The playoffs may be a long shot, but you can't really blame Sunday's loss to Washington on the San Francisco 49ers defense. The unit allowed just 193 total yards, held Washington to just 95 passing yards, allowed just 3.1 yards per play, and kept the offense out of the end zone.
However, the highest-graded 49ers player — other than cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who played just four defensive snaps — came from the offensive line. Left tackle Trent Williams earned a 77.6 overall grade and allowed just one pressure during his 80 snaps.
The next-highest graded player was rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who had career-highs in receptions (10) and receiving yards (119). Sixty-nine of his receiving yards came after the catch.
Half of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice feels Aiyuk could have had an even bigger game had his timing with quarterback Nick Mullens been better. Mullens, by the way, was among the lowest-graded offensive players from Sunday's game.
"If Nick (Mullens) had gotten him the ball just a little bit sooner, I think he would have been able to show more of his creativity after catching the football," Rice said Monday morning on 95.7 The Game. "But we know the guy can stretch the field, he can make difficult catches, and whenever the ball is in the air, he feels like it belongs to me. So, you're starting to see that come out, but I think he's only going to get better."
Below were the five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against Washington.
- Trent Williams, LT, 77.6, 80 snaps
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 76.5, 74 snaps
- Ross Dwelley, TE, 72.8, 36 snaps
- Raheem Mostert, RB, 70.6, 40 snaps
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 69.6, 1 snap
Below were the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, 79.3, 4 snaps
- Dre Greenlaw, LB, 75.7, 60 snaps
- Jason Verrett, CB, 75.3, 63 snaps
- Alex Barrett, DE, 67.5, 4 snaps
- Tarvarius Moore, FS, 65.4, 63 snaps
Below were the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Jordan Reed, TE, 40.8, 33 snaps
- Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, 44.8, 39 snaps
- Nick Mullens, WB, 48.7, 81 snaps
Below were the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Dontae Johnson, CB, 36.5, 46 snaps
- Fred Warner, LB, 41.3, 33 snaps
- Javon Kinlaw, DT, 41.6, 44 snaps