The following are select post-game quotes from San Francisco 49ers players following Sunday's 20-14 upset victory over the Denver Broncos.
Quotes provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
DL DeForest Buckner
You held Denver Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay to 30 yards today. Can you talk about how you keyed in on the run game?
"Especially after last week, we put a big emphasis this week on stopping the run. It was a big deal on all levels of the defense, setting the edge. We did that today and we were happy to have this opportunity, especially against a good run team like Denver. A lot of the young guys showed up, a lot of guys got more reps. Like [CB Richard Sherman] Sherm was saying, [S] Marcell [Harris], [DB] D.J. Reed [Jr.] made some really good plays in the run game. All around, everyone ran their run fits pretty well today."
This is your third year, but what's it like to look around the huddle and be one of the few guys who has more than two years of experience?
"It's crazy how young of a team we are because of the potential, how good this team can be. It is great to see young guys get reps and in there making plays."
What did you see on D.J. Reed's sack?
"It was great. He diced up the running back a little bit with a little up and under move and he had the first sack fumble of the year. So, it was great. It would have been better if somebody was up there to scoop it up, but it was great seeing him make plays."
When a guy like TE George Kittle was rolling as much as he was in the first half, how much were you as a whole team feeding off of that?
"It doesn't matter if it's Kittle, it doesn't matter who it is just feeding off of the energy. Everybody is happy to see Kittle reach 1,000 yards and break some records today so it was awesome to see him do that on a personal level for him. It definitely gets the team going for sure."
TE George Kittle
Did you know during the game how close you were to setting the single-game receiving record?
"Four yards. Halfway through the fourth quarter someone told me that. I was like, 'Oh really, that would be fun.' Next time."
You had a lot of big catches. On the big one, the 85-yard touchdown, can you give us your thinking as it's happening?
"On the play I'm supposed to sell an insert run play. We ran it two times before that with an actual run. The backs were blitzing through and everyone was crashing down, so there really wasn't a hole to run through. I just ran over the ball and kind of just dropped in. It's really fun, especially when you catch the ball and there's nothing but green grass in front of you. It's really fun because you just get to run. It was really fun."
Was that a former NFL CB Deion Sanders thing you did there?
"He's a guy that I know loves to play football, and he has the most fun playing it. So yes, a little bit."
What happened in the second half? Was it a different kind of coverage or was it just not there for you?
"We won. That's about all that matters."
How well did San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens play today?
"Nick got the ball where we needed to. Our offensive line gave him all the time that he needed against an incredible pass defense with [Denver Broncos LBs] Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. The fact that he could get the ball off, I think he played really well, especially on that last third down to [San Francisco 49ers WR] Dante Pettis. I was just very impressed with him."
You and Nick have very good chemistry. Is that something you work extra on besides in regular practice?
"There are definitely certain routes that we work on in timing plays. That 85-yard one we hit that, we hit a lot of stuff in practice. Coach gives us a lot of opportunity to get those plays."
You didn't have a ton of catches at Iowa, but you're playing very confidently. Where does that come from?
"All of the confidence is coaching that gives me opportunities. When you capitalize on those and you get the ball, it just builds confidence over time. That's really all it is. The more opportunities you get and you capitalize on them, you start feeling it and start feeling good. Then you have a quarterback getting you the ball on time, that's all that really matters. Confidence comes from that."
Your coach said you run angry. Do you feel angry when you run?
"My tight ends coach always tells me that you have to make DBs catch you. So, on that first one, I wasn't just going to let him go for my legs. You have to make people tackle you. So yes, you definitely have to play angry and play with the mindset that I'm not going to be tackled by you unless you want to tackle me."
DL Cassius Marsh
How did it feel to shut down Denver Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay today, especially in the first half?
"Guys were definitely happy to shut him down. There was a lot of talk about their run game and we definitely respect their run game. They have been doing a lot of great things in the last six to seven weeks or whatever it was. Yes, we were happy to shut down the run game, especially [Phillip] Lindsay."
Do you recall any opponent that had that many fourth down attempts?
"What was that, three today. Not in recent memory; that is definitely up there, but situationally that is what the game called for."
What were you guys doing so well on third downs? It seemed like early on they couldn't convert at all, especially in the first half.
"I think tight coverage, mixed with the rush. The quarterback was running for his life and guys made plays. When he threw the ball, guys had PBUs [pass break-ups]. When we needed to get to the QB we got to the QB. I think it was a team win. It was great to see the offense running the ball, giving us time to rest on defense. It was just a complete game for the team."
Where does that rank as far as defense quality of games you have played this year? Is this close to about the best that you have played this year?
"It is one of our better games, for sure. It was a great performance by our defense and great performance by our offense as well. It was just a great overall team win."
T Mike McGlinchey
You guys were able to get a lot of neutral zone infractions in the first half, what was behind that?
"Well, we knew that we were going into a two-minute drive right there at the end of the half. It was an obvious pass situation and with the rushers that they have, their strength is their get off and get off the ball, especially [Denver Broncos OLB] Von [Miller]. He makes people's lives miserable because he is able to time off counts, and he has that quick first step and all that stuff. So, all week we were preparing for that and we thought that it was a good idea to change up the snap count and work things a little bit differently than we normally do and change up the timing for him. It worked in our favor, for sure, on that drive."
What were the keys for you to have a good game against him? What did you do well?
