MULLENS MANIA!
QB comes out of nowhere to throw for 262 yards and 3 TDs in first-ever start to lead 49ers to convincing win over Raiders in Battle of the Bay
SANTACLARA » There was no Jimmy G on Thursday night, but Nick Mdid just fine against the hapless Raiders.
Nick Mullens — the 49ers’ undrafted, unknown third-string quarterback -- took pity on a cynical prime-time audience by providing a performance worth watching in his NFL debut.
Subbing for the injured C. J. Beathard (wrist), who had been subbing for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo (knee), the kid from Southern Mississippi did what pretty much every other quarterback has done this season: He carved up a Raiders defense that barely seems to care.
Mullens completed 16- of-22 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns to lead the 49ers to a 34-3 victory.
The all-time series record between the 49ers and Raiders now stands at 7-7.
“You couldn’t tell if he was first-string or thirdstring,’’ 49ers’ tight end George Kittle said of the surprising star. “He just played like a baller.”
Anyone who thought this would be a particularly hideous Battle of the Bay was only half right. The Raiders lived down to the hype, not only mailing in their effort but doing so without adequate postage.
About the only signs of life on the Oakland sideline came from coach Jon Gruden, who provided both quality scowling and blistering material for amateur lip readers watching at home. At one point Gruden appeared to say, “Can’t we (freaking) block anybody?” Answer: No. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was sacked six times and managed zero touchdowns against the NFL’s 17th-ranked defense.
Perhaps mercifully, this was the last time the Raiders (1-7) and 49ers (2-7) will meet as Bay Area rivals. By the time they play again — in 2022 — the Raiders will be in Las Vegas. And it looked Thurs- day as if they’d already checked out, leaving 49ers’ receivers wide open on routes and then making half-hearted efforts to tackle them once they caught the ball.
NaVorro Bowman, a former linebacker who played for both teams, let Oakland players have it on social media by tweeting: “This (stuff) is sad, Raiders. Where’s the pride from top to bottom?”
Added former Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson, the Hall of Famer: “Well, that was hard to watch.”
Mullens, on the other hand, re-lit the torch for a 49ers’ season that had gone ice cold. In the first half alone, he completed 12 of 17 passes for 167 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He connected with eight different receivers in that first half, some of whom were about as well known as he is (Ross Dwelly, anyone?)
Not bad for a guy who didn’t get official word until earlier Thursday that he’d be starting for Beathard. In giving him the news, coach Kyle Shanahan saw no need for a pep talk.
“I don’t have any magic words that can take someone’s nervousness away,’’ Shanahan said. “Nick has prepared for this moment. I just said, ‘Just go play your hardest and we’ll see what happens.’ ”
Mullen’s verve and accuracy provided an un- expected jolt to what was supposed to be a mutual dud between teams with a combined 2-13 record. Josh Dubow of the Associated Press calculated that the combined .133 winning percentage was the worst of any NFL primetime matchup ever played on Nov. 1 or later. (And there had been 784 of them.)
But you should throw out the records when these two teams get together. Or, in this case, place them gently in the compost.
Because by the time it was done, a mini-legend was born.
Mullens, prepping behind the scenes, emerged looking like a fully finished product. His 49ers teammates seemed amused with how surprised everyone was, because they see him everyday in practice.
Kittle shared two favorite stories:
He said that even while buried on the depth chart, Mullens would practice for crowd noise before road games — just in case. He’s put in head phones, cranked up music at full volume, and then tried to bark out play calls with all that clamor in his ears.
Kittle also recalled the time Mullens waited for a 49ers game to finish before heading out to the vacant field with a playbook to run through plays all by himself.
“He’s more prepared than Coach Shanahan for our games, I swear,’’ Kittle joked.
Richard Sherman, noting that Mullens comes from the same college as noted NFL gunslinger Brett Favre, said: “He’s not a boisterous guy, but he’s confident. He walks around with a swagger.”
Such swagger has been scarce this season for both teams. But for the most part, the mélange of jerseys around Levi’s Stadium provided a fitting tribute to the final scene of this rivalry. There were fans wearing jerseys of Joe Montana and Jim Plunkett and Jerry Rice and Howie Long and Bo Jackson and Roger Craig and Sebastian Janikowski and Y.A. Tittle and many others who have helped define Bay Area football.
One couple each wore jerseys featuring Ronnie Lott’s old No. 42. Ricky Davis wore the 49ers version while his wife, Diana, wore the Raiders version. Maybe there is hope for peace on earth.
There were no Mullens jerseys. But check back soon. Shanahan left open the possibility that the quarterback will start next week against the New York Giants.
“We’ve been keeping our secret weapon ready to go,’’ the coach said.
The Raiders apparently never saw it coming.