With the entire NFL watching, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Let’s hand out the game balls.
Game Ball 1: Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 252 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Including his four touchdown throws, Purdy has now thrown at least two touchdowns in a game eight times in his career. This marks a player’s first 10 career starts with at least two touchdown throws in most games, tying him with Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. The first quarter was a bit up and down for Purdy. After he completed all four passes on the first drive, including a touchdown to George Kittle, he completed only two of his next six passes.
Purdy was nearly perfect in the second half. He completed eight of nine attempts for 119 yards and two touchdowns, but left the game less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Since entering the lineup against Miami, Purdy has completed 70 percent of his passes (208-297) for 2,579 yards, 22 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Gameball 2: George Kittle
George Kittle had three receptions for 67 yards, all with touchdowns. His 3 points were a career high and moved him to second place among tight ends in 49ers franchise history. Kittle has 34 receiving touchdowns, one more than Brent Jones.
Kittle’s three-touchdown performance was the first by a 49ers tight end since Vernon Davis had three touchdowns against the Houston Texans in 2009.
Game Ball 3: Colton Mackiewicz
There was talk throughout the offseason that the 49ers’ offensive line was their Achilles’ heel, especially after the team chose not to draft a tackle and stuck with Mackiewicz. The cries got even louder after allowing three sacks to TJ Watt in the season opener at Pittsburgh.
Facing one of the NFL’s best pass rushers on Sunday night, Makiewicz didn’t allow a hit to Brock Purdy. Neither Micah Parsons nor DeMarcus Lawrence could get to the quarterback.
In addition to his excellent pass protection, Makiewicz helped open up holes in the run game. He was also seen carrying Lawrence on his back during McCaffrey’s touchdown run in the third quarter.
Game Ball 4: Fred Warner
Warner was all over the field against Dallas and showed why he is the best linebacker in the NFL today. He recorded eight tackles, sacked Dak Prescott, forced a fumble and had an interception.
On one play in particular, Warner’s coverage took away Dak Prescott’s throwing lane. When the Cowboys quarterback left the pocket, Warner went after him to record a sack. This cannot be taught.
Game Ball 5: Deomodore Lenore
Lenoir is one of the most underrated players on the 49ers defense.
On Sunday night, he was obsessed with the Cowboys’ receivers. Lenoir was targeted five times in coverage and allowed just two receptions for 14 yards.
It was Lenoir who intercepted Fred Warner early in the fourth quarter.
Lenoir was well covering Michael Gallup, who was running diagonally. The 49ers cornerback was able to get the pass and the deflection went to Warner’s right, resulting in a turnover.