Colin Kaepernick Displays Leadership Following Loss to Cardinals
Colin Kaepernick said everything you'd want to hear from a franchise quarterback following a 47-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday from University of Phoenix Stadium.
Following a stop by the San Francisco 49ers defense to open the game, Colin Kaepernick threw an interception that Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel returned 21-yards for the game's first touchdown.
On the 49ers subsequent possession, Kaepernick threw another pick-six, this time to Arizona safety Tyrann Mathieu.
"The first pass I just have to put further outside and allow Vernon to make that play," Kaepernick said. "The second one, got a little pressure, I rolled right, and I thought I could fit that one into Anquan and it got undercut. Both of those are my fault and my mistakes that hurt this team."
Kaepernick threw four interceptions in all, an unwanted new career high. The quarterback didn't shy away from his mistakes following the game.
"I didn't play well. I put our team behind the eight ball from the jump, and we never rebounded from that," Kaepernick said. "(It's) very hard for me to deal with. (It's) very hard to see myself go out and play like that and hurt this team the way I did.
"I nullified all the efforts of every other player on that field today. That's something I have to fix. I have to be better moving forward."
The quarterback completed nine of his 19 pass attempts on the day for 67 yards. Kaepernick also rushed for 46 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run.
Kap said that the team remained positive throughout the game amid the adversity.
"There was never a negative thought," the quarterback said. "It was just the situation we were in and we had to fix it."
Jim Tomsula expressed his belief in Kaepernick following the game saying, "Colin is our quarterback." The 49ers head coach added that he never thought about removing Kaepernick from the game.
"As a quarterback, it's great to know that your coach supports you and is going to allow you that opportunity," Kaepernick said.
San Francisco will have no time to dwell on its mistakes in Week 3. The 49ers will return home in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers after playing back-to-back road contests.
The Packers are currently 2-0 and will play the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
"We have to address it this week," Kaepernick said. "I have to be better this week. Getting ready for the Packers, we have to be ready for them. They're a great football team. They'll be prepared.
"We have good players. We just have to go out and perform. Once again, today was 100 percent my fault. There's nothing anyone in that locker room could have done to change that game (with) the way I played."