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49ers report card: Defense gets straight A’s in post-bye statement
San Francisco beat the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 in its first game after the bye, improving to 7-1. The 49ers built a 14-0 lead on their opening two drives and their defence took control after half-time, helping secure a convincing win.
The 49ers ran for 190 yards and gained 414 total yards, while Christian McCaffrey scored twice and set an NFL record for receiving touchdowns by a running back, with 37. Brock Purdy threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, though he also threw an interception; rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger returned a Kirk Cousins pass for a touchdown, and San Francisco forced four further turnovers after the break.
In short
- The 49ers beat the Raiders 38-17 to move to 7-1.
- Christian McCaffrey set a running-back record with 37 receiving touchdowns.
- San Francisco forced five second-half turnovers.
Explained simply
The San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders are teams in the National Football League, the top professional American football league in the United States. The 49ers play in California and the Raiders are based in Nevada; teams compete in a regular season before the play-offs, with each win or loss affecting their standing.
San Francisco’s attack is led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who passes the ball, and running back Christian McCaffrey, who carries it and can also catch passes. The defence tries to stop the other team advancing and to win back possession, while turnovers such as interceptions can quickly change the course of a game.
A bye is a scheduled week when a team does not play. Strong results matter because they help a team qualify for the play-offs, and the 49ers’ record-setting scoring figures add context to McCaffrey’s role in their attack.