Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers left New Orleans with their second consecutive victory to begin the 2025 season, and the end of the game felt as familiar as the previous week in Seattle. The defense ended a comeback attempt with a strip sack again, but it was first-year 49er Bryce Huff who closed the show instead of Nick Bosa. Mac Jones played very well, and the offense did enough to hold off a gritty Saints team on Sunday.
Let’s look at the snap counts and grades from Sunday’s game, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
Offense
Offensive Line
Trent Williams 71 (83.1)
Colton McKivitz 71 (73.9)
Dominick Puni 71 (70.9)
Jake Brendel 71 (80.2)
Connor Colby 61 (61.2)
Ben Bartch 10 (73.5)
Trent Williams had to test out his knee before the game and was active on Sunday. You couldn’t tell he was even a little injured, though, a clean sheet for the future Hall of Famer. On 45 pass-blocking snaps, Williams graded out with a 90.0 pass-blocking grade. Yeah, he’s fine. Three starters on the line finished with a pass-blocking grade higher than 80 (Williams, Puni, and McKivitz).
The line allowed six pressures, three hurries, two QB hits, and a sack on Sunday. Ben Bartch gave way to Connor Colby following an injury, but the rookie finished clean in 38 pass blocking snaps. Jake Brendel allowed two QB hits, two hurries, and four pressures, but a team-high 85.0 run blocking grade.
Quarterback
Mac Jones 71 (58.6)
Three touchdowns and zero interceptions on 43 dropbacks are impressive for Mac. Jones completed 26 passes on 39 attempts for 7.2 YPA, 279 yards, and a 113.1 QB rating. It wasn’t a clean outing with a fumble lost for the former Alabama quarterback, but all things considered, Jones was under control and had a command of the offense—fine outing for the backup on Sunday.
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey 55 (76.9)
Brian Robinson, Jr 16 (64.2)
Kyle Juszczyk 10 (58.7)
Following 31 touches, McCaffrey handled 19 touches, including a receiving touchdown on a two-minute drill before the half. The longest rush of the day belonged to Jones (13 yards), but McCaffrey finished at 4.2 YPA, 39 yards after contact, and four missed tackles forced.
Juszczyk left the game with a concussion after ten snaps, and Robinson finished with 20 yards on six carries.
Wide Receivers
Ricky Pearsall 63 (66.8)
Jauan Jennings 62 (66.4)
Kendrick Bourne 35 (65.9)
Marquez Valdez-Scantling 9 (56.0)
Skyy Moore 2 (58.9)
Jauan Jennings was on the injury report with a shoulder injury, but finished with a team-high nine targets and a team-high 89 yards. At 17.8 yards per reception and a 42-yard touchdown (longest of his career), Jennings is looking closer to his healthy state.
Pearsall finished with four catches, which all went for first downs. In fact, all eight receptions on the season for Pearsall have resulted in first downs. Kendrick Bourne returned to the 49ers with three receptions for 32 yards. Just like he never left.
Tight Ends
Jake Tonges...
