How PFF rated Purdy, the 49ers in Week 8's Nettlebiters vs. Cowboys originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers' 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was another game that looked like it would get away from San Francisco, but a concerted effort secured the win.

The PFF grades show that the 49ers' contributions across the board were necessary to start the bye week at .500 rather than with a losing record. Brock Purdy used his legs to keep the ball moving, especially in the second half when the quarterback and his offense dominated the ground game.

Key plays by George Kittle – on National Tight Ends Day – led the team back from a four-point first-half deficit, and his six-catch performance gave Kittle 500 career receptions, tied for fifth-most in the league Franchise history.

The 49ers also relied heavily on a prolific rushing attack, gaining a total of 223 yards on 36 carries from seven different players.

Here are the 49ers' PFF grades from Week 8 at Levi's Stadium:

attack

QB Brock Purdy – 70.0

The 49ers quarterback passed the ball to an average depth of target of 10.1 yards in the first half. But then the offense got the screen game going, giving Purdy a 3.8-yard average in the second half.

Purdy was blitzed on 13 of his 34 dropbacks, or 38.2 percent, and completed eight of 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 123.6 when he was blitzed.

The 49ers used play-action on nine of Purdy's 34 dropbacks (26.5 percent), and the quarterback completed three of five passes for 48 yards and four scrambles while using play-action, providing an added advantage to the offense in the 2024 NFL season was.

Purdy has 15 first downs on scrambles this season, tied with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels for the most in the NFL.

The 49ers signal caller was effective on passes from 10 to 19 yards downfield and completed four of five passes for 86 yards on throws to the intermediate level. Purdy also completed 10 of 12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown on short passes from zero to nine yards downfield.

TE George Kittle – 90.2

The All-Pro earned the top grade on the 49ers' offense, catching six of his seven targets for 128 yards and a touchdown. The yards after catch (YAC) effect was back, with 70 of Kittle's 128 yards coming after the catch.

The tight end's 128 receiving yards are his highest total in a game since Week 8 of the 2023 season, when Kittle rushed for 149 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.

RB Isaac Guerendo – 58.1

The rookie running back had a productive game with 14 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, but a few gaffes in pass protection left him with a grade of 15.0 after allowing a quarterback sack. Of Guerendo's 85 rushing yards, 62 came after contact, an average of 4.43 yards after contact per carry.

Offensive line:

LT Trent Williams – 65.6 overall grade87.4 pass blocking grade – no pressures allowed in 34 pass blocking snaps.

LG Aaron Banks – Overall grade 56.960.6 pass blocking grade – two hurries

C Jake Brendel – 70.0 overall grade49.1 pass blocking grade – no pressure

RG Dominick Puni – 65.4 overall grade70.5 pass blocking grade – a rush

RT Colton McKivitz – 60.9 overall grade58.3 pass blocking grade – two hurries

defense

CB Renardo Green – 91.3

The rookie earned the game's best defensive grade after allowing just two catches on three targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. Green also forced a fumble and had two stops.

S Ji'Ayir Brown – 86.4

The second-year safety earned the second-highest defensive grade and allowed two catches on three targets for five yards, one interception and three stops.

LB Fred Warner – 72.8

The All-Pro led the team in tackles – four solo tackles and one for a loss – and recorded a quarterback hit while allowing three catches for 35 yards.

Quarterback pressure:

Nick Bosa – One sack, two hits, three hurries

Maliek Colins – One hit, four rushes

Sam Okuayinonu – One sack, two hits, two hurries (three pressures – one sack and two hits came while he was lined up inside)

Leonard Floyd – One hit, two hurries

Robert Beal – A Hurry

Jordan Elliott – A Hurry

Odds and ends:

Okuayinonu has 15 quarterback pressures in just 90 pass rushes this season, a pressure rate of 16.7 percent.

The 49ers came under pressure on 15 of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's 41 dropbacks (36.6 percent) while blitzing on just five of 41 dropbacks (12.2 percent).

Of the 49ers' 469 total yards, 179 came from rookies (Guerendo 102, Ricky Pearsall 77).

Dominick Puni is one of only two NFL guards to have played in at least seven games this season and not allowed a sack or a hit. The other is Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney.

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