San Francisco 49ers

Defense allows season-low 242 yards in latest setback for 49ers

Published Dec. 21, 2015 2:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

The San Francisco 49ers had no complaints about the team's effort in Sunday's 24-14 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Unlike a week ago, when the 49ers were steamrolled by the Cleveland Browns and allowed 230 yards rushing, Sunday's game may have been the team's best defensive performance. San Francisco permitted a season-low 242 yards but three costly gaffes late in the first half broke the game open for Cincinnati.

"In four minutes and 23 seconds, it went from 0-0 to 21-0, Ok?" 49ers coach Jim Tomsula told reporters after the game. "... We have got to understand that we cannot make those fundamental mistakes."

The quick blitz by the Bengals overshadowed a stellar effort by the 49ers' defense, which entered Sunday's contest having allowed a league-low 15.8 points per game at home and was eager to atone for last week's lackluster effort.

“Guys really wanted to come in and get this one,” said linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who registered a game-high 12 tackles.

San Francisco's offense, which ranks last in the league in scoring, struggled again and committed two huge turnovers during the 21-point burst by the Bengals that essentially put the game out of reach. However, Bowman said the defense needs to step up and keep the opposition out of the end zone in such cases.

“That’s the part where we as a defense, need to get better at,” Bowman said. “That will come. It’s an attitude. ... It’s my job on the same page with that attitude.”