This is the San Francisco 49ers season for five weeks: Even the kicker suffered an injury, and it probably cost them a game.

The 49ers had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter on Sunday and everything seemed fine, but then there was an implosion. The Arizona Cardinals outscored the 49ers 11-0 in the fourth quarter for a stunning 24-23 loss.

The 49ers lost kicker Jake Moody to an injury trying to make a tackle in the first half, and that caused them to go for it on fourth-and-23 in the fourth quarter instead of attempting a 45-yard field goal . San Francisco didn’t get the first one there and the feeling of being uncomfortable attempting the field goal was ultimately costly.

That wasn’t the reason the 49ers lost, but it didn’t help. And the loss puts the 49ers in a 2-3 hole to start the season. That’s not what anyone expected from one of this season’s Super Bowl favorites.

49ers got off to a slow start this season

The 49ers have dealt with numerous injuries this season, including running back Christian McCaffrey, who has not played this season.

Jordan Mason was a very good replacement, but on Sunday he made a critical mistake. With the 49ers inside the red zone, leading 23-21, Mason knocked the ball out on first and goal and the Cardinals recovered. Up until that point, it seemed like the 49ers would find a way to win. When Arizona took possession, the idea of ​​an upset loss for the 49ers began.

The Cardinals then drove onto the field and ate the clock. Kyler Murray completed a desperation pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. on fourth and fifth to keep the drive alive. The Cardinals hit a field goal with 1:37 remaining to take a lead. The 49ers couldn’t answer after that and the game was over.

This is how the season is going for the 49ers. They haven’t been terrible. They just haven’t been good enough to win more often than not.

49ers lose a late lead

When Moody was injured on the second quarter kickoff, it changed much of the 49ers’ decision-making. They saw punter Mitch Wishnowsky make a 26-yard field goal, but they weren’t going to try much longer than that. So when the Cardinals took a one-point lead with 1:37 left, the 49ers found themselves in the unusual position of feeling like they had to score a touchdown to win. They couldn’t leave it to their punter to attempt the winning field goal.

San Francisco didn’t come close. A pass from Brock Purdy exploded into the air when it was hit and picked off by Kyzir White. The 49ers didn’t even cross midfield with the game on the line.

During the fourth quarter, Fox showed the 49ers were 38-0 in the regular season under Kyle Shanahan when they led by 10 or more points in the fourth quarter. That streak came to an end on Sunday. The 49ers scored a TD on a blocked field goal and still couldn’t beat an Arizona team that came in at 1-3. Injuries or not, that’s a bad sign.

The 49ers will likely get things going. But no one expected them to be below .500 in October.