The 49ers came within two yards of finally burying a streak that’s haunted them for years — and the moment slipped away.QQ

Still, it was a cool play.

For anyone thinking the San Francisco 49ers were suffering some sort of hangover after an ugly and one-sided Week 10 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams, think again.

The Niners got out to the hottest of hot starts the following Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, and it started on the very first play of the game.

Kick-return specialist Skyy Moore, who’s had an up-and-down season in his special teams role, took the opening kickoff and found seams through Arizona’s kickoff coverage unit, and it appeared as if he’d take it all the way for a touchdown on the opening play:

A shoestring tackle just shy of the goal line prevented Moore from arguably the most electrifying play in all of football.

And the tackle at the 2-yard line also prevented the Niners from ending a streak that goes back quite a long while.

49ers nearly ended kickoff TD drought on 1st play vs. Cardinals

Moore’s return likely prompted some fans to think back to the last time San Francisco returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

And, yes. It’s been a while.

The last time the 49ers returned a kickoff for a touchdown happened to be back on Dec. 16, 2018, when then-specialist Richie James did it at Levi’s Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks.

At least that streak of no kickoff TDs doesn’t look as bad as the drought of not scoring a touchdown on a punt-return attempt. The latter one has been far too long.

Still, Moore’s return certainly gave a spark to the Niners offense in yet another crucial NFC West showdown and on the heels of a rough loss to another division rival. On the following play, running back Christian McCaffrey punched it in for a quick touchdown to give San Francisco the early lead.

Too bad Moore didn’t do it on his own, though, ending a lengthy drought in the process.