INDIANAPOLIS – Right here is how the 49ers (11-4) graded in Monday night time’s 48-27 win over the host Colts (8-7):
PASS OFFENSE: A
Brock Purdy threw a career-high 5 landing passes, together with three on the primary three drives that matched Philip Rivers’ classic kind. Purdy, scrambling lower than final sport, handed for 295 yards on a near-perfect night. 4 receivers scored – two by Christian McCaffrey and one apiece for George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson. Kittle (115 yards) walked out with an ankle harm that originally doesn’t look dire. Jennings’ third-down prowess confirmed in his 71-yard night time. Even when Purdy bought strip-sacked, the ball was snared in mid-air by Luke Farrell for a 3-yard acquire. Even when Purdy bought intercepted with 4 ½ minutes left, Dee Winters picked off Philip Rivers and returned that interception 74 yards for a landing.
RUN OFFENSE: A
Christian McCaffrey breached the 1,000-yard speeding mark this season and is 151 yards shy of the 1,000-yard receiving mark, reflecting simply how in demand and productive he’s been as an every-game workhorse. Of his 117 speeding yards this sport, a season-long burst of 24 yards got here on third-and-1 into the pink zone. Brian Robinson had 5 carries (20 yards) and rookie Jordan James had none however suited up for the primary time, rather than Isaac Guerendo.
PASS DEFENSE: B
Philip Rivers, 44, instantly attacked the 49ers with two landing passes on his first two drives, however defensive coordinator Robert Saleh settled down his unit, and C.J. West’s first profession sack triggered a important three-and-out. The 49ers yielded 277 yards nevertheless it might have been way more had Rivers not underthrown just a few open receivers. His closing cross was intercepted by Dee Winters, who returned his first profession theft 74 yards for a landing to cap the scoring.
RUN DEFENSE: A
The 49ers appeared as shocked as anybody that the Colts strayed from NFL speeding chief Jonathan Taylor (16 carries, 46 yards) to let Rivers attempt to upset the playoff-bound 49ers. Tatum Bethune returned at center linebacker, Curtis Robinson was deactivated, and Eric Kendricks made a cameo in his debut as Bethune handled extra ankle points.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Sandwiched between the 49ers’ first two landing drives was Ji’Ayir Brown forcing a fumble on a kick return that Jake Tonges recovered. Sandwiched between Eddy Piñeiro’s two profitable discipline targets was his solely miss this season, on a 64-yard strive that hit the crossbar as the primary half ended. Thomas Morstead has not punted previously two video games.
COACHING: A
Kyle Shanahan justifiably congratulated the 49ers on Sunday night time for clinching a spot within the playoffs. There wouldn’t be a letdown Monday night time, though Saleh needed to rally his protection after a sluggish begin. This actually is Shanahan (and his employees’s) greatest work but in 9 seasons. They’ve gained 11 video games a yr after shedding 11, they usually’ve turned accidents to marquee gamers into invaluable bonding moments.
