SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The 49ers gave up 28 points to the Chicago Bears after leading 17-0 late in the second quarter. They lost 28-20 in their first regular season game at Levi’s Stadium.
“You have a lead like that at home, there’s no way you should lose that game,” John Madden told the KCBS radio morning crew. “Turnovers and penalties will probably do it every time. When you have that lead at home and you have a pretty good defense and a pretty good running game, you have to be able to control that game.”
Madden said the 16 penalties pressured the 49ers offense.
“Penalties kind of force you into down and distance situations that you really didn’t count on… You try to pass for a first down and sometimes you start to force things.”
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Madden said that in turn put pressure on the defense.
“They had to play with a short field,” Madden said. “I think that the defense – if you just gave them a long field and didn’t have those turnovers – could have played better, and probably played well enough to win.” (6:05)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)