"I think that I set to a position. I got off the ball on the cadence. I had my eyes where they were supposed to be. I had my hands where they were supposed to be and I played long. I kept him off me. I tried to play situational football stay in front, make him react off of me instead of giving him a three-way or two-way go or whatever, like other guys have done in the past. I think that I did a pretty good job of that today. It took me the first two series or so to get the speed of it down, and I think we settled down after that."
You mentioned his get off. Is that what makes him great?
"Yes, absolutely. I mean his first step, his get off and his ability to bend around the edge after. That is why he is so good. His ability to change directions, stop on a dime, and his athletic ability is what sets him apart."
How about 49ers LT Joe Staley getting on the stat sheet with a catch?
"Yes, we were all pretty pumped about that. His celebration was a little much for a four-yard loss but anytime anyone of us big boys touches the ball it's pretty exciting. Joe has caught a couple passes in his college career, and I think that he has done a bunch in the NFL every now and again."
WR Dante Pettis
To be able to win, that had to have felt even better than your individual performance?
"Oh, absolutely. If we lost, I would've been so hurt. [San Francisco 49ers WR] Trent [Taylor] made a play on third down. We made a few plays when we needed to and came out on top."
It seemed on your fourth quarter catch, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to call timeout on that play. Did you see anything wrong as far as the formation goes?
"We wanted to run it against man coverage and they were in zone. I think they just busted in zone. He was like, 'We can't run this against zone,' so he was about to call a different play but it worked out."
What does it say about San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens that he was so calm in that situation?
"He's a baller. Nick's a baller. He doesn't really care, he's going to make a play. That's why we like him."
What does this win do for the group just to get off the losing streak?
"It's awesome. I'm learning wins are hard to come by in the NFL. So many things can go wrong. We're very excited to get this one."
CB Richard Sherman
What was the locker room like after a much-needed win?
"It's somber obviously. Obviously, there was a huge loss to the organization and the York family when Tony passed away. Obviously, there was a lot of enthusiasm in trying to get this game for him and for the family, for Dr. York, Denise and Jed. You fight hard and you play hard, but you hope to get the bounces. We got some really cool bounces today. I'm thankful we could pull it out for the family. It feels good to win, especially in a tough season like the one we've been having, but you still feel for the family. There's not much we can do outside of what we've done to try to help give them solace, but we're doing everything that we can."
You've played with a lot of dynamic pass catchers over the years. What makes San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle so special?
"He's dynamic. George Kittle is a really dynamic player. I don't think he gets enough credit for how athletic he is. It's very similar to [Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis] Kelce out in Kansas City with how slippery he is. His lateral movement is deceptive. He has a ton of speed. Maybe they just ran the ball a lot more in college and didn't give him an opportunity, but he's just really way more athletic than people understand."
What about Kittle's personality in the locker room?
"He's a fun-loving guy. He's young and has a good time regardless. He goes out there full speed and plays as hard as anybody I've ever met, and not just in the pass game. He'll pancake guys, he'll run and never complains about anything. He can block 20 times in a row and not complain. He'll catch 20 passes and be the same guy. It's infectious."
"We're happy for him, he deserves everything he's getting. Obviously, he deserves to be a Pro Bowler this year. He's been arguably the best tight end in football, no disrespect to Kelce or [New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski] Gronk or any of those other guys that are playing good football. But to be a second-year player playing the way he is, he makes an impact every game. He's our number one receiver yards-wise and targets-wise. It's not like it's a surprise that we're throwing the ball to him against Denver, and they still couldn't stop him. He's just beating guys one-on-one and having a day. He had 210 yards in the first half. I don't think I've seen that done, period."
You guys held Denver Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay to 30 yards today. Can you talk about what the guys up front did?
"The guys up front are animals. They played so disciplined and never get enough credit. [San Francisco 49ers DE] Arik Armstead was a monster. Obviously [San Francisco 49ers DT DeForest Buckner] DeFo gets a lot of credit. He did a phenomenal job. [San Francisco 49ers DE Solomon Thomas] Solly came in there and gave us energy and gave an impact. It was a great use of our personnel. We're working to get different guys in different spots throughout the game. They did a phenomenal job of being disruptive and making tackles."
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
That must feel pretty nice for your first NFL start to get in there and be a contributor in a win. How neat was that?
"That was the biggest blessing I could've ever received in my lifetime. Doing it at that altitude, with the players that I practice with and the players that put their confidence in me, seeing them happy for me and me being happy for them, it's a great thing."
How many carries did it take before you felt like you had a rhythm going?
"It was just kind of a feel thing. I just knew it was going to be a grind. I knew I was going to have to grind some yards out as well. It was just a go with the flow. I was just going and wasn't really thinking. I was just in the zone."
A lot of off-tackle plays, a lot of momentum. Nothing wide, just north to south. Was that the plan?
"Yes sir, yes sir. We knew they had a lot of big guys, especially [Denver Broncos OLB] Von [Miller] and [Denver Broncos OLB Bradley] Chubb out on the outside. We knew we were going to have to get it down and get it downhill. That way, we could get some positive yards."
We've seen several times this year where the offense had a chance to close it out but couldn't get it done. What was the difference in this game, being able to get those first downs late?
"It was just something we were aware of. It's not that we weren't aware of it before, it was just something that we really focused on, closing out games. Guys were called on and guys made plays. That's how it's supposed to be."
What'd you think of San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens today?
"He was great. He was great. That's my boy. You know I've been battling him ever since the college days. We were in the same conference. I know he's a baller so it doesn't surprise me."
