Despite individual brilliance, offensive line struggles and constant disruption fueled the 49ers' quiet night, revealing key pressure points.
The San Francisco 49ers’ offense never found its footing in Saturday night’s 13–3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and the Pro Football Focus grades reflect a unit that struggled across the board, while a handful of individual performances stood out despite the result.
Quarterback Brock Purdy earned the second highest offensive grade on the team at 76.2, an impressive mark considering the circumstances. Purdy finished 19-of-27 for a season-low 127 passing yards with no touchdowns and one interception, posting a 64.9 passer rating which is his second-lowest of the year. However, PFF credited him with a strong 77.9 run grade, the best of any player in the game, as he used his legs to escape pressure and salvage broken plays. His 69.0 passing grade reflected the lack of explosive opportunities and constant disruption around him.
The standout performer for San Francisco was right guard Dominick Puni, who posted an 84.0 offensive grade across 42 snaps. Puni earned the 49ers’ top run-blocking grade (78.4) and pass-blocking grade (87.9), allowing zero pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps. On a night when protection issues defined the game, Puni was a clear bright spot.
The rest of the offensive line struggled mightily. Filling in for injured left tackle Trent Williams, Austen Pleasants recorded the lowest offensive grade of the game at 38.7. He allowed three pressures, two hurries and a hit, and posted the team’s worst run-blocking (35.1) and pass-blocking (39.6) grades. Overall, the 49ers’ offensive line surrendered 14 total pressures, with Spencer Burford and Colton McKivitz each allowing four, and Jake Brendel and Pleasants allowing three each.
Among the skill players, tight end George Kittle led the team in receiving grade at 66.1, catching five passes for 29 yards on six targets. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings finished with four receptions for 35 yards and a 63.6 receiving grade, while Kendrick Bourne earned a 52.0 offensive grade on 22 snaps.
Christian McCaffrey endured an unusually quiet night, leading the team with just 23 rushing yards on eight carries and earning a 56.0 run grade. Surprisingly, he also posted the lowest receiving grade in the game (51.1) despite six catches for 34 yards and was charged with the only drop of the game.
In total, a resilient quarterback and a dominant performance from Dominick Puni were not enough to overcome severe protection breakdowns and a lack of offensive rhythm. Against a disciplined Seahawks defense, the margin for error was thin and the 49ers’ offense simply couldn’t overcome it this week.