49ers Struggle in Second Consecutive Loss, PFF Grades Reflect Mistakes
San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco 49ers faced their second consecutive loss in Week 7 on “Monday Night Football” against the Minnesota Vikings, resulting in a disappointing 22-17 defeat. The mistakes made at every level of the game were reflected in the 49ers’ Pro Football Focus (PFF) scores.
Quarterback Brock Purdy, known for his success with play action passes, only utilized this strategy on three of his 33 dropbacks during the game. Despite completing all three attempts for a total of 20 yards, Purdy struggled under pressure. He completed six of his nine attempts for 68 yards, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 49.5 when faced with pressure. The Vikings’ defense also made it difficult for Purdy to target his favorite area of the field, as he only completed three out of seven attempts for 45 yards in the 10 to 19-yard range.
Among the highs and lows of the Week 7 PFF grades for the 49ers, tight end George Kittle received the team’s top offensive grade with an impressive 89.7. Kittle caught five out of seven targets for 78 yards, with four resulting in first downs. While Kittle also had a strong run blocking grade (75.1), he received a lower pass blocking grade of 53.2 after allowing one quarterback hit.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings stepped up in the absence of Deebo Samuel and received a grade of 78.2. Jennings caught five passes for 54 yards and had the top run blocking grade on the offense with 77.1.
On the offensive line, left tackle Jaylon Moore had an overall grade of 74.2 and a pass blocking grade of 72.6. Left guard Aaron Banks received an overall grade of 75.6 and excelled in pass blocking with a grade of 81.5. Center Jake Brendel had an overall grade of 52.1 and a pass blocking grade of 62.1. Right guard Spencer Burford received an overall grade of 52.1 and an impressive pass blocking grade of 81.5. Right tackle Colton McKivitz had an overall grade of 51.3 but struggled in pass blocking with a grade of 43.5, allowing one sack and five hurries, with five of those pressures coming from Danielle Hunter.
On the defensive side, linebacker Fred Warner received the top grade of 85.4. Warner had an impressive 18 total tackles, including eight solo and one missed tackle. He also had a 66.9 coverage grade, allowing six receptions on seven targets for 59 yards and registering one pass breakup.
Safety Discuss Content performed well with a grade of 74.4, recording 10 total tackles, seven solo, and one quarterback hit. Despite allowing three receptions on three targets, Discuss Content only gave up 15 yards.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw returned to the field after sitting out in Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. He earned a grade of 67.1 and contributed with two quarterback pressures, one hit, and one hurry. Greenlaw recorded nine solo tackles with two misses but struggled in coverage, allowing completions on all nine of his targets for 84 yards and one touchdown. Kirk Cousins had a passer rating of 142.6 when targeting Greenlaw.
The defensive line applied pressure to Kirk Cousins on only 16 of his 45 dropbacks, resulting in no sacks. Cousins performed well under the pressure, completing 14 of his 16 attempts for 220 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 139.6.
Notable PFF grades for the defensive line include Nick Bosa with an overall grade of 72.1 and a pass rush grade of 65.2, Randy Gregory with an overall grade of 68.2 and a pass rush grade of 66.2, and Javon Hargrave with an overall grade of 59.0 and a pass rush grade of 71.7.
Overall, the 49ers struggled in their second consecutive loss, and the PFF grades reflect the mistakes made across the team. However, standout performances from players like George Kittle and Fred Warner provide hope for the team’s future.