SANTA CLARA — The 49ers extended their hot streak Saturday on a day when unbearably cold weather was the tale surrounding the rest of the NFL.
Quarterback Brock Purdy continued his consistent play with two touchdown passes to George Kittle in the 49ers’ 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders at Levi’s Stadium.
Ray-Ray McCloud started scoring in the first quarter with an explosive 71-yard touchdown run. It was his only carry of the game and he had no receptions on a goal.
The 49ers (11-4) clinched their eighth straight win — and their third straight with Purdy as a starter. They remain 3rd in the NFC playoff seedings behind the Minnesota Vikings (12-3), a 27-24 winner of the New York Giants earlier in the day.
Here are three takeaways from the 49ers’ Week 16 win:
Bosa strengthens DPOY case
Defensive end Nick Bosa was one of six 49ers selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team this week, and next up: a possible NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Bosa continued his remarkable two-sack season on Saturday, raising his NFL lead to 17.5 for the season today. He picked up 15.5 sacks last season.
Bosa finished with Fred Dean (1983) for second most sacks in a single season in franchise history. Aldon Smith registered 19.5 sacks in 2012 to set the 49ers record.
Bosa also thwarted a two-point conversion attempt with a sack from Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter. However, this game does not officially count as a sack in the stat sheet.
The 49ers have two regular-season games left for Bosa to challenge Smith’s record.
Bosa’s second sack of the day led straight to points when he knocked out Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke with a blindside hit. Jordan Willis recovered the fumble at the 12 yard line.
Kicker Robbie Gould conceded one of his three field goals in the fourth quarter.
Purdy throws a deep punch for points
There’s no doubt Purdy knows where to go with the ball and how to get it out quickly and accurately.
The only concern that helped keep Purdy available through the final overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was his arm strength, but he showed on Saturday he has plenty of arm to make the throws demanded by NFL quarterbacks.
Purdy finished the path with 15 completions on 2 attempts for 234 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception thrown.
Washington wanted to take away San Francisco’s running game and limit their ability to turn short passes into big plays and leave the 49ers an opening for a big play on the field, and Purdy made the Commanders pay for it with a perfectly thrown deep ball Kittle brought the 49ers lead 14-7 early in the third quarter.
Purdy snapped a shotgun shot. He glanced to his left, then straightened and kicked in a deep mid-throat. Kittle beat safety Darrick Forrest’s cover to collect the pass just as he crossed the goal line for a 34-yard score.
Purdy and Kittle met for another touchdown on the 49ers’ next drive. This time it looked very different.
Kittle took a short pass from Purdy, who rolled left on a bootleg. Kittle caught the pass on the 27, picked up a block from Jauan Jennings, and then angled across the field and into the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown.
Kittle surpassed his previous career-high six touchdowns, which he set last season.
Commanders pursue Lenoir
There are few areas in the 49ers’ defense that gave the opposition hope of an attack, and commanders went for the most inexperienced player in the unit on Saturday.
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir made his 10th straight start since Emmanuel Moseley sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 at Carolina.
The 49ers went deeper into their depths on Sunday when Charvarius Ward left the game in the third quarter. Rookie cornerback Sam Womack replaced him, and the Commanders immediately followed him with a 51-yard pass to Terry McLaurin.
Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke targeted rookie receiver Jahan Dotson in the first series of the game with a deep throw at Lenoir. Lenoir overran the game and Dotson dropped what could have resulted in a 79-yard touchdown pass.
Lenoir later turned off an 11-yard pass to Dotson in a third and ninth situation. Dotson hit him for 44 yards in a play nullified by equalizing penalties.
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The Commanders leveled late in the second quarter when Dotson cleared the end zone backline for a four-yard touchdown. Lenoir had the flat zone in play on that side while it looks like Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga was ultimately the person taking cover.
The 49ers’ defense was outstanding for much of Saturday’s game. Teams will continue to look for ways to move the ball against the 49ers, and chasing Lenoir could be the route their opponents look to follow after the season.