Extra third down helps 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers got an extra third-down play in the first half because of an officiating error – and scored a touchdown on it.

After a third-and-6 play at the Green Bay 10-yard line in the second quarter, Colin Kaepernick was hit out of bounds by Clay Matthews. The Green Bay linebacker drew a personal foul penalty, but so did 49ers tackle Joe Staley for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Because both penalties came after the play ended with Kaepernick stepping out of bounds without gaining a first down, it should have become fourth down.

However, officials gave the 49ers another third-and-6 play, and they scored a TD.

Had it been correctly marked as fourth down, they likely would have kicked a field goal.

San Francisco won 34-28.

Associated Press

Three safeties tie Week 1 mark

The first score of the full opening day of the NFL season was a safety. Before long, there were two more safeties in first quarters of games, equaling the most in Week 1 in league history.

The Tennessee Titans’ season began in reverse when they gifted the Steelers two points on the first play of their season as kick returner Darius Reynaud took a knee in the end zone on the opening kickoff after fielding the ball in play.

According to the NFL, it was the first safety on an opening kickoff since 1988, when the Giants got one at Dallas.

Jacksonville soon after joined the party, blocking a punt on visiting Kansas City’s first possession.

Moments later at the Meadowlands, the Jets went up 2-0 on the Buccaneers when Josh Freeman couldn’t handle the snap on third-and-5 from the 8 and kicked the ball out of the end zone.

The last time three safeties occurred in the opening week was in 1999. It also happened in 1993 and 1970.

Associated Press