LOS ANGELES -- Nick Mullens' final game of the 2018 season couldn't have started much worse Sunday.
Three of the 49ers' first five drives ended with the first-year quarterback's interceptions. Cory Littleton picked off a Mullens pass early in the second quarter and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, as the Los Angeles Rams blew the game open early.
“You turn the ball over like that, and games get out of hand quick,” Mullens said following the 49ers’ 48-32 loss to the NFC West champion Rams. “And we experienced that today.
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"It’s frustrating. We know we can compete with any team on the field if we protect the football, but we didn’t do that today.”
But Mullens ended the season on a high note, as he had a major hand in George Kittle's NFL record-setting season. Kittle set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end with 1,377 yards.
“I’m so happy for him,” Mullens said. “He deserves every bit of it. The things he’s been able to do for himself, for the team, the organization, in the short two years he’s been here -- he has as big of an impact off the field as he does on the field.”
When the 49ers’ offense took over with 2:37 remaining in the game, Mullens was aware that Kittle was just 8 yards short of the record that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce set earlier in the day. Kelce (1,336 yards) broke the record that New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski (1,327) had set in 2011.
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“The first one, was, 'Let’s throw him a hitch and let him get up field,' ” Mullens said. “Pre-snap, they threw a ‘backer out there, and I was like, ‘All right, they’re not going to let him get the record.’ But I was like, ‘Screw it, we’re throwing it to him.’ “
Kittle picked up 6 yards on the first play of the drive. On the second play, Mullens found Kittle on the left side, and the tight end made the catch, slipped a tackle, made another Rams defender miss and turned it into a 43-yard touchdown.
“That was awesome,” Mullens said. “He only needed a couple, but I wasn’t surprised he caught a short pass and took it the distance. That’s where he’s made his money this year. It was awesome.
“It exciting to have a good finish with a touchdown, finish strong. Obviously, the start wasn’t what we wanted. But to finish the way we did shows the toughness and the grit this team has.”
Kittle said Rams players were telling him early in the game that he wouldn't break the record against them. The Rams were keying on him, just like every team on the 49ers’ schedule in the second half of the season.
“And they still haven’t been able to stop him,” Mullens said. “They know where he’s at at all times. [In] man coverage, a lot of times you'll see them put an extra guy toward that way. He’s earned that respect around the league, and around our team, for sure. He deserves that respect.”
Kittle caught nine of the 14 passes Mullens threw his way Sunday for 149 yards.
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The late-game touchdown pass helped put a nice topper on Mullens’ remarkable season. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions in the season finale.
Mullens threw for 2,277 yards in his eight starts after taking over for C.J. Beathard in Week 9. Mullens spent last season -- and the first three games of this year -- on the 49ers’ practice squad after signing as an undrafted rookie from Southern Miss. But Mullens quickly proved himself and, in the process, joined some lofty company, too.
He ranks No. 4 in NFL history in passing yards in his first eight games, behind only Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton.