Key Takeaways as 49ers rout the Steelers in season opener
It was everything you could have wanted from a season opener from the 49ers' perspective. A fun, stress-free and emphatic victory against a team that entered the year with a lot of hype. The 49ers crushed the Steelers 30-7, utterly dominating a tough opponent on the road, suffocating Pittsburgh and giving them no chance of […]
It was everything you could have wanted from a season opener from the 49ers' perspective. A fun, stress-free and emphatic victory against a team that entered the year with a lot of hype.
The 49ers crushed the Steelers 30-7, utterly dominating a tough opponent on the road, suffocating Pittsburgh and giving them no chance of crawling out of a 20-0 hole.
Kyle Shanahan has frequently seen his teams start the season slow before picking up steam during his tenure. But there was no hint of that in Pittsburgh as they claimed a win that should make those tipping the Niners for another Super Bowl push even more bullish on San Francisco.
Here are our takeaways from a stunning start for the Niners.
Offense starts off firing on all cylinders
So much of the focus heading into the opener was on quarterback Brock Purdy and whether the 49ers' quarterback would be at his best right off the bat in his first regular-season game coming off elbow surgery.
Any doubts over his ability to perform with same level of poise, decisiveness and playmaking ability he displayed during his incredible rise last year were extinguished in an extremely assured performance.
Purdy demonstrated excellent composure under pressure, made four impressive throws on third down and even had a scramble for a first down on third and long late in the game.
Displaying an outstanding rapport with one of this top targets, Purdy connected on all eight of his throws to Brandon Aiyuk, who finished with 129 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy finished the game 19 of 29 for 220 yards and a 111.3 passer rating.
It was an historic performance from Purdy, as he became the first quarterback in NFL history to win his first six starts while throwing for two touchdowns in each, and he rightly earned praise from head coach Shanahan.
"I thought Brock had a good game, made some explosives there in tight windows,"said Shanahan. "I thought Brock had a hell of a game."
Purdy did not have to do as much in the second half, any pressure on the 49ers after a late Steelers score in the first half alleviated by Christian McCaffrey's 65-yard touchdown run to start the second half.
McCaffrey was outstanding, racking up 152 yards on the ground as he and the Niners' offensive line dictated terms to Pittsburgh in the run game, excelling in particular on gap scheme runs up the middle.
It was something of a quieter day for Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, though the former did have five catches for 55 yards, but when the Niners have a quarterback playing with the calm of Purdy and two weapons in Aiyuk and McCaffrey playing at the level they displayed, they are impossible to stop.
McKivitz struggles against Watt
One of the low points from an offensive perspective came at right tackle, where Colton McKivitz struggled to contain T.J. Watt.
Watt had three sacks and two forced fumbles as he frequently took advantage of the one-on-one matchups he got with McKivitz.
McKivitz is far from the first person to have issues slowing down the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, and he certainly won't be the last.
It should get easier for McKivitz next week against the Rams, but the 49ers will want to see more solidity from the man they picked as their new starting right tackle in the coming weeks.
Defensive delivers in all facets
Beyond the Purdy question, the primary unknown surrounding the 49ers was how the defense would perform following the transition from DeMeco Ryans to new coordinator Steve Wilks.
The early returns, even with Nick Bosa not having the impact he would have ideally desired after becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, were magnificent.
San Francisco's defensive line completely dominated the trenches, racking up five sacks, including three for Drake Jackson as he looks to breakout in his second season in the NFL. The Steelers were held to 41 yards on the ground, their one-dimensional offense unable to get anything going outside of one 95-yard drive at the end of the first half.
That lone blemish came on a drive that saw Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas struggle markedly, the former committing two key penalties. However, top corner Charvarius Ward consistently produced excellent coverage and picked off Kenny Pickett on the 49ers' second defensive series.
Talanoa Hufanga also intercepted Pickett on a tip from Fred Warner, who could have had a pick six earlier in the game. With the Steelers held to just 3.9 yards per play, it's tough to fault any area of the 49er defense without being very picky.
But the 49ers will continue to seek improvement, with Bosa seeing this opening effort as a potential springboard.
"To do that for Steve his first time out here, it's a great thing to propel us forward," said Bosa.
Special teams strong in almost every area
One area of concern for the 49ers will be on special teams, where their kickoff coverage was continually found wanting. Steelers running back Anthony McFarland averaged 30.3 yards on his three kick returns.
But the 49ers' kicking game was otherwise outstanding. Mitch Wishnowsky pinned each of his three fronts inside the 10-yard line, including two inside the five-yard line.
Even more encouraging the perfect performance of Jake Moody who, after seeing his first field goal delayed by a timeout and an offsides penalty, nailed his maiden attempt in the NFL and subsequently drilled two more.
Moody hit from 41, 32 and 40 and hit all three of his extra points, quickly banishing memories of a shaky preseason. If his leg is as advertised when he gets the chance to try a long one, the questions about taking him in the third round will quickly diminish.
Brock Purdy makes NFL history as 49ers claim crushing win over Steelers
A stunning return to action.
Featured Image Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
