San Francisco’s defense forced five turnovers on Sunday, dismantling the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers returned from their bye week with a performance that balanced a steady offense and an opportunistic defense, extending their unbeaten start to 7-1.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was a force on defense, leading the team with eight tackles, three of which were for a loss, and recovering a fumble. Fred Warner also made a significant impact by forcing a fumble on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the second half, a play that led to a touchback after Warner recovered the ball. Rookie Jaden Dugger returned an interception for a pick-six, while Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha each added interceptions in the fourth quarter. The 49ers’ defense limited Las Vegas to just 24 rushing yards on 15 attempts, though the pass rush struggled to make an impact despite the return of Nick Bosa from injury and the addition of DeForest Buckner. Bosa recorded one tackle for loss, and Buckner finished with one tackle and two quarterback hits, but the team failed to register a sack for the second consecutive game.
On offense, Brock Purdy managed to make the most of a thin wide receiver group, completing 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy spread the ball to seven different receivers, with second-year wideout Jordan Watkins leading the team with four catches for 86 yards. Watkins scored his first career touchdown on a 37-yard reception. Purdy also contributed on the ground, scrambling seven times for a season-high 40 yards and scoring a one-yard rushing touchdown. The 49ers ran the ball 43 times for 190 yards, a season high, without overusing Christian McCaffrey, who carried the ball 18 times and scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season as well as his first receiving touchdown. Kaelon Black stepped up as well, rushing 11 times for 70 yards.
Special teams delivered mixed results. Eddy Piñeiro converted all five extra-point attempts and a 35-yard field goal, marking only his second perfect kicking game of the season. However, the 49ers allowed a 54-yard kickoff return by Dylan Laube, and Jordan James mishandled a kickoff return, starting the offense at San Francisco’s 11-yard line. Punter Corliss Waitman did not see action thanks to the offense’s success and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s aggressive decision to go for it on fourth down three times during the game.
Shanahan’s plan to run the ball at least 40 times paid off, exploiting the Raiders’ league-worst rush defense. The 49ers’ ground game reached season highs in carries and yards, helping control the clock and pace. Despite the dominant first half, the game tightened in the third quarter, but San Francisco maintained control. The decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 late in the third quarter ended in a stop on their own 40-yard line, and there was a questionable call in the second quarter when the 49ers did not call a timeout before the Raiders kicked a field goal, giving the offense just over a minute to respond before halftime instead of closer to two minutes.
The 49ers’ defense kept Kirk Cousins under pressure, restricting the Raiders’ quarterback to his worst game of the season. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers had seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, but the turnovers and lack of rushing success limited Las Vegas’ chances. San Francisco’s defense, led by Warner and Greenlaw, made the difference.
The 49ers improved to 7-1, their best start since 2019. While Brock Purdy continued to build his case for MVP consideration, questions remain about when Nick Bosa will return to his dominant form after a lengthy absence. The team also faces challenges ahead after Gracen Halton suffered a season-ending broken ankle, thinning the defensive line further.
According to Yahoo Sports.