The San Francisco 49ers were minutes away from a huge upset at Lambeau Field. Here we look at three players that helped get to that position.
A matter of minutes, and some Aaron Rodgers heroics, separated the San Francisco 49ers from a stunning upset of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday night.
C.J. Beathard shone on the primetime stage as the Niners produced a performance deserving of a remarkable victory, but Rodgers put up 10 points in the final three minutes, with the help of a Beathard interception and a crucial illegal contact penalty that kept the Packers game-winning drive alive, to give Green Bay a 33-30 triumph.
It was a particularly painful defeat for the 49ers on a night from which they can take plenty of positives. Here we look at three standout performers who helped put them in a position to win.
Raheem Mostert
Matt Breida fought through an ankle sprain suffered in Week 5 to start at Lambeau and was able to once again impress, his ability to get to the edge and burst helping him put up 61 yards and a touchdown. However, Breida limped to the sideline in the second half, leading Mostert — who surprisingly got the nod ahead of Alfred Morris as Breida’s primary partner in the backfield — to take the bulk of the carries as the 49ers attempted to close the game out.
Though the Niners were unable to hold on, Mostert is worthy of high praise for the best performance of his career on offense. San Francisco’s best special teamer, Mostert used the speed he regularly demonstrates on kickoff and punt coverage to put up a career-high 87 yards on 12 carries, bouncing back after a costly fumble against the Arizona Cardinals to keep the ground game, which San Francisco used to control the majority of the game, ticking even with Breida off the field.
Displaying impressive elusiveness in tight areas to pick up extra yardage, Mostert made a strong case for permanently leapfrogging Morris on the depth chart. With Breida having been hindered by injuries for almost the entirety of the year, Mostert’s performance should give the 49ers confidence he can be a viable alternative should their top back go down again.