49ERS REPORT CARD

Here is how the 49ers (7-4) graded in Sunday's 13-0 home shutout of the New Orleans Saints (4-8):

PASS OFFENSE: B

Four of Jauan Jennings' six receptions came on the drive that ultimately ended with him scoring the game's only touchdown. Jimmy Garoppolo took some hits, including an illegal blow to his surgically repaired left knee, that required him to jog on the sideline to stay loose. He completed 70.3 percent of his passes (26-of-37) and pushed his streak to 137 consecutive passes without an interception (or turnover). Garoppolo's 28 passes before halftime were a career-high, and he was sacked just once (on the botched fourthand-goal pass play that morphed into a minus-1-yard sneak). The offensive line is protecting him quite well while giving him enough time, even if doing so required Mike McGlinchey to commit a holding penalty on one such occasion. Brandon Aiyuk (five catches, 65 yards) remains WR1 this season. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle had three receptions apiece, and Christian McCaffrey managed just 17yards on his four catches.

RUN OFFENSE: C

Knee injuries to Elijah Mitchell and Christian McCaffrey are cause for concern, though neither is considered too serious. The 49ers suspect Mitchell sprained his left knee's medial collateral ligament in the third quarter, in just his third game back since an MCL sprain to his right knee in the season opener. McCaffrey played through knee irritation, coach Kyle Shanahan said. Overall, the 49ers gained just 3.3yards per carry, their secondlowest mark of the season (3.1 ypc at Atlanta). Stopped for no gain on his first carry, Jordan Mason then ran four times for 25 yards in the final few minutes to help kill the clock. Mitchell's injury could lead to more action for Mason and the often inactive Ty Davis-Price.

PASS DEFENSE: A

Clutching up in the fourth quarter to keep Andy Dalton from firing a touchdown pass put a nice bow on this shutout, especially with Nick Bosa coming through on fourthand-goal with the 49ers' only sack.

If that wasn't the play of the day, then it was Talanoa Hufanga dislodging the ball from Alvin Kamara and Dre Greenlaw recovering at the

1. Deommodore Lenoir struggled at times in coverage and drew two penalties, including the holding call that set up goal-to-go from the

4. Bosa and Samson Ebukam had two hits on Dalton (18-of-29, 204 yards), and one of the overlooked studs in coverage was linebacker Fred Warner, especially in the goalline defense.

RUN DEFENSE: A

What does it say that Kamara gained just 13yards on seven carries? “It says mission accomplished,” Bosa answered. “That's the type of game we expected, them trying to get the run game going, and doing it with Taysom Hill, as well.” Hill had just 13 yards on six carries in the Saints' rhythm-disrupting scheme where he rotates with Dalton (a reminder of the 49ers' aborted attempt to do the same early last season with Trey Lance and Garoppolo). The Saints averaged just 2.9 yards per carry (22for 63yards) – the fifth time this season a 49ers opponent has been limited under 3 yards per rush. Here's a stat: 15 different defenders made at least one tackle, topped by Hufanga's nine and Warner's seven.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Robbie Gould moved up to fifth place among the 49ers' all-time leading scorer (647 points). He made two field goals (24and 46 yards) plus an extra-point kick to surpass Gordy Soltau (644). Mitch Wishnowsky's first punt pinned the Saints at their 11. Special teams tackles came from Mason, George Odum, Ambry Thomas and Tarvarius Moore.

COACHING: A

Players hailed Kyle Shanahan for lightening their practice load after last Monday's win in Mexico. DeMeco Ryans' stock keeps climbing with every half of shutout football – or two halves in this case. Next up: Sunday's reunion with Mike McDaniel, Shanahan's former righthand man and first-year coach of the Miami Dolphins (8-3). Let the chess match begin!