The 49ers’ PFF grades reveal where they excelled most in their dominant 31-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving night.
San Francisco’s defense held quarterback Geno Smith and the Seahawks’ offense to three first downs and 56 total yards in the first half. At the end of regulation, the Seahawks had managed just 14 first downs and 220 total net yards – 88 on the ground and 132 receiving yards.
The 49ers defense recorded a total of 25 pressures on Smith, who completed just 18 of his 27 attempts for 180 yards. The quarterback was sacked six times for 48 yards, reducing his net passing yards by over 26 percent.
Brock Purdy didn’t manage a perfect pass rating like he did in Week 11, but aside from a pick-six early in the second half, he had a productive day. The 49ers quarterback completed 21 of 30 attempts for 209 passing yards, one interception and one touchdown.
“They disguised us,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s pick-six. “They made some strange disguises that got in our way. It was a double call. I shouldn’t have done that to him. Clearly it wasn’t the check we wanted. They caught us with a disguise. In the end I got this tip.
“It was an unfortunate move, but it didn’t worry him at all. Came back and put in a great performance to seal it.”
Here are more highlights from the 49ers’ Week 12 PFF classes:
OFFENSE
QB Brock Purdy – 75.8
Aaron Banks (toe) returned to the left side of the offensive line, while Jon Feliciano moved to the right side in the absence of Spencer Burford (knee). With this new combination, Purdy was under pressure on 43.8 percent of his dropbacks.
In game action, Purdy completed 7 of 9 attempts for 103 yards, a touchdown and a passer rating of 151.4. Without game action, the quarterback scored on 14 of 21 attempts for 106 yards, one interception and a passer rating of 58.8.
Purdy’s deep pass performance dipped slightly from the club’s Week 11 win, but he still completed two of five attempts downfield of 20 or more yards. The Iowa State product connected on all 15 of 17 short passes of nine yards or less and four of six interceptions of 10 to 19 yards downfield.
RB Christian McCaffrey – 84.3
McCaffrey had another remarkable performance: 69 of his 114 rushing yards came after contact. Eight of his 19 carries resulted in a first down or touchdown. His 56 first downs this season are 17 more total than any other running back in the league. Washington Commanders ball carrier Brian Robinson is next in line with 39.
WR Deebo Samuel – 78.3
Samuel was the top target on offense, catching seven of nine targets for 79 yards and recording four runs for 15 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The wide backs outscored all receivers 43 yards after contact.
WR Brandon Aiyuk – 67.3
Aiyuk caught two of his four targets for 50 yards on Thursday night, but still showed how lethal he can be on the field. 40 of Aiyuk’s 45 receptions this season resulted in either a first down or touchdown (88.9 percent).
Offensive line
LT Trent Williams – 79.0 overall grade, 86.5 pass blocking, (one pass)
LG Aaron Banks – 52.7 overall grade, 56.2 pass blocking, (two runs)
C Jake Brendel – 64.7 overall grade, 52.8 pass blocking, (one hit)
RG Jon Feliciano – 44.4 overall grade, 34.7 pass blocking, (four runs)
RT Colton McKivitz – 61.5 overall grade, 55.3 pass blocking, (three runs)
George Kittle was responsible for one of the 12 pressures allowed.
DEFENSE
CB Ambry Thomas – 90.2
Thomas’ coverage grade of 90.5 was the team’s best grade. The third-year defensive back allowed just two catches on four targets for 16 yards while also recording a pass breakup and an interception.
CB Charvarius Ward – 74.2
Ward’s coverage grade of 77.1 was second only to Thomas. The six-year veteran allowed just four catches on 10 targets for 44 yards and broke up three passes. Ward allowed one catch to Metcalf on six targets for 14 yards.
LB Fred Warner – 88.5
The third-highest overall grade for defense went to Warner, who scored two quarterback hurries on five blitzes. The All-Pro also recorded six total tackles, none of which were missed, and was targeted just once for a seven-yard catch.
Defensive line
Nick Bosa – 89.7 overall, 86.7 pass rush (three sacks, two hits, four hurries and two run stops)
Javon Hargrave – 57.4 overall, 73.6 pass rush (two sacks, one rush)
Arik Armstead – 82.2 overall, 63.7 pass rush (two sacks, one rush and two run stops)
Javon Kinlaw – 60.9 overall, 59.2 pass rush (one hit, one rush)
Clelin Ferrell – 68.7 overall, 63.5 pass rush (two runs)
Chase Young – 64.4 overall, 69.4 pass rush (one rush)
Kevin Givens – 63.9 overall, 74.4 pass rush (one sack)
Randy Gregory – 66.3 overall, 62.3 pass rush (one rush)
Smith was under pressure on 47.2 percent of his dropbacks. Smith completed just three of his nine attempts for 61 yards, one interception and an 18.5 passer rating on throws of 10 yards or more downfield.
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