Photo credit: sportingnews.com

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA–The Nick Mullens era has arrived in San Francisco. In his first NFL start, the 49ers’ third-string quarterback torched the Raiders en route to a 34-3 shellacking on Thursday Night Football.

Brett Favre, Southern Mississippi’s most famous product, called the school’s record holder after the game to congratulate him on the instant success.

Mullens started en fuego, scoring on his very first drive. He never looked back, completing 16 of 22 for 262 yards and three touchdowns for a 151.9 QB rating.

Most impressively, he was able to connect with eight different receivers in the first half alone, which may have secured the starting job for the rest of the season.

“He did an awesome job today. The guys played well around him. There’s a lot on his plate coming in, and with it being his first time in a real NFL game, he started off real well, was poised and did a hell of a job,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan.

San Francisco was heading into the half with a 17-3 lead

George Kittle led the way with four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, including an incredible 71-yard one-handed catch and run to start the third quarter with a bang.

The passing attack was beautifully set-up by Shanahan and the ability to balance with the run. Raheem Mostert ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on seven carries before he exited the game with a broken arm, ending his 2018 campaign.

Matt Breida was once again the workhorse, carrying 12 times for a bruising 44 yards.

The offensive line, which has looked shaky for most of the year, didn’t allow a sack and only surrendered two QB hits. Though, much of it seems to be due to great play-calling by Shanahan to get the ball out of Mullens’ hand quickly, but also due to the fact Mullens gets the ball out quickly and doesn’t hang onto it for too long.

The defense also had a huge game, holding the Oakland offense to 242 total yards, while not allowing a point after the 9:00 mark in the first quarter.

Derek Carr struggled, throwing 16 of 21 for 171 yards before being benched in the fourth quarter for A.J. McCarron. The 49ers’ pass rush looked legit for the first time all season, totaling seven sacks and nine QB hits. Cassius Marsh led the way with 2.5 sacks and three QB hits.

“It looked like we got after them. I thought Saleh did a good job mixing up his calls. We did a good job mixing up our stunts, and our guys won the one-on-one battles,” added Shanahan.

The mood has shifted entirely in Santa Clara after this huge win in the last Battle of the Bay (for now). It was the Niners most complete win under Shanahan and has the potential to turn the season around.

Mullens has lit a spark in the 49ers’ locker room and fan base and deserves to be the starter against the New York Giants on November 11th at 5:15 pm PT.