Stud, then dud: K Chase McLaughlin

Being an NFL kicker isn’t an easy job, especially when the kicker is an undrafted free agent replacing one of the best veteran kickers in the league. McLaughin was on the Chargers just two weeks ago, and was brought in to replace Robbie Gould,  who missed Monday’s game with a quad injury. McLaughlin looked solid on his first attempt of the night, a 43-yard make that gave the 49ers a 3-0 lead. He wouldn’t have another attempt until the fourth quarter when he tied the game at 21 with 6:17 remaining. Then came the biggest kick of his career. McLaughlin was called upon for a 47-yard attempt and came through to make it a 24-24 game with one second remaining to send it to overtime.

Greenlaw made his interception, and Garoppolo and the offense did enough to get into field goal range. That gave McGlaughlin a 47-yard attempt to keep the 49ers undefeated and it never stood a chance. McLaughlin hooked (saying hooked is being polite) it left and Seattle got the ball back. He deserves credit for his two field goals in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, but overtime curveball is the kick that will be remembered.