Week 17 - Kicking off the New Year in Las Vegas like many party goers that flock to the desert for the big celebration, the (11-4) San Francisco 49ers had other plans in mind than partying. In town to face the (6-9) Las Vegas Raiders, Kyle Shanahan's team entered Sunday's game as heavy favorites having already clinched a playoff berth and their division, against a reeling Raiders team that was on their last leg fighting for their playoff lives. What was expected to be a romp for the 49ers, instead turned into a knock-down-drag-out war that would need overtime to determine a winner. When it was all said and done, the 49ers prevailed, but not before enduring a scare and worrying the pants off of me and the many other Niner fans who were in attendance.
In the days leading up to their New Years battle, Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniel announced that 3-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr would be benched and ultimately shutdown for the remainder of the season in what will likely end his tenure with the Raiders. Taking over under-center for Carr would be QB Jarrett Stidham who was traded from the New England Patriots before the season, reuniting with McDaniel who served as Stidham's offensive coordinator all three seasons in Foxboro before landing his gig with the Raiders in the offseason. Tasked to make his first career start against the league's number one defense, Stidham would have the San Francisco defense on their heels virtually all afternoon long. From their opening drive, Stidham looked calm and in control as he connected on each of his first three passes, including 24-yarder to tight-end Darren Waller to give his team an early 7-0 lead. Answering right back with a touchdown of their own, running back Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers into the red zone with a big 37-yard run before quarterback Brock Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone to tie the game at 7 a piece.
Knocking on the door at the San Francisco 1-yard line, the Raiders nearly found pay dirt again, but settled for a field goal after failing to reach the end zone. Trailing 10-7, the 49ers took their first lead of the ball game when Purdy hit tight-end George Kittle in the corner of the end zone from 2-yards out, giving the self-proclaimed "People's Tight-End" five touchdown receptions in his last three games. After forcing a turnover on downs that left the Raiders high and dry at the San Francisco goal-line, the 49ers appeared to be heading into halftime with a lead. However, Stidham and company had other plans as the Raiders' back-up QB took advantage of good field position beyond midfield and marched the offense into the red zone. There he would find his top receiver Devante Adams in the corner of the end zone with a 4-yard touchdown grab with 15-seconds remaining. Finding themselves trailing 17-14 at halftime, the 49ers opened the second half flat and were held to a three and out. Getting the ball back with a chance to add to their lead, Jarrett Stidham would do just that.
Facing a 3rd and 11, the Raiders would convert the first down on a big face mask penalty when 49ers linebacker Fred Warner got tangled up with Las Vegas receiver Hunter Renfrow. Three plays later, Stidham would launch a pass down field to hit a wide-open Devante Adams for a 60-yard score. Looking for a second half jolt, the 49ers began to show life when McCaffrey darted to the end zone from 14 yards out to pull his team within a field goal. After holding the Raiders to a punt on a three and out, the Niners appeared to be headed for another trip to the end zone when Purdy found receiver Jauan Jennings for a 28-yard gain that put them at midfield. However, Purdy's lone mistake on the afternoon would come on the very next play when his deep pass intended for Kittle was underthrown and intercepted by Las Vegas' Amik Robertson who robbed the Niners' tight-end of the ball. In need of a big stop, the 49er defense would come thru with an interception of their own to start the fourth quarter when Kerry Hyder Jr. deflected the ball in the air and into the arms of rookie Drake Jackson who hauled in his first career interception.
Turning the turnover into a field goal, the 49ers would tie the game at 24-all. Following a Raiders punt, San Francisco would take a 27-24 lead with another Robbie Gould field goal, but Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson would answer right back with a field goal of his own. The last five minutes of the fourth quarter would be a complete whirlwind as both teams went blow for blow, exchanging scores. A pair of big passes to Aiyuk and McCaffrey setup rookie running back Jordan Mason who scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard dash to the end zone. Needing only 1 minute and 6 seconds, Stidham hit receivers on 21 and 45 yard gains and took advantage of two costly penalties on San Francisco to put the Raiders at the 1-yardline. It would be there where running back Josh Jacobs who departed in the first half with a hip injury, returned to the field to score the game-tying touchdown from 1 yard out. With 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, Brock Purdy would go to work, connecting with Brandon Aiyuk on four passes to amass 52 yards and put his kicker in position to win the game in regulation. The football gods would have other plans, however, as Gould who had made two field goals earlier in the game, including a 43-yarder, missed wide-right from 41 yards as time expired.
With the game heading into overtime, the fans in attendance at Allegiant Stadium which consisted of about 2/3 in favor of the 49ers, would be treated to another roller coaster of emotions. Winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Raiders rushed the ball on three straight plays before a deep pass flipped the game for the 49ers. What was a quiet day for San Francisco defensive-end Nick Bosa, turned into a pivotal play as the defensive stalwart applied pressure by bull rushing his man into the quarterback who lofted a wobbly pass that was intercepted by Tashaun Gipson who returned the pick 56 yards. Giving kicker Robbie Gould a chance to redeem himself, the 18-year veteran would do just that, splitting the uprights from 23-yards out to send his team home with their NFL-best ninth straight victory. The ninth straight win would mark the franchise's longest winning-streak since 1997. Throwing for 284 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, Brock Purdy became just the fifth rookie all-time to win his first four career starts and the first to do so since 2004 (Ben Roethlisberger). Brandon Aiyuk (9 rec, 101 yds, 1 TD) and Devante Adams (7 rec, 153 yds, 2 TD) led their respective teams in receiving yards, combining for 16 receptions, 254 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey combined for 193 total yards and a touchdown to eclipse the 1,000 rushing yards plateau for the third time in his career. With the loss, the Raiders would be officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Week 18 Preview: Improving to 12-4 on the year, the 49ers will look to closeout the regular season with a tenth consecutive victory when they play host to the last-place (4-12) Arizona Cardinals. After losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco now finds themselves in the No. 2 seed with a chance at securing the NFC's top seed and a first round BYE if they get a win against Arizona, coupled with a loss from Philly who hosts the division rival New York Giants who are also vying for a playoff spot. Slated to be a wild final week of the NFL's regular season schedule, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers will look to ride their current winning-streak into the postseason and have a chance to complete a clean sweep of the NFC Western Division as the Cardinals are the last team standing in their way of perfection. The 49ers won their previous match-up against the Cardinals earlier this season back in Week 10 which saw San Francisco pull off a 38-10 victory in Mexico City. As scary as their close call with the Raiders was, this type of come-from-behind victory should do wonders for Brock Purdy and his development, as well as serve as a much needed wake-up call for the 49er defense which allowed 500 total yards in the win.
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