LAS VEGAS — The 49ers didn’t exactly go into the new year the same way they closed out 2022.
But after eight straight wins, this was probably the kind of game the 49ers needed to fully prepare them for the pressures of the NFL playoffs.
Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy and linebacker Christian McCaffrey helped the 49ers claim a 37-34 overtime win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Robbie Gould atoned for a missed attempt at the end of the game with a 23-yard field goal, following an interception by TaShawn Gibson and a 56-yard return. Gould’s kick came with 6:53 remaining in the 10-minute overtime period.
49ers (12-4) moved to 2 seed in the NFC playoffs Heading into the final week of the regular season. They own a conference playoff tiebreaker over the Minnesota Vikings (12-4), who lost to the Green Bay Packers.
Here are three points from the 49ers’ Week 17 matchup against the Raiders:
Purdy is facing the NFL’s ordeal for the first time
The 49ers did not trail in any of Birdie’s first three starts. What came from his fourth start was his first come-from-behind win.
When Purdy entered the Week 13 game against the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers trailed 7-3. They took the lead on Birdie’s first drive, and haven’t trailed a game since.
Change it against the raiders.
He led a drive down the field at the end of regulations with Brandon Ayuk’s completions of 12, 18, 11 and 11 yards. Kicker Robbie Gould missed a 41-yard field goal attempted wide, though time expired in regulation.
Purdy completed 22 of 35 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. And he was at the controls as the 49ers marched 75 yards in five plays for a go-ahead TD, which was scored by Jordan Mason on a 14-yard run.
The 49ers trailed 24-14 in the third quarter, forcing Purdy to play catch-up. With the 49ers still trailing late in the third quarter, Birdie’s deep pass to George Kittle was intercepted by Raiders defensive back Amick Robertson.
But the 49ers got the ball back after a Drake Jackson interception shortly thereafter and settled for a Gould field goal, which tied the score at 24 with 12 minutes to play.
Purdy got off to a good start in Las Vegas. He threw two touchdown passes in each of his first four games, and it didn’t take him long to match Sunday’s average, as he connected with Ayuk and Keitel in the first half. It was Birdie’s second throw for a touchdown on Awok and Kettle’s fifth.
Tough day for the NFL’s top defense
This was supposed to be a mismatch.
The Raiders turned to No. 2 quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, next He fired Derek Carr for the rest of the season.
The inference was that Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was pulling out with two games remaining. But it sure didn’t look that way from the start.
Stidham, making the first start of his NFL career in four years, played well until Gibson’s interception in overtime. Nick Bosa forced a bad throw with pressure.
The 49ers entered the game allowing a league-low average of 290.3 yards per game. Las Vegas charged 134 yards after the first 15 minutes – the most yards the Raiders have collected in the first quarter of a game this season.
Stidham and the Raiders continued to solve the 49ers defense until halftime. Stidham capped it off with a sweet 4-yard fumble to Davante Adams, who made a beautiful catch in the end zone against 49ers corner coverage from Charvarius Ward.
The 49ers entered Sunday’s game and allowed 100 or more rushing yards only three times this season. At the break, the Raiders had 101 yards on 20 carries.
Then, the Raiders opened the second half by capitalizing on one of the many blown plays in the 49ers’ secondary, with Adams getting a free 60-yard touchdown reception.
The 49ers entered the game allowing NFL-lows 290.3 yards per game and 15.3 points. But the Raiders (6-10) amassed 500 yards and may have taken advantage of some weaknesses in the 49ers defense.
Stidham completed 22 of 34 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.
McCaffrey tops Craig’s six-year mark
There’s a lot going on with the idea that the 49ers will cut back on Christian McCaffrey with the team’s playoff spot already secure.
McCaffrey was the central figure in San Francisco’s offense on Sunday, hitting the rushing team with the No. 2 seed on the horizon.
The All-Pro running back carried the ball 19 times for 121 yards and one touchdown, and also made six receptions for 72 yards.
Related: How Griese helped develop 49ers QB Purdy
McCaffrey got off to a hot start with 37 yards on a third and third situation on the 49ers’ first drive of the game to set up a touchdown. He had a 14-yard TD run that pulled the 49ers within three points in the third quarter.
McCaffrey’s 38-yard catch and run set up Jordan Mason The Shining TD With 2:17 left in regulation.
His second reception of the game was 435 of his career, to former Top 49er Roger Craig Mark for most receptions for a run in his first six NFL seasons. Craig caught 434 receptions in six seasons after breaking into the NFL in 1983.
Also in 1983, Craig became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards. He had a league-best 92 catches for 1,016 yards.
McCaffrey joined Craig and Marshall Faulk in the exclusive 1000-1000 club in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers when he rushed for 1,387 yards and 1,005 yards receiving.
