The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 3-4 after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 33-22 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?
Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Bears.
- Trent Williams, T, 92.7, 56 snaps
- Alex Mack, C, 89.9, 56 snaps
- Mohamed Sanu, WR, 84.7, 25 snaps
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 84.6, 26 snaps
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 80.2, 56 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Tavon Wilson, FS, 87.8, 13 snaps
- Nick Bosa, DE. 82.5. 57 snaps
- Fred Warner, LB, 74.1, 70 snaps
- Talanoa Hufanga, FS, 68.5, 70 snaps
- D.J. Jones, DT, 68.2, 37 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Jauan Jennings, WR, 50.6, 7 snaps
- Ross Dwelley, TE, 50.9, 15 snaps
- Trent Sherfield, WR, 58.3, 7 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Kevin Givens, DT, 36.9, 18 snaps
- Emmanuel Moseley, CB, 36.9, 70 snaps
- Jordan Willis, DE, 46.5, 18 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had, by far, his best performance of the season, answering much of the criticism that has been piled on him for weeks. Week 8 marked the first time Garoppolo has been listed among the five highest-graded 49ers offensive players this season. He completed 17 of his 28 passing attempts for 322 yards while carrying the football five times for four total rushing yards (including losses). Two of those carries were touchdown runs from five and two yards out.
Garoppolo became the first 49ers quarterback to rush for multiple touchdowns in a single game since Colin Kaepernick did so against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. He also became the first 49ers quarterback to throw for 300-or-more yards and rush for two scores in a game since Jeff Garcia did so against the New Orleans Saints in 2000.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had some miscues early on but recovered quickly.
"It was just two minor drops that I know, those plays, I'm supposed to make," Samuel said after the game. "But you get into the rhythm of the game. You start the game, you're too hot, too hyped, whatever. Just have to settle in and get back to the game we know we play."
Samuel finished the game with six receptions for 171 yards, increasing his season total to 819 yards. Through the first seven games, his total yards mark broke a franchise record of 781 yards set by Jerry Rice in 1986. Samuel is on pace for 1,989 receiving yards this season.
Tackle Trent Williams, a familiar name among the 49ers' weekly five highest-graded offensive players, earned a career-high grade of 92.7, beating his previous career-high of 92.6, set in Week 1. Williams' 95.6 overall grade for the season is also a career-high.
Safety Tavon Wilson replaced an injured Jimmie Ward at the end of the game. While his defense-leading grade of 87.8 comes from a small sample size of 13 snaps, it bodes well for the 49ers should Wilson need to replace Ward for an extended time.
Rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga made his first NFL start, playing in place of the team's other injured starting safety, Jaquiski Tartt. We could see Wilson and Hufanga start in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Defensive end Nick Bosa's six pressures tied for the most among all defenders in Week 8. He recorded two sacks of Bears quarterback Justin Fields, earning his second two-sack game of the season and marking the fifth time of his career (including playoffs) he has registered two-or-more sacks in a single game. Bosa now has seven sacks this season, putting him on pace for 17. His 90.5 pass-rush grade against the Bears is a season-high.
