Daily Madden: The 49ers Meet Their Match
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - In a second overtime game against the Rams, the 49ers came up short Sunday.
"In two games they played ten periods and were almost even all the way," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. "Some teams match up well against you and the Rams match up well against the 49ers."
The first game last month ended in a 24-24 tie. The 49ers lost Sunday's game 16-13 on a 54 yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein.
"The Rams defense -- I think they play very well," the former coach said. "The 49er defense plays very well in the match-up. I don't think either offense plays well against the other team's defense... Part of it is they just played a few weeks ago, so they are going to know each other a lot better than a non-division team."
A key play was a botched pitch by 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick on 3rd-and-3 at San Francisco's 17 yard line that ended with a Rams touchdown near the end of regulation. Was it too risky a play for the time and place?
"I always had plays that, inside the 20 coming out, were called get out of trouble plays," Madden said. "The get out of trouble plays were rather conservative, because you know that if you mistake in those plays or in that situation on the field it's going to turn into points for the other team."
Still, Madden said the loss can't be blamed on one play.
"They could have put themselves in a better position in the whole game. It doesn't come down to that. Even coming down to that, if Akers makes the kick, then they're throwing confetti on each other."
49er placekicker David Akers missed a 51-yard attempt that would have won the game in overtime. (7:45)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
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