How PFF rated Purdy, 49ers in nail-biter vs. Week 8 Cowboys, originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers’ 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was another game that seemed like it was coming away from San Francisco, but a collective effort secured a win.
PFF numbers show how the 49ers’ contributions were needed across the board to enter the bye week at .500 instead of with a losing record. Brock Purdy used his legs to keep the ball moving, especially in the second half when the quarterback and his offense dominated the ground game.
Key plays by George Kittle – on National Tight Ends Day – led the team back from their four-point deficit in the first half, and his six-catch performance gave Kittle 500 career receptions, putting him fifth in the history of the franchise.
The 49ers also relied heavily on a successful rushing attack, which collectively gained 223 yards on 36 carries from seven different players.
Here are the 49ers’ PFF grades from Week 8 at Levi’s Stadium:
Offence
QB Brock Purdy – 70.0
The 49ers quarterback released the ball in the first half, with an average target depth of 10.1 yards. But then the offense got the screen game going, giving Purdy an average of 3.8 yards in the second half.
Purdy was blitzed on 13 of his 34 dropbacks, or 38.2 percent, and completed eight of 12 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown with a passer rating of 123.6 when blitzed.
The 49ers used play action on nine of Purdy’s 34 dropbacks, or 26.5 percent, and the quarterback completed three of five passes for 48 yards and four scrambles while using play action, which was an added benefit to the offense during the NFL season from 2024. .
Purdy has 15 first downs on scrambles this season, tying him for the most in the NFL with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The 49ers signal caller was effective on passes from 10 to 19 yards downfield, completing four of five passes for 86 yards on throws to the mid-range. Purdy also completed 10 of 12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown on short passes from zero to nine yards down the field.
TE George Kittel – 90.2
The All-Pro received top marks for the 49ers’ offense, catching six of his seven targets for 128 yards and a touchdown. The yards after catch (YAC) effect was back, with 70 of Kittle’s 128 yards coming after the catch.
The tight end’s 128 receiving yards are his highest total in a game since Week 8 of the 2023 season, when Kittle racked up 149 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.
RB Isaac Guerendo – 58.1
The starting running back had a productive game with 14 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, but a pair of blunders in pass protection earned him a 15.0 grade after allowing a quarterback sack. Of Guerendo’s 85 rushing yards, 62 came after contact, for an average of 4.43 yards after contact per carry.
Offensive line:
LT Trent Williams – 65.6 overall rating87.4 pass blocking grade – no pressure allowed in 34 pass blocking snaps.
LG Aaron Banks – 56.9 overall rating60.6 passing blocking grade – two rushing
C Jake Brendel – 70.0 overall rating49.1 pass blocking rate – no pressure
RG Dominick Puni – 65.4 overall rating70.5 Passed in Number Blocking – One Haste
RT Colton McKivitz – 60.9 overall rating58.3 passing blocking grade – two rushing
Defense
CB Renardo Green – 91.3
The rookie received the game’s top grade on defense after allowing just two catches on three targets for 27 yards and one touchdown. Green also forced a fumble and had two stops.
S Ji’Ayir Brown – 86.4
The second-year safety was given the second-highest defensive grade, allowing two catches on three targets for five yards, an interception and three stops.
LB Fred Warner – 72.8
The All-Pro led the team in tackles – four solo and one for loss – and recorded one quarterback hit while allowing three catches for 35 yards.
Quarterback pressure:
Nick Bosa – One sack, two hits, three hurries
Maliek Colins – One hit, four rush
Sam Okuayinonu – One sack, two hits, two hurries (three pressures – one sack and two hits came while lining up on the inside)
Leonard Floyd – One hit, two rushes
Robert Beal – Hurry
Jordan Elliott – Hurry
Odds and Ends:
Okuayinonu has 15 quarterback pressures in just 90 pass rushes this season, good for a 16.7 percent pressure rate.
The 49ers pressured 15 of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s 41 dropbacks, or 36.6 percent, while only pressuring five of 41 dropbacks, or 12.2 percent.
Of the 49ers’ 469 yards, 179 came from rookies (Guerendo 102, Ricky Pearsall 77).
Dominick Puni is one of only two NFL guards who have played in at least seven games this season and not allowed a sack or hit. The other is Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney.
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