The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 7-4 after a 41-22 win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who needs more work?
Highest-graded 49ers: Offense
- George Kittle, TE, 87.6, 48 snaps
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, 86.8, 39 snaps
- Trent Williams, LT, 81.8, 50 snaps
- Colton McKivitz, RT, 79.3, 52 snaps
- Dominick Puni, RG, 70.0, 53 snaps
Highest-graded 49ers: Defense
- Luke Gifford, LOLB, 89.9, 2 snaps
- Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 86.7, 66 snaps
- Curtis Robinson, LB, 75.4, 54 snaps
- Upton Stout, CB, 72.1, 41 snaps
- Ji'Ayir Brown, FS, 70.7, 70 snaps
Lowest-graded 49ers: Offense
- Spencer Burford, LG, 29.4, 30 snaps
- Ricky Pearsall, WR, 51.1, 41 snaps
- Brian Robinson, RB, 53.6, 16 snaps
- Kendrick Bourne, WR, 55.5, 13 snaps
- Luke Farrell, TE, 57.7, 16 snaps
Lowest-graded 49ers: Defense
- Jason Pinnock, SS, 38.3, 39 snaps
- Chase Lucas, CB, 42.9, 11 snaps
- Dee Winters, LB, 43.4, 62 snaps
- Kalia Davis, DT, 49.7, 42 snaps
- Nick Martin, LB, 49.9, 14 snaps
Highest-graded Cardinals
- Walter Nolen, DT, 90.3, 23 snaps
- Michael Wilson, WR, 83.5, 65 snaps
- Jalen Thompson, SS, 81.3, 55 snaps
- Bam Knight, RB, 81.0, 32 snaps
- Trey McBride, TE, 78.8, 70 snaps
Quarterback play
Brock Purdy completed 19 of 26 pass attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns, earning a 133.5 passer rating. His 61.9 offensive grade (61.6 passing grade) ranked ninth among 49ers offensive players.
For Arizona, Jacoby Brissett earned a 78.7 offensive grade while completing an NFL-record 47 of 57 pass attempts for 452 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions.
Highest marks
Linebacker Luke Gifford earned the 49ers' highest overall grade (89.9) but only played two defensive snaps.
Among players with significant snaps, tight end George Kittle earned the top mark, posting a season-high 87.6 offensive grade across 48 snaps. He caught six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
The highest-graded player in the game was Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who earned a 90.3 defensive grade.
Blocking
Left tackle Trent Williams was the game's highest-graded offensive lineman, earning an 81.8 offensive grade. He also posted the top pass-blocking grade (88.9) and did not allow a pressure.
Right tackle Colton McKivitz recorded the best run-blocking grade (83.8) among the game's offensive linemen.
Left guard Spencer Burford earned the team's worst pass-blocking grade (53.2) and the game's worst run-blocking grade (28.7).
In total, the 49ers' offensive line surrendered seven pressures.
Pressures allowed among O-line:- C Jake Brendel, RT Colton McKivitz — 2 each
- LG Ben Bartch, LG Spencer Burford, RG Dominick Puni — 1 each
Pass Catchers
Tight end George Kittle earned the game's highest receiving grade (90.0). Cardinals tight end Trey McBride came next at 80.6.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, playing in his first game back from injury, earned the 49ers' lowest receiving grade (51.4). He finished with one catch for no yards on two targets.
For the third consecutive week, Pro Football Focus did not credit a 49ers pass catcher with a drop.
Rushing
Running back Christian McCaffrey earned the 49ers' best run grade (84.4), finishing with 81 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries—an efficient 6.2 yards per attempt. He also contributed to the passing attack, hauling in five passes for 40 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Cardinals running back Bam Knight earned the highest run grade of the game (88.8). He finished with five carries for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Pass rush
Defensive end Bryce Huff earned the 49ers' top pass-rush grade (70.7) and finished with three pressures. San Francisco failed to record a sack for the third time this season.
