George Kittle makes history on two fronts as 49ers, eventually, remember how to finish against Cowboys
It was fitting that, on National Tight Ends Day, Sunday Night Football belonged to George Kittle. With Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, Jauan Jennings still out with a hip injury and Deebo Samuel a few days removed from a bout of pneumonia, a heavy burden was always likely to fall on Kittle as the […]
It was fitting that, on National Tight Ends Day, Sunday Night Football belonged to George Kittle.
With Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, Jauan Jennings still out with a hip injury and Deebo Samuel a few days removed from a bout of pneumonia, a heavy burden was always likely to fall on Kittle as the San Francisco 49ers looked to get back to 4-4 with victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
They, just about, finished the job, holding off a late Dallas rally to prevail 30-24. San Francisco had led by 17 in the fourth quarter and threatened to let the late-game demons that have haunted them consistently this season strike again by allowing successive CeeDee Lamb touchdowns, sandwiched by an Anders Carlson field goal.
Kittle had a huge hand in the construction of that three-score lead, making three catches for 72 yards a touchdown in the second half as he finished with six receptions for 128 yards, those tallies taking him to two separate and very significant milestones.
The six catches saw him reach 500 for his outstanding career, Kittle becoming the fourth-fastest tight end to reach that landmark, doing so in 105 games.
Meanwhile, the 128 yards took him 6,777 for his career, Kittle surpassing Gene Washington and Dwight Clark for the third most in franchise history.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Kittle, who had an underwhelming first half that included a holding call to stall a drive at the end of the half: "Kittle's the man, especially on his holiday. He came back in the second half and played as good as you can."
It was a night to remember in terms of statistical achievements for Kittle. Thankfully, when the Cowboys had the the ball with a chance to take the lead with three minutes left, the 49er defense stiffened and prevented Dallas from gaining a single yard, enabling Kittle to celebrate a victory along with his slices of history and allowing San Francisco to breathe a sigh of relief.
