The 49ers didn’t just beat the Raiders on Sunday - they turned Levi’s Stadium into a showcase for a few of their biggest difference-makers in a 38-17 win that pushed San Francisco to 6-1.
Kyle Shanahan’s team was solid across the board, but the real separation came from how often the 49ers made the Raiders pay for mistakes. Las Vegas coughed it up five times, and San Francisco kept cashing in.
Brock Purdy was right in the middle of it. It wasn’t his cleanest outing, but it was still a productive one: 68% completions, 232 passing yards, two touchdown throws and one interception. He added another layer with his legs, rushing for 40 yards and scoring on the ground as well.
The backfield did its part too. Kaelon Black and Christian McCaffrey continued to operate as a tandem, combining for 138 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4.8 yards per carry. McCaffrey also chipped in as a receiver, catching two passes for 19 yards and another score.
One of the day’s biggest surprises came from Jordan Watkins. He arrived with just eight career catches for 164 yards, then broke out against Las Vegas with four receptions for 86 yards. The highlight was a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter, hauled in with a defender draped all over him.
Fred Warner kept doing Fred Warner things. The linebacker finished with five tackles, third-most on the team, and added a forced fumble, another punch-out, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss. That stop came on a goal-line quarterback sneak by Kirk Cousins.
Jaden Dugger also made his mark. He led the group with six tackles, picked off his first career pass and took it back for a touchdown - the first score of his career.
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49ers Hold The NFCs Top Spot But The Pressure Is Building
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Out west, the Rams and Seahawks both moved to 5-4, adding another layer to a division race that already feels crowded. Seattles edge over Los Angeles in the divisional tiebreaker matters for now, and the bigger picture only gets more interesting with key NFC matchups still ahead, including the kind of games that could reshuffle the playoff board before the 49ers and Vikings even get to settle anything head to head. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Is Forcing His Way Into The MVP Conversation
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Burrow continues to set the pace with his passing production, while Loves improved play has helped fuel Green Bays winning streak and Stroud is tracking toward a career-best season even with his teams uneven record. For the 49ers, Purdys place in that group is a useful sign of where the offense stands right now, and it only adds another layer to a race that already looks like it could stay unsettled for a while. [Read more 🡒]
