SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ win Sunday was every bit as stupid as one might expect. Raiders and Niners fans don’t come together to create a professional, ho-hum environment, and why should the playing field be any different than the Levi’s Stadium parking lot?
The 49ers’ early success turned into second-half struggles for both teams in a game that featured six turnovers after halftime – five by the Raiders. But San Francisco proved, unsurprisingly, the more capable operation.
Even if the bar was not very high.
Still, the Niners ran for 190 yards behind Kaelon Black’s 70, threw for another 224 yards and improved to 7-1 on the season. Here are the elements and failures of a wild and chaotic game:
Studs 💪
Brock Purdy • QB » It wasn’t Purdy’s best game. He had an interception and looked visually frustrated throughout the game. However, you would never know it, looking at the final score. Purdy operated with the now characteristic pocket command and improvisation, generating positive plays both in the air and with his legs. Outside of an (intentional) miscommunication with Connor Colby and a few missed passes to George Kittle, Purdy made high-leverage responses seem routine, especially in the first half. He converted two quarterback passes on critical short-yardage passes, broke off a dazzling 18-yard run on a third-and-15 and capped first-half drives with a soft goal-line touchdown and a 12-yard scoring strike to Christian McCaffrey. If this looks like Purdy’s floor, how high is the ceiling?
Christian McCaffrey • RB » McCaffrey functioned as the constant engine of the offense from the first snap, consistently finding room behind an offensive line that split water along the edges (Colby had a big rebound game), even against Raiders blitzes in the second half. In addition to scoring an authoritative 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 12-play walk, he converted key short-yardage runs and repeatedly created yards through contact. In the passing game, McCaffrey served as the ultimate release valve for Purdy, highlighting his day with a 12-yard catch and run score.
Osa Odighizuwa • DT » The Niners’ defensive tackle wreaked havoc inside the front, dismantling the Raiders’ rushing attack before plays could even develop. He spent all day in the Raiders’ backfield, and their lack of a running game (24 net rushing yards) reflected that. He finished with two quarterback hits and two tackles for a loss in the game.
Fred Warner • MLB » Warner was an absolute animal in the middle of the field, instantly diagnosing concepts and closing gaps with violent speed. His knife to blow a screen to Brock Bowers for just two yards in the first half was a masterclass. His fumble forcing punch is one of the great traits of the game. He remains the benchmark as a middle linebacker.
George Kittle • TE » Kittle was Purdy’s weapon of choice – for better or worse – on Sunday. But more often than not, it proved impossible for the Raiders secondary to come out cleanly. He finished the game with four catches for 58 yards.
Kaelon Black • RB » Black provided some serious punch from the jump, starting with an explosive 31-yard return on the opening kickoff to give San Francisco excellent field position. Every time he spun in the backfield, his north-south rush really popped, and that was a big part of the second half, where he had two long runs in the fourth quarter. Slowly but surely it evolves into an athletically enjoyable change of pace. This will be important in December and January.
Jordan Watkins • WR » Watkins rebounded strongly from a false start early in the first quarter to become a vital playmaker in this contest. In the second quarter, he broke loose on a deep cross for a 24-yard reception. After moving the chains on a 19-yard run in the third, Watkins came up big late in that quarter, catching a contested 37-yard touchdown from Purdy to extend the 49ers’ lead. It was his first career touchdown in the best game of his young career, a development that bodes well for the Niners.
The failures 📉
Déommodore Lenoir • CB » Lenoir had a rough outing, repeatedly getting caught out of position or reacting late to the Raiders’ passing game. He was caught off guard on a third down against Raiders guard Ashton Jeanty, gave up intermediate conversions to Bowers and committed a harsh 24-yard defensive pass interference penalty down the field on Tre Tucker in the fourth quarter on third-and-long. While he threw a tackle for loss, coverage errors and unnecessary penalties made for a tough afternoon.
Jordan James • RB » After taking a kickoff to the 5-yard line in the second quarter, James fumbled the catch, scrambled to recover at the 6 and was only able to muster a 10-yard return to the 16-yard line, putting the offense in an immediate hole and likely hurting its chances of getting runs from scrimmage in the process.
Special Teams Coverage Unit » San Francisco’s kick coverage unit experienced repeated breakdowns in lane discipline on Sunday. Dylan Laube looked like Dante Hall, finding wide-open creases, slashing the 49ers for a 30-yard return and later ripping off a backbreaking 54-yard return straight into San Francisco territory after Jaden Dugger, Siran Neal and Garret Wallow failed to maintain leverage.
Ji’Ayir Brown • FS » Brown had a rough stretch in the third quarter when Las Vegas attacked the middle and deep seams. On second and fourth from the San Francisco 21-yard line, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins fired a strike right up the middle to Bowers, who beat Brown cleanly in coverage for an uncontested 21-yard touchdown reception to bring the Raiders within striking range.
Line judge Mark Stewart and downhill judge Brian Sakowski » I don’t think I’ve ever named the guys who determine the location of the ball in a Studs and Duds column, but these two deserve credit. What a journey we have had with their (in)ability to properly assess where the ball should be. The problems started early with a few odd spots that negatively affected both offenses and only intensified as the game continued. Next time Scott Novak’s team calls you, beware.
Gn headline
