The San Francisco 49ers dropped their record to 6-10 after a 40-34 loss against the Detroit Lions in Week 17. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who has more to prove in the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals?
Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Lions.
- George Kittle, TE, 93.0, 60 snaps
- Brock Purdy, QB, 80.2, 59 snaps
- Joshua Dobbs, QB, 80.0, 5 snaps
- Ricky Pearsall, WR, 78.4, 45 snaps
- Chris Conley, WR, 77.5, 4 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Nick Bosa, DE, 89.4, 62 snaps
- Jalen Graham, LB, 77.6, 11 snaps
- Ji'Ayir Brown, SS, 67.6, 17 snaps
- Alex Barrett, DE, 66.5, 6 snaps
- Fred Warner, LB, 66.5, 71 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Austen Pleasants, LT, 54.4, 32 snaps
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 54.4, 53 snaps
- Jacob Cowing, WR, 54.9, 5 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Sam Okuayinonu, DE, 29.0, 28 snaps
- Evan Anderson, DT, 30.2, 31 snaps
- Isaac Yiadom, CB, 35.7, 48 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Tight end George Kittle earned a 93.0 offensive grade, the highest overall grade of the game and his best mark in the past two seasons. Kittle tallied eight catches for 112 receiving yards on eight targets, marking his fourth game of the season surpassing the 100-yard mark. He now leads the team with 1,079 receiving yards this season, achieving the milestone of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career. Notably, Kittle became the first tight end in 49ers history to record four career seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards.
Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 27 of his 35 passes for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions, marking the fifth time this season he has thrown for over 300 yards. However, two costly interceptions lowered his offensive grade to 80.2. Despite this, it was his second-best grade in his past 12 outings—his best being 90.3 against the Chicago Bears in Week 14. Purdy also earned the highest run grade on the team at 71.4.
Quarterback Josh Dobbs entered the game after Purdy was injured late in the fourth quarter and led the 49ers on a touchdown drive. Dobbs completed 3 of 4 passes for 35 yards and added a seven-yard rushing touchdown. His 80.0 offensive grade was his best since Week 9 of the 2023 season against the Atlanta Falcons (82.5).
Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall had a career game, amassing 141 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions while earning a career-best 78.4 offensive grade.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings received the 49ers' highest run-blocking grade, earning a 72.9 mark. Offensively, he contributed seven catches for 67 yards.
Jauan Jennings on blocking Tarrion Arnold through the back of the end zone:
"He made a wish and I granted it for him." 😂 pic.twitter.com/YRHQAg6nuD
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 31, 2024
Right tackle Colton McKivitz was the highest-graded offensive lineman, earning a 71.1 offensive grade. He posted the team's best pass-blocking grade (81.4), while center Jake Brendel earned the top run-blocking grade (64.2) among 49ers offensive linemen.
Filling in at left guard, Nick Zakelj earned a 61.6 offensive grade, allowing two pressures in 49 pass-blocking snaps.
Pressures allowed among O-line:
- LT Austen Pleasants, RG Dominick Puni, LG Nick Zakelj - 2 each
- C Jake Brendel, LT Charlie Heck, RT Colton McKivitz - 1 each
Newcomers Charlie Heck and Austen Pleasants rotated at left tackle but received poor grades from Pro Football Focus. Heck earned a 56.4 offensive grade, while Pleasants received a 54.4 mark.
On the defensive side, defensive end Nick Bosa's 89.4 defensive grade led the team and was his highest since Week 4 against the New England Patriots (92.5). Bosa recorded eight tackles, including two for a loss, and two sacks. His 82.7 pass-rushing grade was the best of the game, and he tallied a game-high seven pressures and six stops.
Pressures by 49ers defenders:
- DE Nick Bosa - 7
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos - 2
- DT Maliek Collins, FS Malik Mustapha - 1 each
Linebacker Fred Warner earned the 49ers' best run-defense grade (76.4) and finished with six tackles, including one for a loss.
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha earned the team's best tackling grade (81.7), while safety Ji'Ayir Brown recorded the top coverage grade (64.9).
Missed tackles by 49ers defenders:
- CB Renardo Green, CB Deommodore Lenoir, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, LB Dee Winters - 2 each
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, FS Talanoa Hufanga, CB Isaac Yiadom - 1 each
49ers Week 17 Snap Counts
Offense
64 - Colton McKivitz (RT), Dominick Puni (RG), Jake Brendel (C), Nick Zakelj (LG)
60 - George Kittle (TE), Jauan Jennings (WR)
59 - Brock Purdy (QB)
53 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
45 - Ricky Pearsall (WR)
39 - Isaac Guerendo (RB)
32 - Austen Pleasants (LT), Charlie Heck (LT)
27 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
13 - Eric Saubert (TE), Patrick Taylor (RB)
5 - Jacob Cowing (WR), Joshua Dobbs (QB)
4 - Chris Conley (WR)
1 - Brayden Willis (TE)
Defense
71 - Deommodore Lenoir (SS), Fred Warner (LB), Renardo Green (CB)
69 - Malik Mustapha (FS)
62 - Dee Winters (LB), Nick Bosa (DE)
56 - Talanoa Hufanga (FS)
48 - Isaac Yiadom (CB), Maliek Collins (DE)
39 - Jordan Elliott (DT)
38 - Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)
31 - Evan Anderson (DT)
28 - Sam Okuayinonu (DE)
21 - Kalia Davis (DT)
17 - Ji'Ayir Brown (SS)
15 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)
13 - Leonard Floyd (DE)
11 - Jalen Graham (LB)
6 - Alex Barrett (DE)
4 - Tatum Bethune (LB)
Special Teams
21 - Eric Saubert
20 - Alex Barrett
19 - Isaac Yiadom
15 - Tatum Bethune
14 - Brayden Willis, Chris Conley, Ji'Ayir Brown
13 - Jake Moody (K)
11 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jake Tonges
8 - Deebo Samuel, Jalen Graham, Patrick Taylor
7 - Austen Pleasants, Charlie Heck, Colton McKivitz, Dominick Puni, Matt Hennessy, Nick Zakelj, Pat O'Donnell (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
6 - Deommodore Lenoir, Evan Anderson, Fred Warner, Jordan Elliott, Maliek Collins, Malik Mustapha, Nick McCloud, Talanoa Hufanga, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Yetur Gross-Matos
4 - Dee Winters
1 - Rock Ya-Sin