49ers @ Bengals Week 14 Live Blog
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CINCINNATI -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 14 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
11:45 The 49ers listed Samuel as questionable because of his groin injury, but he will play in this game, according to reports. I ran into Samuel at the team hotel on the way to the game. I stepped into an elevator to leave my floor, and there was Samuel along with assistant general manager Adam Peters. Samuel was wearing a delightful Levi's sweater and a platinum chain. I asked him if the 49ers get free Levi's considering that brand sponsors their stadium. They said no. I said they should. Peters said he'd put that in the suggestion box. Then the doors opened and he and Samuel walked out. I forgot to ask Samuel how healthy his groin is. Seemed like a personal question in the moment.
11:47 Washington is losing 24-0 to Dallas, which is good news for the 49ers. Because if they win and Washington loses, the 49ers will be the sixth seed by the end of the day.
11:51 Baltimore is losing 24-6 to Cleveland, which is good news for the Bengals. Because if they win and Baltimore loses, the Bengals will be in first place in the AFC North by the end of the day. This is a big game for both Cincinnati and San Francisco. Let's see if the 49ers show up unlike last week.
12:01 Here are the 49ers' inactives:
Dontae Johnson
Elijah Mitchell
Maurice Hurst
Colton McKivitz
Tyrell Adams
Dre Greenlaw
12:54 Cornerback Ambry Thomas will make his first career start. He has allowed a passer rating of 118 this season.
1:09 The Ravens lose. So the Bengals have something big to play for -- first place in their division.
1:22 The Bengals win the toss and choose to defer. The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
1:28 On 3rd and 11 from the 49ers 24, Jimmy Garoppolo gets sacked by Trey Hendrickson, who looped to the inside and was totally unblocked. The 49ers punt and the Bengals take over at the 49ers' 44 after the return.
1:30 On 3rd and 12 from the 49ers 46, Ja'Marr Chase drops a pass that would have picked up the first down. Lucky break for the 49ers, who get the ball at their 20 after the punt.
1:37 On 3rd and 6 from the 49ers 37, Jimmy Garoppolo almost gets picked off. Next play, the 49ers punt, the Bengals fumble and the 49ers recover. Huge swing.
1:43 On 3rd and 14 from the Bengals 27, Garoppolo completes a 12-yard pass to Jauan Jennings, who fumbles but recovers the ball. Then Robbie Gould kicks a 33-yard field goal.
49ers 3, Bengals 0.
1:55 On 3rd and 12 from the 49ers 30, Joe Burrow checks down to running back Samaje Perine, who gains 11 yards. Then they kick a 37-yard field goal and tie the game at 3.
1:56 Ambry Thomas gave up a 20-yard catch to Tee Higgins during that drive.
49ers 3, Bengals 3.
2:00 First play of the drive, on first and 10 from the 49ers 25, Garoppolo throws to Brandon Aiyuk, who runs a slant route and gains 21 yards as the first quarter ends.
2:06 On 2nd and 8 from the Bengals 27, Deebo Samuel runs a sweep around the right end for a touchdown. He makes it look so easy.
49ers 10, Bengals 3.
2:13 On 3rd and 4 from the Bengals 49, Joe Burrow runs out of bounds for a two-yard loss. Bizarre play. The 49ers get the ball at their 21 after the punt.
2:18 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 28, Garoppolo throws a terrific deep pass to George Kittle, but the ball bounces off his chest, and the 49ers go three and out. Kittle needs to catch that. Bengals get the ball at their 37 after the punt.
2:35 On 3rd and 13 from the 49ers 21, Burrow checks down to Perine, who gains 11. The Bengals kick a field and cut their deficit to four points. The 49ers are lucky they didn't give up a touchdown on that drive. Ambry Thomas gave up a long touchdown catch to Ja'Marr Chase, but the ball hit the ground. Thomas also committed an illegal hands to the face penalty that negated an interception by Jimmie Ward.
49ers 10, Bengals 6.
2:42 On 3rd and 15 from the 49ers 21, throws a pop fly to Travis Benjamin, who was open deep, but the ball was underthrown, and the Bengals knocked it away. Bad throw. The 49ers go three and out.
2:45 The Bengals fumble the punt again and the 49ers recover again. this time at Cincinnati's 31.
2:50 The Bengals force a three and out, but commit a taunting penalty on third down which extends the drive. Then Garoppolo throws a touchdown pass to Kittle. The Bengals are playing just like the 49ers played last week.
49ers 17, Bengals 6.
THIRD QUARTER
3:10 The Bengals run three times and punt. What in the world are they doing? The 49ers get the ball at their 25 after the punt. The Bengals' top pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, is out with a back injury.
3:23 On 2nd and goal from the 6 yard line, Garoppolo throws a nice pass to Aiyuk, but he gets only one foot in the end zone and the pass is incomplete. Next play, Garoppolo scrambles to his right and throws an incomplete pass intended for Kyle Juszczyk. Then Robbie Gould makes a 32-yard field goal. A touchdown would have iced the game.
49ers 20, Bengals 6.
3:35 On 3rd and 5, Samson Ebukam sacks Burrow, who fumbles and recovers the ball himself. Then the Bengals miss the field goal. The Bengals are so unprepared, and the 49ers are locked in.
3:41 Azeez Al-Shaair left the game with an elbow injury and is questionable to return.
FOURTH QUARTER
3:45 On first and 10 from the 49ers 47, Garoppolo drops the ball and falls on it for a sack. Two plays later, he gets sacked again, and the 49ers punt. The Bengals take over at their 34 with 11:52 left.
3:54 On 4th and 5 from the 49ers 17, Burrow buys time and throws a touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase. It's still a game.
49ers 20, Bengals 13.
4:01 On 2nd and 9 from the 49ers 40, Garoppolo throws a pass over the head of Kittle, who was open. Bad throw. On 3rd and 9, Tom Compton gives up his second sack of the game. The Bengals take over at their 31 with 6:40 left after the punt.
4:04 On 3rd and 5 from the Bengals 49, K'Waun Williams blitzes and sacks Burrow for a loss of 14. Great design and call by DeMeco Ryans. The 49ers take over at their 15 with 4:37 left.
4:10 On 3rd and 10 from the 49ers 29, Garoppolo sees Deebo Samuel open past the first down marker, but throws instead to George Kittle, who gains only eight yards, and the 49ers have to punt. Bad decision by Garoppolo. The Bengals get the ball at their 13 after a 50-yard punt by Mitch Wishnowsky.
4:18 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 32, Burrow throws a touchdown pass to Chase, who beat Ambry Thomas. Thomas is so, so bad. The 49ers have 1:19 and two timeouts left to kick a field goal.
49ers 20, Bengals 20.
4:27 On 2nd and 10 from the Bengals 48, Jesse Bates drops a pick. Next play. George Kittle makes a diving catch to set up a 47-yard field goal, which Robbie Gould misses wide right at the buzzer. Yikes.
OVERTIME
4:29 The Bengals win the toss and choose to receive.
4:36 On 3rd and 3 from the Bengals 19, Bosa sacks Burrow for a loss of 4. Then the Bengals make a 41-yard field goal attempt. The 49ers have to score on this drive or they lose.
49ers 20, Bengals 23.
4:49 Garoppolo rolls left and throws a touchdown pass to Aiyuk, and the 49ers win 26-23. Stay tuned for their grades.
