At one point, the San Francisco 49ers looked to be on its way to a dominating victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 1. However, a late surge by the home team at Ford Field made the game closer than anticipated. The Niners did manage to escape with the 41-33 win, though.
Below are several statistics and notes from Sunday's game, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
With The Win…
- The 49ers improved to 39-28-1 overall against the Lions, including a 15-18 record on the road. San Francisco has now won 18 of the last 21 regular season matchups and 11 of the last 12 overall.
- Head coach Kyle Shanahan is now 2-0 against the Lions as a head coach.
- San Francisco begins the season 1-0 for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons, including 2 of the last 3 years.
- The Niners open the season with a road victory for the 2nd time in 3 seasons [W, 31-17 at TB (9/8/19)].
Rack 'Em Up
- The 49ers defeated the Lions, 41-33. The team's 41 pts. scored are the 3rd-most by the team in a season opener and the most on the road.
| Most Points Scored In A Season Opener, Franchise History | |||
| Rank | Opp. | Date | Pts. |
| 1. | vs. Chi. | 9/7/03 | 49 |
| 2. | vs. Oak. | 9/5/94 | 44 |
| 3. | at Det. | 9/12/21 | 41 |
| 4. | vs. NYJ | 9/6/98 | 36 |
That's A Good Point
- The 49ers led the Lions 31-10 at halftime. The team's 31 pts. were the most by the team in the 1st half since scoring 35 in the 1st half vs. StL (11/16/08).
- San Francisco's +21 halftime scoring differential is the 3rd-highest in a road season opener by the 49ers in franchise history [+25 at Dal. (9/7/14) & +24 at Min. (9/17/67)].
That'll Do, Jim
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo finished the game completing 17 of 25 atts. for 314 yds. and 1 TD for a passer rating of 124.2.
- It marked his 6th career game with 300-or-more passing yds. as a member of the 49ers. The 49ers are now 6-0 in games that Garoppolo throws for at least 300 yds. His 6 games with 300-or-more passing yds. are tied for the 4th-most in franchise history.
- His 79-yd. TD pass to WR Deebo Samuel was the longest pass of his career.
Put A Deebo On It
- WR Deebo Samuel registered 9 recepts. for 189 yds. and 1 TD on the day.
- Samuel's 189 yds. are a career-high and the most by a member of the 49ers since WR Richie James had 189 yds. vs. GB (11/5/20).
- He has now reached 100-or-more rec. yds. in a game for the 5th time in his career.
- His 79-yd. TD recept. from Garoppolo was the longest recept. of his career.
First Is A First
- On his first career passing att., QB Trey Lance completed a 5-yd. TD pass to WR Trent Sherfield.
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lance became the first rookie QB to throw a TD on their first NFL att. in Week 1 since Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan did so in 2008.
- With the TD pass, Lance became the first 49ers rookie to throw a TD since QB C.J. Beathard threw 2 TDs vs. NYG (11/12/17).
Quite The Debut
- Making his NFL debut, rookie RB Elijah Mitchell registered 19 carries for 104 yds. and 1 TD, a 38-yd. TD run. Mitchell became the first rookie in franchise history to register 100-or-more rushing yds. in their NFL debut.
- Mitchell became the first 49ers rookie to register a rushing TD in his NFL debut since RB Carlos Hyde registered a 4-yd. TD run in his debut at Dal. (9/7/14).
- Mitchell's 38-yd. TD run was the longest by a 49ers rookie since WR Brandon Aiyuk had a 38-yd. rushing TD vs. Phi. (10/4/20).
Instant Impact
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, with Lance's TD pass and Mitchell's rushing TD, the 49ers duo became the first rookies to register at least 1 TD pass and 1 rushing TD in their NFL debut since The Washington Football Team's QB Robert Griffin III and RB Alfred Morris accomplished the feat in 2012.
300, 100, 100
- Between Garoppolo (314 passing yds.), Samuel (189 rec. yds.), and Mitchell (104 rushing yds.), the 49ers had a 300-yd. passer, 100-yd. receiver and 100-yd. rusher in the same game for the first time since 10/7/12 vs. Buf. (QB Alex Smith – 303 passing yds., WR Michael Crabtree – 113 rec. yds. & TE Vernon Davis – 106 rec. yds. & RB Frank Gore – 106 rushing yds.).
Don't Be Hasty
- RB JaMycal Hasty saw his only carry of the game go for a 3-yd. TD.
- Hasty now has 2 career-rushing TDs, with his last coming at Sea. (11/1/20).
Welcome To The Squad
- Making his 49ers debut, WR Trent Sherfield caught 2 passes for 23 yds. and 1 TD.
- He now has 2 career rec TDs and registered his first since 12/16/18 at Atl. as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
Greenlaw And Order
- LB Dre Greenlaw intercepted Lions QB Jared Goff and returned the pass 39 yds. for a TD.
- The INT marked the 2nd for Greenlaw and first since 11/11/19 vs. Sea. (47 yds.).
- Greenlaw became the first member of the 49ers to return an INT for a TD since DT Javon Kinlaw had a 27-yd. INT returned for a TD at LAR (11/29/20).
One-Way Street
- DL Kentavius Street brought down Lions QB Jared Goff for a 10-yd. sack, the first of Street's career. He finished the game with 3 tackles and 1.0 sacks.
Welcome Back, Nick
- DL Nick Bosa brought down Goff for an 8-yd. sack, the 10th of his career and first since 12/15/19 vs. Atl. (1.0 sack).
Built Ford Tough At Ford Field
- DL Dee Ford brought down Goff for a 6-yd. sack, marking his first sack since 11/17/19 vs. Arz. (1.0 sack). He now has 38.0 sacks in his career.