NFL: With the third quarterback! 49ers destroy the Raiders

Unbelievable start to Week 9: The San Francisco 49ers (2-7) take apart the Oakland Raiders (1-7), who obviously finish this season slowly but surely. The 49ers achieved various best marks – with the third quarterback. There could be a QB swap in San Francisco right now.

Because Garoppolo-Backup C.J. Beathard could not play because of a hand injury at short notice, Nick Mullens had to play; San Francisco’s third option on the position, the Niners had hired Mullens 2017 as Undrafted Free Agent.

What happened then, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan had probably not imagined in his wildest dreams: The 49ers rolled over the Raiders defense at the beginning of the game, Mullens (16/22, 262 YDS, 3 TD) directed directly to the start of the game Touchdown drives over 75 and over 66 yards. Mullens seemed calm in the pocket, his passports came accurate and with the necessary power and he obviously felt comfortable in the Shanahan open. Several passes over the middle were also with worth seeing anticipation and very good ball placement.

Over the course of the game he collected the best pass rating in the first start for a quarterback since the league merger in 1970, and more: Mullens is now one of four quarterbacks over the last 15 years who threw a touchdown pass at the opening drive of his first NFL game, he is the first 49ers player ever to throw three touchdown passes in his first game for the franchise, and one of only four quarterbacks league-wide over the last 25 years to throw three or more touchdown passes in his first NFL game.

So San Francisco marched over – in all clarity – a listless Raiders team, which quite clearly gave the impression of having ticked off the season. Both teams went into the game without much of a chance this season, but where the 49ers played hard, Jon Gruden’s long-term upheaval seems to have left its mark on the players in Oakland. This impression also spread to the opponent, the Niners cabin was heard after the match: “You gave yourself up early.”

This also applied to a completely harmless Raiders open on the field. Oakland’s desolate offensive Line allowed seven (!) sacks against the 49ers Pass Rush, which has been completely toothless so far this season, and San Francisco thus stopped the overall sack yield of the Raiders for the season so far in one game.

Accordingly, Derek Carr (16/21, 171 YDS), who simply walked into some bags himself, fell apart once more. Oakland barely attacked the 49ers secretary, who was actually susceptible to the attack, deeply, but often Carr didn’t have the time for it either. Oaklands, by far the best drive over ten plays, came straight to the start of the game and ended with a field goal – the Raiders still had eight drives after that, with seven of them they didn’t bridge more than 38 yards. At the eighth, they shot the Field Goal.

Conversely, Oakland could hardly even stop the 49ers’ run game, while Tight End George Kittle (4 REC, 108 YDS, TD) provided the individual highlight of the evening with a spectacular one-handed catch-and-run. This play was the basis for a 75-yard touchdown drive of the 49ers to the start of the second half; 2:24 minutes after the start of the third quarter, San Francisco led 24:3 and this game was decided at the latest.

The big question in San Francisco now is: can Mullens take over permanently for Beathard and start the second half of the season in the absence of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo? Although this Raiders defence is hardly an objective measure, Mullens left a very good impression individually – while Beathard had constant problems with pocket awareness.

Of course, Shanahan didn’t want to commit right after the game, but left all options open. When asked if Mullens would start the next game against the Giants, San Francisco’s head coach said, “We’ll definitely consider that.”