Mullens’ 3 TD throws spur 49ers
QB in first start helps rout Raiders
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Mullens threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns for the most productive NFL debut since the merger in leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 34-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders in a lopsided Battle of the Bay on Thursday 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 Garoppolo at quarterback.
“I think I’m here for a reason,” Mullens said. “This is my opportunity to prove that I can play. Today’s thing was just attack your job and worry about what
matters. What mattered most tonight was the team and how we played.”
Mullens got the nod after C.J. Beathard injured his right wrist last week and made the most of his opportunity against a defense for the Raiders (1-7) that is one of the worst in the league.
Mullens, a former undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, got rid of the ball quickly and took advantage of several breakdowns in coverage for big plays, including the 24-yard TD pass to a wideopen 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 405 to 248 for the game.
In what was perhaps the worst prime-time matchup in NFL history, only the Raiders played down to expectations. They provided little resistance on defense against an undrafted quarterback making his NFL debut, 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 now lost four games in a row, getting outscored by 85 points during the skid.
“I know it’s not looking pretty right now,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “I’ve heard a lot of negativity over the last six, seven months and rightfully so. But we’re going to build a championship football team here.”
NOTE: Former 49ers receiver Terrell Owens was presented his Hall of Fame ring at a halftime ceremony. Owens was voted into the Hall of Fame earlier this year but skipped the induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, to hold his celebration at his college in Chattanooga, Tenn.