The Niners are heading into their bye week, and it looks like they’re about to make a major change. Kicker Eddy Piñiero missed another extra point in Sunday’s brutal loss to the Falcons, and his performance this season has been, well, a problem. This isn’t just one bad game, folks. We’re talking about a veteran kicker who’s missed four extra points and three field goals through just seven games. For a team with “high aspirations,” that’s flat out unacceptable.
Shanahan’s Silence Speaks Volumes
You want to know how bad it is? Coach Kyle Shanahan was asked after the game if the 49ers would even work out kickers during the bye week. His response? A stone-cold “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to anybody about that, we’ll probably discuss on the plane.” Ouch. But it gets even colder. When pressed on Friday if he’d even *spoken* to Piñiero about the missed kicks, Shanahan’s answer was telling: “No. Not much to discuss. I can make stuff up, but he knows he’s got to make kicks, and we all do. I’m not going to try to teach him how to do that.” “He knows he’s got to make kicks, and we all do.” Eleven words, Seattle. That’s all you need to hear about their situation. When your coach says he’s not even going to try and teach you how to do your job, you know the writing’s on the wall.
One Missed Kick, Game Over
And this isn’t just theoretical. That missed extra point on Sunday against the Falcons was absolutely critical. It left the deficit at 26-20 with only 5:05 left on the clock. That single kick allowed the Falcons to extend their lead to a two-score game with a field goal, making it “virtually impossible” for the 49ers to close the gap when they got the ball back, down by nine points with just 1:50 to play. A single missed kick changed the entire complexion of the game, proving that sometimes the smallest details can doom a team’s chances.
So, while our NFC West rivals are scrambling to figure out their special teams situation during their bye week, it’s a good reminder of how every single play, every single kick, truly matters in this league. The 49ers are clearly going to be busy. Meanwhile, our Seahawks just put up 20 points on the Kansas City Chiefs and only gave up 3. What a difference!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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