranked male golfer sounding very much like the coach of the No. 1-ranked college football team.

When a journalist tried to watch members of the US Ryder Cup team hitting shots Tuesday at Silverado Country Club, Scottie Schleffler, maybe only half seriously, said, “Sorry, this is a closed practice.” 

This is the week the PGA Tour returns, as usual, here at the Procore Championship, which tees off Thursday. Then again, it is not as usual, because the field of aspiring young players includes a group of very established not-so-young players, members of the US Ryder Cup team, which faces Europe at the end of September.

The matches will be at Beth Page Black on Long Island. That’s some 2,500 miles from Silverado, but both courses have 18 holes, so we are not talking distance; we are talking timing.  

The idea is for Scheffler and other members of the American team to work on their games and their camaraderie, while also taking part in the PGA Tour tournament.

If that seems like two events in one, well, it is.

This is not to demean the Procore, which has an unenviable spot on the PGA Tour’s fall schedule. As you are aware, that’s the time of year America becomes obsessed with football—professional, college, and high school.

So the Procore often gets little attention on the sport’s calendar. Except this year. It received a wonderful boost with all but two of the Ryder Cuppers involved.

Non-playing Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley was strongly in favor of his squad getting competition that maybe didn’t matter, before the competition that certainly does matter.

Europe, with players such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood, defeated America in the last matches of 2023. 

“I think it’s great for the tournament,” said Patton Kizzire. He won the Procore last year, and although not a member of the Ryder Cup team, he understands the benefit to both the tournament and Cup players.

“It creates a lot of buzz,” said Kizzire. “As the defending champion, it’s a little more incentive to play well and to get out there and do my best and play like I can play. It gives us the opportunity to win against a really strong field. I think it’s fantastic for the tournament and I’m excited to see them here.” 

The only members of the American team not at Silverado are Zander Schauffele, whose wife gave birth to a boy, Victor, on August 29th, and Bryson DeChambeau, who, because he is a member of the LIV tour, was not invited.

“Things out here on the PGA Tour are very individual,” US Open Champion JJ Spaun told PGATour.com about the American players coming to Napa. 

“You can be isolated at times, so it’s cool and a nice change of pace to have a group of guys who are cheering each other on.”

As they work to win back the Ryder Cup.