Linebacker Curtis Robinson earned the team's lowest pass-rush grade (51.4).
Pressures by 49ers defenders:- DT Kalia Davis — 4
- DE Bryce Huff — 3
- DE Sam Okuayinonu, DE Keion White — 2 each
- DT Alfred Collins, DT Jordan Elliott — 1 each
Run defense
Safety Jason Pinnock earned the game's highest run-defense grade (78.0) and recorded two stops.
The lowest run-defense grade went to defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (39.9).
Pass defense
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir posted a game-best 90.4 coverage grade—his highest in the past three seasons. He allowed four catches for 63 yards on seven targets and recorded one of San Francisco's two interceptions. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett posted a 47.6 passer rating when targeting him.
Safety Jason Pinnock earned the lowest coverage grade of the game (30.9), surrendering five receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown on five targets.
Tackling
Safety Ji'Ayir Brown earned the game's highest tackling grade (82.5) and did not record a missed tackle. Cornerback Renardo Green ranked second on the team with a 79.9 tackling grade.
Cornerback Chase Lucas earned the lowest tackling grade (21.0), finishing with two missed tackles.
Missed tackles by 49ers defenders:- CB Chase Lucas, LB Dee Winters — 2 each
- CB Darrell Luter Jr., SS Malik Mustapha, SS Jason Pinnock, SS Marques Sigle, CB Upton Stout, DT CJ West — 1 each
49ers Week 11 snap counts
Offense
53 - Dominick Puni (RG)
52 - Colton McKivitz (RT)
50 - Brock Purdy (QB), Jake Brendel (C), Trent Williams (LT)
48 - George Kittle (TE)
41 - Jauan Jennings (WR), Ricky Pearsall (WR)
39 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
30 - Ben Bartch (LG), Spencer Burford (LG)
29 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
27 - Demarcus Robinson (WR)
16 - Brian Robinson (RB), Luke Farrell (TE)
13 - Kendrick Bourne (WR)
5 - Austen Pleasants (LT), Jake Tonges (TE), Mac Jones (QB), Matt Hennessy (C)
Defense
71 - Renardo Green (CB)
70 - Ji'Ayir Brown (FS), Malik Mustapha (SS)
66 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB)
62 - Dee Winters (LB)
57 - Bryce Huff (DE)
54 - Curtis Robinson (LB), Sam Okuayinonu (DE)
50 - Keion White (DE)
42 - Kalia Davis (DT)
41 - Upton Stout (CB)
39 - Jason Pinnock (SS)
37 - Alfred Collins (DT)
36 - Jordan Elliott (DT)
34 - CJ West (DT)
24 - Tatum Bethune (LB)
19 - Darrell Luter Jr. (CB)
14 - Nick Martin (LB)
11 - Chase Lucas (CB)
9 - Marques Sigle (SS)
7 - Robert Beal Jr. (DE)
2 - Luke Gifford (LOLB)
Special Teams
25 - Luke Farrell
23 - Jake Tonges
22 - Luke Gifford
19 - Darrell Luter Jr., Siran Neal
17 - Marques Sigle
15 - Isaac Guerendo
14 - Eddy Pineiro (K)
13 - Chase Lucas, Curtis Robinson, Thomas Morstead (P)
11 - Jon Weeks (LS), Nick Martin
8 - Austen Pleasants, Ben Bartch, Colton McKivitz, Dominick Puni, Ji'Ayir Brown, Matt Hennessy, Robert Beal Jr., Skyy Moore, Spencer Burford
5 - Brian Robinson, Kyle Juszczyk
4 - Alfred Collins, Jason Pinnock, Keion White
3 - Jordan Elliott, Kalia Davis
2 - Christian McCaffrey, Dee Winters, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall
1 - Bryce Huff, Deommodore Lenoir, Malik Mustapha, Renardo Green, Sam Okuayinonu, Tatum Bethune