The CMC scoring series continues
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey now shares the NFL touchdown scoring streak of 17 consecutive games (including the playoffs) with Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore after his two-yard rushing touchdown in Week 8 .The seventh-year pro raced in for a two-yard score to cap an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive by the 49ers in the first quarter against the Bengals. At the touchdown, the score was 7-7 between San Francisco and Cincinnati with 3:19 left in the first frame. He later added a four-yard score through the air in the fourth quarter.
McCaffrey collected 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to his six catches for 64 yards and a touchdown through the air.
DL Arik Armstead delivers two-sack performance
After giving up two touchdowns in the first half, the veteran defensive lineman came up with the game-winning play for this unit. On Cincinnati’s third offensive series, Armstead tackled Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on third-and-7 just outside the red zone. The sack moved Cincinnati back seven yards and forced the Bengals into a 50-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Evan McPherson’s attempt as he went wide right kept the score at 14-7 midway through the second quarter.
Armstead struck again in the second half, sacking Burrow at the San Francisco 39-yard line on second-and-nine, for a loss of eight yards. The Bengals failed to convert on third-and-16 and settled for the field goal. Cincinnati scored three points on a 56-yard kick by McPherson. The last time Armstead recorded two or more sacks in a game was Week 17 of the 2021 season to help the 49ers punch their ticket to the postseason.
Rookie kicker Jake Moody shakes it off
After missing a field goal attempt in each of the last two contests, Moody didn’t fail against the Bengals either. The rookie kicker sailed his only three-point attempt through the uprights from 36 yards out. He was also perfect on his extra point attempts on the day, going 2-for-2 on PATs.
DL Clelin Ferrelland CB Isaiah Oliver combines for a red zone takeaway
Ferrell and Oliver robbed the Bengals of a scoring opportunity in the red zone in the final minute of the first half. Burrow connected with Cincinnati tight end Irv Smith Jr., and after the reception, Smith Jr. was surrounded by several 49ers defenders. Ferrell hit the ball from right end and Oliver was able to recover the loose ball to bring San Francisco to its own five-yard line.
The 49ers nearly made another big fumble recovery in the fourth quarter after cornerback Charvarius Ward broke up a pass on third-and-7, but the play was ruled incomplete. Regardless, the 49ers were able to run Cincinnati’s offense off the field.
TE George Kittle is the best pass catcher of the week
The People’s tight end was the 49ers’ receiving yards leader in Week 8, hauling in nine catches for 149 yards against the Bengals. His performance also marked a season high in receiving spots. One of the most impressive of those nine catches came on a third-and-six inside the 15-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. Kittle’s 10-yard third-down conversion play helped set up McCaffrey’s 4-yard touchdown, bringing the 49ers within seven points with 8:12 left.
Entering the Week 8 contest, Kittle fell 92 yards short of breaking the 49ers franchise record for most receiving yards by a tight end. With his 149 receiving yards on Sunday, he now holds the overall record with 5,697 receiving yards, passing Vernon Davis, who previously held the record with 5,640 yards. Kittle also passed former wide receiver John Taylor (5,598 receiving yards) for the sixth-most receiving yards in franchise history.