© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
There is no forensic investigation required to figure out why the 49ers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Against a team with the worst turnover differential in the league (8-to-1 against, coming into the game), San Francisco had three turnovers, all from Nick Mullens.
One was an unforgivable interception in the red zone. The other interception was even more egregious (what is unforgivable times two?), a pick-six which lost the 49ers the game. Both were easily avoidable, and despite poor offensive line play, which Mullens did not blame—”I feel like our line did a good job,” he said—the onus was on him.
He was asked why he struggled to get into a rhythm, a dichotomy of stellar and errant plays. It was borne out in the fact he had those two interceptions and fumble, and missed at least two early throws, but also thread the needle to George Kittle a handful of times.
“That’s a good question and I’m kind of wondering that myself,” Mullens said. “We had plenty of opportunities. And I really just didn’t execute. The way I’m feeling, it’s pretty black and white right now. I just didn’t execute. And that’s really all it comes down to. Three turnovers, 14 points for them off turnovers. And that’s really about it, didn’t execute.”
There was no attempt at self-preservation from Mullens, known for his humility and developing as a fan favorite in 2018 during a mostly hapless year.
He explained the worst of the two interceptions, the latter, saying the ball came out of his hand wrong.
“We had a 14-yard stop route,” Mullens said. “The linebacker, I saw him. I knew he was getting under it. But the ball just didn’t come off right. And I was gonna have to put it over him a little bit, but the ball just didn’t come off right, and it unfortunately went right to him.”
On the other interception, in the red zone, Mullens said he saw “an opportunity ball.”
“I saw the defender in front of the crosser,” Mullens said. “I thought he could outrun him, so I tried to just lay it out in front, but the defender came from behind, he cut it off. It’s an opportunity ball. It’s a risky throw and that’s what happens when you take unnecessary risks, especially down in the fourth quarter.
C.J. Beathard, who relieved Mullens and was a Hail Mary away from being the hero of the game, kept his response brief on his first game action in nearly two years.
“It’s really good game reps to be back in there, be out there for the guys,” Beathard said. “That’s all I can say, it felt good.”