SANTA CLARA – Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks is a 10-year veteran, a 32-year-old who has sat through dozens of postgame press conferences, practicing the art of claiming the fitting thing.
But even a grizzled long-time player like Kendricks couldn't help but show his frustration when asked if he thought the 49ers' 30-24 win on Sunday night featured offensive pass interference on George Kittle's 2-yard touchdown got away.
Wide receiver Chris Conley beat safety Donovan Wilson with 7:16 left within the third quarter, organising the 49ers' All-Pro on the flat on National Tight End Day for his sixth touchdown of the season. Two officials threw flags, but referee Bill Vinovich later announced there can be no penalty for offensive pass interference.
“They threw two flags, so I thought it was a guaranteed (penalty),” Kendricks told the Bay Area News Group.
“I mean, you hope one goes our way, but at the same time we have to do our part to keep them out of this situation,” Kendricks continued, adding, “You know, blah, blah, blah… but two flags, Do you know?”
Vinovich has been the topic of ire from each fan bases within the recent past. After the 2022 season, he refereed the 49ers' divisional playoff game against the Cowboys and officiated each of Kansas City's Super Bowl victories over San Francisco.
Add Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy to the list of those within the Dallas locker room who were lower than thrilled with the officiating.
“There were two flags thrown, and when they were thrown, I definitely thought it was a pick play,” McCarthy said after the Cowboys fell to 3-4. “They need to ask (the officials) for an explanation because it was a key play in the game.”
An enormous reason for Kittle's big day was the 49ers' ability to open up receivers on crossing routes, something Dallas knew was coming but still couldn't stop.
“We know who their target is, but they have a lot of other weapons and they're trying to spread them across the field,” Kendricks said.
For his part, Conley said he doesn't imagine he must have been reported.
“When it's tight down there, there's always a chance, but I talked to the referee and when they threw the flag, at first they thought I wasn't going to run a route,” Conley said after the sport. “But I said I obviously ran a route in a guy and then got carted off. Another referee came in who saw it, they talked about it and recorded it.”
Of course, that decision and Kittle's big day weren't the one reasons the Cowboys lost to the Niners for the fourth straight yr.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis downplayed the importance of this series.
“We want to win against everyone and just try to get out of the rut,” Lewis said.
Instead, he gave Kittle his props after rushing for 128 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s a really good player, and Shanahan does a good job of getting him in space and getting him off the press,” Lewis said.
But regardless that the Cowboys were outgained 469 yards to 242 and gave up 21 straight points within the third quarter, they couldn't completely escape the shadow of what they perceived as poor performance on key passing plays.
As McCarthy left the postgame press conference, he was asked if he thought 5-foot-7 receiver KaVontae Turpin was interfered with on the Cowboys' desperation pass on their final possession. McCarthy just laughed and shrugged.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com