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 Cowboys.
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 83.7, 54 snaps
- Trent Williams, LT, 80.3, 65 snaps
- Jauan Jennings, WR, 78.4, 33 snaps
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 77.0, 47 snaps
- Travis Benjamin, WR, 76.4, 6 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Kevin Givens, DT, 76.8, 23 snaps
- Nick Bosa, DE, 76.4, 23 snaps
- Ambry Thomas, CB, 73.4, 72 snaps
- Jimmie Ward, SS, 72.9, 73 snaps
- Emmanuel Moseley, CB, 69.7, 72 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Daniel Brunskill, RG, 35.4, 65 snaps
- Trent Sherfield, WR, 52.7, 17 snaps
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 54.5, 65 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Josh Norman, CB, 39.6, 1 snap
- Jaquiski Tartt, FS, 48.6, 72 snaps
- Kentavius Street, DT, 50.9, 21 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Jimmy Garoppolo delivered his poorest overall grade since Week 7's performance against the Indianapolis Colts. The quarterback tossed an interception along with his pedestrian 172 passing yards. His 67.4 passer rating was also his lowest since Week 7.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk delivered his third-best performance of the season, per Pro Football Focus' grades (85.8 in Week 17, 83.8 in Week 11). He led the team with five receptions for 66 yards.
Despite a penalty late in the game, tackle Trent Williams earned his highest grade since Week 14. In addition, wide receiver Jauan Jennings received his second-highest grade of the season (82.2 in Week 18).
Deebo Samuel's 72 rushing yards are the most by a wide receiver in a postseason game in NFL history. In addition, he now owns two of the three games with the most rushing yards by a receiver in a postseason game (James Lofton, Cowboys, 71 on 1/16/83; Samuel, 53 on 2/2/20).
Defensive lineman Kevin Givens tallied four tackles and half a sack, earning his second-highest overall grade over the last seven weeks.
Defensive end Nick Bosa left the game with a concussion before halftime. Before that, he recorded three tackles and half a sack. Bosa now has 4.5 sacks in four career postseason games. His 76.4 overall grade was his highest since Week 15.
Cornerback Ambry Thomas had another strong outing, recording his highest grade of the season. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a passer rating of 68.8 while targeting Thomas in coverage. The cornerback allowed just two receptions for 24 yards.
Safety Jimmie Ward earned his highest grade since Week 14. He was targeted just once and didn't surrender a reception.
Wide receiver Travis Benjamin recorded one snap in coverage on defense, earning a 70.2 grade from that play. I didn't include him in the list above but felt this was worth noting here.
Snap Counts
Offense
65 - Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Tom Compton (RT), Trent Williams (LT)
63 - George Kittle (TE)
54 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
47 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
46 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
40 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
33 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
17 - Trent Sherfield (WR)
15 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
6 - Travis Benjamin (WR)
3 - Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB)
1 - JaMycal Hasty (RB)
Defense
73 - Jimmie Ward (SS)
72 - Ambry Thomas (CB), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Jaquiski Tartt (FS)
63 - K'Waun Williams (CB)
60 - Fred Warner (LB)
56 - Arik Armstead (DT)
53 - Dre Greenlaw (LB), Samson Ebukam (DE)
38 - Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
35 - Charles Omenihu (DE)
32 - D.J. Jones (DT)
24 - Arden Key (DE)
23 - Jordan Willis (DE), Kevin Givens (DT), Nick Bosa (DE)
21 - Kentavius Street (DT)
8 - Dontae Johnson (CB)
1 - Josh Norman (CB), Travis Benjamin ()
Special Teams
24 - Charlie Woerner
23 - Dontae Johnson
22 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jarrod Wilson, Mark Nzeocha
19 - River Cracraft, Trent Sherfield
15 - Jeff Wilson Jr., Josh Norman
13 - Ross Dwelley
11 - Robbie Gould (K)
10 - JaMycal Hasty
9 - Arik Armstead, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
8 - D.J. Jones
6 - Travis Benjamin
5 - Aaron Banks, Charles Omenihu, Daniel Brunskill, Jake Brendel, Jordan Willis, Laken Tomlinson, Tom Compton
4 - Arden Key, Jimmie Ward, Kyle Juszczyk
2 - Dre Greenlaw
1 - Fred Warner, K'Waun Williams, Samson Ebukam
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