49ers 0-5 After Loss To Eagles, Worst Since 1979
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - It has been 31 years since the San Francisco 49ers have been this bad.
The winless Niners lost 27-24 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night to drop to 0-5, their first such start since losing seven in a row to begin a 2-14 season in 1979 under first-year coach Bill Walsh. Two seasons later, the 49ers won their first of three Super Bowls under the late Hall of Fame coach.
This team is coming apart in every way in coach Mike Singletary's second full season in charge. When quarterback Alex Smith committed his second of three turnovers and the team's fourth of five overall early in the fourth quarter, Singletary removed his hat and scratched his head on national TV.
Singletary has been pledging his support of Smith for 10 months, but the two could be seen in a heated discussion early in the fourth quarter. Fans are booing Smith left and right and chanting "We want Carr!" for backup David Carr. Smith threw two interceptions, fumbled and was sacked twice.
The 49ers went 8-8 last season to end a franchise-worst six consecutive losing seasons — but the 2010 team was the popular favorite to win the NFC West entering the season.
Now, the Niners will have a tough time even matching last season's .500 finish. Next up is a home date with the neighbor Oakland Raiders.
San Francisco still has five remaining games against the division. It's yet to be seen whether Singletary, who fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye after three games and replaced him with Mike Johnson, will make a switch at quarterback. Smith — the No. 1 overall pick out of Utah in the 2005 draft — took over at halftime on Oct. 25 last year at Houston in place of departed Shaun Hill.
The 49ers lost their fifth straight Sunday night game and second game in prime time this season.
