On Friday morning, it might seem challenging to find a bright spot from the San Francisco 49ers' fifth loss of the season, this time at home against the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. The 34-17 rout wasn't a shock, given San Francisco's depleted roster — both by injuries and COVID-19 protocols.
Pro Football Focus found some positives, though. There is Fred Warner, the undisputed leader of the 49ers defense. He finished the game with 13 combined tackles, one tackle for a loss, and could be heard yelling on every play, even late in the game with a win out of reach.
"I feel like that's just me," Warner said after the game. "I'm going to be me every single time I'm out there in between the white. That's my job as the guy who everybody is looking at to bring energy to the group."
One of the offensive line's anchors, Mike McGlinchey, had the highest grade on offense. He allowed one pressure in the game, according to the analytics site. But it wasn't his pass-blocking (68.6 grade) that raised his overall grade from the game; it was his 90.9 run-blocking grade.
Then you have wide receiver Richie James Jr., who had a career game after being listed as "questionable" to play and may not have done so had the position not been decimated by the league's COVID-19 protocols.
James finished the game with nine catches on 13 targets and racked up 184 receiving yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Nick Mullens, who was among the team's worst-graded players from the game, owned a passer rating of 149.1 while targeting James.
Below were the five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Packers.
- Mike McGlinchey, RT, 83.5, 57 snaps
- Richie James Jr., WR, 76.6, 51 snaps
- Daniel Brunskill, RG, 74.8, 57 snaps
- Ross Dwelley, TE, 73.5, 42 snaps
- Jerick McKinnon, RB, 70.5, 42 snaps
Below were the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Fred Warner, LB, 88.0, 62 snaps
- Arik Armstead, DE, 76.2, 44 snaps
- Jordan Willis, DE, 73.2, 25 snaps
- Jaquiski Tartt, SS, 72.9, 33 snaps
- Jimmie Ward, FS, 71.5, 62 snaps
Below were the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Justin Skule, LT, 44.6, 57 snaps
- Trent Taylor, WR, 45.7, 33 snaps
- Nick Mullens, QB, 50.0, 57 snaps
Below were the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Marcell Harris, SS, 30.3, 33 snaps
- K'Waun Williams, CB, 31.2, 4 snaps
- Kentavius Street, DT, 34.2, 23 snaps