New QB makes splash for Niners
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Mullens threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns for the most productive NFL debut since the merger, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 34-3 victory over the Raiders in a lopsided Battle of the Bay on Thurs- day night.
George Kittle made an impressive one-handed catch on a 71-yard play that set up his touchdown from Mullens and Pierre Garcon caught his first TD pass in two seasons with the 49ers (2-7), who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the second time in two years without Jimmy Garpppolo at quarterback.
Mullens got the nod after C.J. Beathard injured his right wrist last week and made the most of his opportunity against a Raider defense that is one of the worst in the league.
The former undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi got rid of the ball quickly and took advantages of several breakdowns in coverage for big plays, including the 24yard TD pass to a wide-open Garcon on the opening drive.
Mullens finished 16 for 22 and had a 151.9 passer rating, the highest for a quarterback with at least 15 attempts in an NFL debut since the 1970 merger. He threw TD passes to Garcon and Kendrick Bourne on the opening two drives and coasted from there to the most lopsided win in this series since San Francisco won the first meeting, 38-7, in 1970.
Raheem Mostert added a 52-yard touchdown run and the Niners outgained the Raiders (1-7) 405 to 248 for the game.
In one of the worst primetime matchups in NFL history, only the Raiders played down to expectations. They provided little resistance on defense, did nothing offensively after driving for a field goal on the opening drive and put together the most listless performance yet in coach Jon Gruden’s second stint as coach.
Oakland has now lost four games in a row, getting outscored by 85 points during the skid, and is just playing out the string in a season that began with optimism because of Gruden’s return.
Derek Carr finished 16 for 22 for 171 yards and was sacked five times before he was replaced by AJ McCarron in the fourth quarter. McCarron was sacked once.