49ers get first win of the season behind Beathard’s breakout performance

Finally, the San Francisco 49ers (1-9) are in the win column.

QB C.J. Beathard paced a balanced offensive attack that racked up 474 total yards and 31 points, which was more than enough to beat the lifeless New York Giants (1-8), 31-21. Beathard looked poised and in control all afternoon, completing 19-of-25 passes for 288 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Maybe most impressive of all was the fact that Beathard was able to spread the ball around so efficiently, as eight different receivers recorded a reception. The rookie quarterback also completed three passes of 40-yards or more, two of which went for scores.

The San Francisco offense was also dominant on the ground, as the team ran for 186 yards on 33 carries (5.63 yards per attempt). RB Carlos Hyde paced the attack with 98 yards on 17 attempts, while RB Matt Breida added 55 yards of his own including a 33-yard touchdown run. The complete effort was a big reason why the 49ers had one of their best offensive outputs in recent memory.

Defensively, the unit bent but didn't break. The Giants were able to move the ball (374 total yards) but were held to 13 points until the final minute of the game. DL Ronald Blair made his case to be part of the plan in 2018, as he recorded two sacks, one of which resulted in an Eli Manning fumble that the 49ers recovered deep in their own territory. Rookie S Adrian Colbert also had a strong game, showing off his range and big hitting ability. Another rookie, LB Reuben Foster, made his impact felt with a team-high 10 total tackles.

The win will give the 49ers a much-needed sigh of relief as they head into their bye. The week off will also give some of their injured players time to heal, as DL Solomon Thomas, DL Tank Carradine, WR Trent Taylor and TE George Kittle could return the next time the team takes the field in Week 12. It will also be interesting to see how head coach Kyle Shanahan handles his quarterback situation when play resumes, as he has the option of sticking with Beathard after a good game or handing the reigns to Jimmy Garoppolo for the foreseeable future.