PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Eagles, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 31-7 during the NFC Championship Game. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?

Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Eagles.

• George Kittle, TE, 82.1, 46 snaps
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, 81.9, 45 snaps
• Daniel Brunskill, RG, 66.1, 24 snaps
• Tyler Kroft, TE, 64.8, 4 snaps
• Jake Brendel, C, 62.1, 46 snaps

Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Oren Burks, LB, 77.2, 1 snap
• Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, 75.4, 17 snaps
• Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 74.7, 74 snaps
• Fred Warner, LB, 72.0, 72 snaps
• Talanoa Hufanga, FS, 70.8, 74 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.

• Aaron Banks, LG, 27.2, 46 snaps
• Spencer Burford, RG, 34.1, 22 snaps
• Josh Johnson, QB, 49.1, 23 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Kerry Hyder, DT, 28.4, 20 snaps
• Javon Kinlaw, DT, 29.1, 28 snaps
• Samson Ebukam, DE, 44.0, 45 snaps

Quick Takeaways

Note: All the overall grades mentioned below include playoff games.

The highest-graded player of the game was Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (92.2). Tight end George Kittle was the 49ers' highest-graded player. He finished the game with three receptions for 32 yards and one rushing attempt for four yards. Kittle's 82.1 overall grade is his highest since Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals (89.9) and his highest grade in a playoff game since last season's Divisional round matchup against the Green Bay Packers (88.5). Kittle finished the season with an overall grade of 84.7, including the playoffs. It is his lowest mark since his rookie 2017 campaign (65.8).

Surprisingly, running back Christian McCaffrey's 81.9 overall grade was his highest of the season and best since Week 5 of the 2019 season (92.6 vs. Jaguars). He finished the game with 15 carries for 84 yards and four receptions for 22 yards. The running back also made a pass attempt, which fell incomplete. McCaffrey's 90.4 overall grade for this season is a career-high.

Linebacker Oren Burks earned the 49ers defense's highest grade, his highest overall grade since Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders (84.0), and his second-highest grade of the season. However, one caveat is that he played just one defensive snap, so take it for what it is worth. Burks' 78.9 overall grade this season is a career-high.

Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair also had a limited snap count. He finished the game with two tackles on 17 snaps, earning his second-highest overall grade since Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (90.0 vs. Bucs, 90.9 vs. Cowboys in playoffs).

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir earned the highest defensive grade among 49ers players who had extended playing time. His 74.7 overall grade is his second-highest since Week 15 (78.5 vs. Seahawks, 84.9 vs. Seahawks in playoffs). Lenoir didn't allow a catch on two targets, finishing the game with seven tackles.

Linebacker Fred Warner's 72.0 overall game was good enough for fourth among his defensive teammates. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw led the game with nine tackles, but Warner came in second with eight. His 85.7 overall grade this season is the second-highest of his career (88.6 in 2020).

Safety Talanoa Hufanga has earned an overall grade of 70.5-or-higher in the 49ers' three playoff games. That is his best three-game stretch of the season. However, even counting the playoffs, his 72.1 overall grade for the season is the 18th-best among NFL safeties with significant playing time.

Defensive back Jimmie Ward's 69.3 overall grade was his second-highest mark since Week 15 (69.4 vs. Seahawks, 89.4 vs. Cowboys in playoffs). He allowed four catches on five targets. Ward's 80.6 overall grade and 76.9 coverage grade this season are his best since 2019 (85.0 overall, 84.5 coverage). In addition, his run-defense grade of 91.4 this season is a career-high.

While not an overly impressive grade, Daniel Brunskill's 66.1 mark was his best since Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders (75.1). His 67.3 overall grade for the season is his best since 2019 (73.0).

Quarterback Brock Purdy made just four pass attempts in the game and could not throw after his first-quarter elbow injury (he attempted one pass after returning to the game in the second half). Nevertheless, he earned the 49ers' sixth-highest grade on offense, completing all four pass attempts for 23 yards. His fumble lost in the first quarter was his first turnover since January 1.

Guard Aaron Banks earned the game's lowest overall grade and the lowest of his career. His game-high six pressures allowed on 21 pass-blocking snaps were the most by any player on the field. The second-year guard was also responsible for one of the three sacks allowed by the 49ers' offensive line.

Defensive lineman Kerry Hyder earned the second-lowest overall grade of the game. Both his 28.4 overall grade and his 28.1 run-defense grade were career lows.

Javon Kinlaw's 29.1 overall grade was his lowest of the season, which is saying a lot. The defensive tackle's best overall grade of the season was 58.7, which came in Week 2. He has earned a mark of 44.2-or-lower in each of his final four games. Kinlaw's 31.9 overall grade and 28.8 run-defense grade this season are career lows. However, his 72.8 tackling grade through nine games is a career-high.

Snap Counts

Offense
46 - Aaron Banks (LG), George Kittle (TE), Jake Brendel (C), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
45 - Christian McCaffrey (RB), Deebo Samuel (WR), Trent Williams (LT)
44 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
24 - Daniel Brunskill (RG)
23 - Josh Johnson (QB)
22 - Brock Purdy (QB), Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Spencer Burford (RG)
21 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
4 - Tyler Kroft (TE)
2 - Danny Gray (WR)
1 - Jaylon Moore (LT), Jordan Mason (RB), Tevin Coleman (RB)

Defense
74 - Charvarius Ward (CB), Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Dre Greenlaw (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (FS), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
72 - Fred Warner (LB)
59 - Nick Bosa (DE)
55 - Jimmie Ward (CB)
54 - Arik Armstead (DT)
45 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
38 - Charles Omenihu (DE)
28 - Javon Kinlaw (DT)
26 - Kevin Givens (DT)
20 - Kerry Hyder (DT)
17 - Azeez Al-Shaair (LB), Jordan Willis (DE)
12 - T.Y. McGill (DT)
1 - Oren Burks (LB)

Special Teams
21 - George Odum, Oren Burks
17 - Charlie Woerner, Jordan Willis
16 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jordan Mason, Tarvarius Moore
12 - Janoris Jenkins
11 - Tyler Kroft
10 - Kyle Juszczyk
9 - Ray-Ray McCloud III
7 - Talanoa Hufanga
6 - Charvarius Ward, Danny Gray, Deommodore Lenoir, Fred Warner
5 - Javon Kinlaw, Kerry Hyder, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), T.Y. McGill, Taybor Pepper (LS)
4 - Charles Omenihu, Jauan Jennings, Samuel Womack
3 - Robbie Gould (K)
2 - Deebo Samuel, Jimmie Ward, Samson Ebukam
1 - Aaron Banks, Arik Armstead, Colton McKivitz, Daniel Brunskill, Dre Greenlaw, Jake Brendel, Jaylon Moore, Kevin Givens, Nick Bosa, Spencer Burford

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