49ers 49ers report card
outset is a completely different feel after convincing wins over Pittsburgh, the L.A. Rams, the New York Giants and Arizona.
“That's exactly what we talked about, starting fast,” middle linebacker Fred Warner said Sunday evening. “We didn't need to go through adversity for us to be locked in. I think the mindset was to be locked in from the start.”
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is reveling in the positive vibes.
“It's a whole bunch of fun, not just on game days, but to come in and work with these guys,” Aiyuk said. “Then we get to show the world on Sundays the work we put in. We know what we're trying to accomplish and we're trying to find that balance of having fun with each other and getting the work in.”
The challenge for the 49ers, who along with Philadelphia are the only two unbeaten teams in the NFL, is to continue to meet the standard they've set through four games.
“We've gotten there faster, but the challenge is to keep improving because
Here is how the 49ers (4-0) graded in Sunday's 35-16 home win over the Arizona Cardinals (1-3):
A+
Brock Purdy was 20 of 21 (franchiserecord 95.2 completion percentage) and, although he was mad about his third-and-long incompletion out of field-goal range, he got help en route to that 283-yard, 134.6-rating day. In particular was pass No. 8amid a 13-of-13start: a 42-yard “opportunity ball,” as described by Purdy who himself was astonished how Brandon Aiyuk torqued his body to grab it in double coverage. “It was just amazing to see B.A. change trajectory, basically a 40-degree turn to get to the ball,” center Jake Brendel said. “I remember looking back at Brock and he was, `Oh my god. That was close.' ” That play set up McCaffrey's third of four touchdowns Sunday, and his first scoring catch of the season. Aiyuk caught all six of his targets for 148 yards, McCaffrey had seven receptions for 71 yards, and Deebo Samuel got shutout in targets. One-catch receivers: George Kittle (fourth-down conversion), Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan Mason, Ronnie Bell and Willie Snead IV (first with 49ers). Purdy was sacked once thanks to great blocking against a four-man front in the first half, then six-man looks after halftime.
PASS OFFENSE: RUN OFFENSE:
you do one of two things — get better or worse,” Shanahan said. “We've got to make sure we keep improving.”
THE PURDY FACTOR >> One of the reasons for the 49ers fast start is quarterback Brock Purdy, who has given the 49ers stability after last year's attempt to start Trey Lance as well as the up-and-down tenure of Jimmy Garoppolo.
As well as Garoppolo played at times, he's never had four-game numbers like Purdy's opening act in 2023. After going 20 of 21 for 283 yards and a touchdown, Purdy leads the NFL with a 72.3% completion percentage, a 115.1 passer rating and a 10.0 yards per attempt average that leads the league -and yes, that includes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, etc.
“He made all the right throws,” Shanahan said. “The O-line played well, gave him some good time, some good pockets. I thought all the (eligible receivers), tight ends, running backs, played well. I thought he was awesome yesterday.”
AIYUK BOUNCES BACK >> Aiyuk had six receptions for a career-high 148 yards against Arizona after missing the Giants game with
A McCaffrey's four-touchdown day came one shy of the 49ers' singlegame record, and he had three scores within the first three drives, the first two of which came on runs. His 18-yard run for a 14-0 lead was highlighted by his hurdle of a defender at the 15-yard line, but springing lanes on that backward-pass screen were blocks by Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Jake Brendel and Deebo Samuel. McCaffrey's final touchdown, a 2-yard run up the middle, was strangely necessary after the Cardinals pulled within 21-16. Rather than a fifth touchdown from him, the 49ers capped their scoring spree with Purdy's 1-yard touchdown sneak, the 49ers' preferred method rather than have him pushed from behind by teammates (see: Eagles' Jalen Hurts' “Tush Push”). McCaffrey raised his
NFL lead to 459 yards this season and finished with his 100-yard game this season (20carries, 106yards). Other work went to Jordan Mason (three carries, 10 yards), Deebo Samuel (three carries, six yards) and Juszczyk (two carries, three yards). Elijah Mitchell was inactive because of a knee injury in Thursday's practice; he has not played in 18of the past 30 games.
PASS DEFENSE:
a shoulder injury, numbers that were almost lost in the shuffle of Christian McCaffrey's four touchdowns and 177 scrimmage yards and Purdy nearly throwing the football version of a perfect game.
Aiyuk had catches of 42, 34, 25 and 20 yards. The longest play came on a downfield shot in which he outmaneuvered two defenders for a slightly underthrown ball. The rest came on perfectly placed touch passes from Purdy.
“We thought we'd get the opportunity to get a couple of shots, but not the ones we ended up hitting,” Aiyuk said. “It was different than I expected, but Kyle called a great game and we were able to exploit areas of the field they were lacking in and hit some deep balls we hadn't hit in the past and it was pretty exciting.”
McCaffrey said Aiyuk took the previous week's absence due to injury to heart.
“He'd probably be mad at me for saying this, but he was kind of in tears that he couldn't suit up and play,” McCaffrey said. “To me, that meant a lot because I saw how much he wanted to be out there with us . . . he wanted to play so bad. So to come out
B
The 49ers struggled to consistently pressure Joshua Dobbs and he responded by passing for 265yards and two touchdowns, both to Michael Wilson. They allowed their longest completion of the season, a 41-yarder to Marquise Brown, who finished with 96 yards on six catches. Javon Hargrave produced the 49ers' only sack; they have totaled just four sacks since producing five in their season opener. Nick Bosa had no sacks but four hits on Dobbs, whom he credited for being quick and poised. “There's some run-game stuff we need to iron out but the opportunities we got, we rushed well,” Bosa said. Charvarius Ward drew a third-down pass-interference penalty, and, Ambry Thomas yielded a third-down completion (while Deommodore Lenoir replaced
and have the day that he did was awesome.”
Notes
• Injury updates: Running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (knee, rib) and Jauan Jennings (shin) are day-to-day, while backup offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is in the concussion protocol. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (ankle) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) were not mentioned despite recent injuries.
• Safety Ji'Ayir Brown had a nice special teams tackle against Arizona and although he's played just 13 defensive snaps, Shanahan likes what he sees from the 49ers' top draft pick (No. 87 overall in the third round).
“It feels like we got the right guy, just the way he carries himself on the practice field,” Shanahan said. “He's really owned his role, taking the backup reps at safety, and getting better at all of it. I know how much confidence (special teams coordinator) Brian Schneider has in him. He does everything the right way and a guy I'm very glad we have here.”
• Safety Talanoa Hufanga and running back James Conner of the Cardinals got into a post-game scuffle that was caught on film. Shanahan said he didn't know what caused it.
Isaiah Oliver at nickel back, before Thomas returned to the bench).
RUN DEFENSE: B
The 49ers failed to stop Dobbs on a trio of third-and-short runs on the Cardinals' final touchdown drive, and he converted on a fourth-down scramble, too. But the 49ers aren't facing many mobile quarterbacks this season, so don't fret about longterm issues like past seasons. Dobbs finished with 48 yards (12 carries) and workhorse James Conner was stopped at 52yards (11carries). Fred Warner had 10 tackles, as did Dre Greenlaw, who aggravated a left-ankle injury, left for a play, then yielded a touchdown pass upon his return.
CCardinals special-teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, a one-time 49ers assistant, dialed up a successful fake punt on their first touchdown drive. Jake Moody sent a kickoff out of bounds for the second time this season. Ray-Ray McCloud reached only the 13-yard line returning the second half kickoff out of the end zone. But an ensuing punt by Mitch Wishnowsky got downed at the 1 by Oren Burks, after a nice play from newcomer Kendall Sheffield to prevent a touchback.