San Francisco

Niners Defense Calls Performance “Embarrassing”

Wilhoite, Reid admit to rough days against a Bills rushing attack that piled up more than 300 yards in victory over San Francisco

The numbers were ugly Sunday in the 49ers' 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. San Francisco's defenseless defense gave up 491 total yards, including 312 on the ground.

Bills running back LeSean McCoy seemed to run at will through the San Francisco defenders, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 140 yards. On one second-half play, the 49ers defense showed how flawed it is: the Bills faced third-and-20 and handed the ball to McCoy on a draw. McCoy picked up 23 yards and a first down.

Though the entire defense shares blame for Sunday's failures that helped drop the 49ers to 1-5, two players in particular had very rough days: inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite and safety Eric Reid.

Sam Monson of the analytic website Pro Football Focus included both Wilhoite and Reid among the 10 worst-graded players in the NFL this past weekend.

"There may not have been a defender more constantly out of position on Sunday than Wilhoite was," wrote Monson. "His reads and run fits were disastrous."

He noted Wilhoite often was out of position on big runs by McCoy and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. 

"There was no bigger culprit (on the 49ers defense)," wrote Monson, who added that Wilhoite also missed two tackles.

Reid, meanwhile, missed two tackles and gave up 50 yards passing and a touchdown on plays in which he was the primary pass defender, Monson wrote. 

"(Reid) is one of several 49ers who will want to forget this game sooner rather than later," wrote Monson.

The 312 yards allowed rushing to the Bills was just shy of the 49ers' franchise record for most yards rushing allowed in a game (324), set back in 1958.

"That is embarrassing, and I think everybody in here would feel that way, and I think everybody in here does feel that way," Wilhoite told the media.

Kelly saw multiple problems, including missed tackles and defenders being out of position. Reid acknowledged his bad day, too.

"I didn't get my job done," he said.

The 49ers' next challenge will be Tampa Bay, this coming Sunday at Levi's Stadium, with kickoff set for 1:05 p.m.

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