49ers fall short 31-17 to Bengals; Five tips from #CINvsSF

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey now shares an NFL scoring streak of 17 consecutive games (including playoffs) with Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore after his two-yard rushing touchdown in Week 8. For a two-yard score to cap an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive by the 49ers in the first quarter against the Bengals. The San Francisco touchdown tied the game with Cincinnati 7-7 with 3:19 remaining in the first frame. He later added a four-yard score through the air in the fourth quarter.

McCaffrey compiled 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to his six catches for 64 yards and a touchdown through the air.

DL Arik Armstead delivers a double take

After giving up two touchdowns in the first half, the veteran defensive lineman came up with a play that changed the momentum for this unit. On Cincinnati’s third offensive series, Armstead came home on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on third-and-7 outside the red zone. The sack backed Cincinnati up seven yards and forced the Bengals into a 50-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Evan McPherson’s attempt when it was wide right kept the score at 14-7 midway through the second quarter.

Armstead struck again in the second half, sacking Burrow on second-and-9 on San Francisco’s 39-yard line for an eight-yard loss. The Bengals failed to convert on third-and-16 and settled for a field goal. Cincinnati got within three points on a 56-yard kick from McPherson. The last time Armstead recorded two or more sacks in a game was in Week 17 of the 2021 season to help the 49ers punch their ticket to the postseason.

Rookie kicker Jake Moody rocks it

After missing a field goal attempt in each of the last two games, Moody made no mistake against the Bengals. The rookie sailed his three-point attempt through the uprights from 36 yards out. He was also perfect on his extra point attempts on the day, going two-for-two on PATs.

DL Clelin Ferrelland CB Isaiah Oliver combines red zone takeaways

Ferrell and Oliver robbed the Bengals of a scoring opportunity in the red zone in the final minute of the first half. Burrow connected with Cincinnati tight end Irv Smith Jr., and after the reception, Smith Jr. was swarmed by several 49ers defenders. Ferrell punted the ball from the right end, and Oliver was able to recover the loose ball to put San Francisco on their own five-yard line.

The 49ers nearly produced another big recovery in the fourth quarter after a pass was broken up by cornerback Charvarius Ward on third-and-7, however, the play was ruled incomplete. Regardless, the 49ers were able to force Cincinnati’s offense off the field.

TE George Kittle emerges as Player of the Week

Peoples’ Tight End was the 49ers’ receiving yards leader in Week 8, hauling in nine catches for 149 yards against the Bengals. His performance also marked a season high in receiving yards. One of the most impressive of those nine snaps came midway through the fourth quarter on third-and-6 inside the 15-yard line. A 10-yard third-down conversion play from Kittle helped set up McCaffrey’s four-yard touchdown run to get the 49ers within seven points with 8:12 left.

Entering the Week 8 contest, Kittle was 92 yards shy of breaking the 49ers franchise record for most receiving yards by a tight end. With his 149 receiving yards on Sunday, he now owns the record outright with 5,697 yards, surpassing Vernon Davis who previously held the record with 5,640 yards. Kittle has also passed former wide receiver John Taylor (5,598 yards) for sixth place on the list of most receiving yards in franchise history.