49ers run all over Eagles defense

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Their inability to stop the run cost the Eagles too much in their first loss of the season, 26-21, to the 49ers on Sunday.

The Eagles allowed 218 yards on 42 carries (5.2 per carry), including 119 yards on 24 carries to Frank Gore.

"We are the ones that have to get ourselves off the field, there are no excuses," Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "We have to be better against the run."

The Eagles came into the game 13th in the NFL at 105.7 yards rushing allowed per game, and the Niners were 17th in rushing with an average of 112.

But the Eagles were without inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who was out with a calf injury. And San Francisco took advantage with a ground game that led to a huge disparity in time of possession - 42 minutes, 17 seconds to the Eagles' 17:43.

"[Our defense] wasn't good enough - we gave up over 400 yards by their offense," Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin said. "It was a lot of time that we were out there, but part of that is our fault. We have to get off the field on third down."

Two third-down penalties extended 49ers drives. The costliest flag was on a San Francisco third and 15 on the Eagles 28-yard line with 11:27 to play in the third quarter. Colin Kaepernick was sacked by Trent Cole, but the Niners got a first down when cornerback Cary Williams was called for holding. San Francisco went on to score a touchdown three minutes later to narrow the Eagles' lead to 21-20.

"Yeah, those third-down penalties always hurt," Davis said.

"We can't make those penalties at those crucial times when points are stingy and stops are at a premium," Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins added.

The Eagles pass rush (four sacks) reemerged after being largely dormant the previous two games. In the season's first three games the Eagles only had three sacks, all against Jacksonville in the season opener.

"Our guys were winning a lot of one-on-ones. They did a nice job. Their quarterback was running all over the place," Davis said. "Problem is he's a tough tackle. You finally flush him, and he gets out there and makes some plays on us."

The Eagles rush forced Kaepernick to throw into double coverage in the second quarter, resulting in an interception and 53-yard touchdown return by Jenkins to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.

"For a quarterback that can get up and go whenever he wants, we got to him a few times," Jenkins said of Kaepernick. "He didn't really have clean windows to throw in."