Photo credit: @NBCSRaiders
By Jeremy Kahn
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In what was called “The Battle of the Bay,” was a nightmare for the Oakland Raiders, not the San Francisco 49ers.
Nick Mullens went 16-for-22 for 262 yards and three touchdowns in his first NFL start, as the 49ers simply destroyed the Raiders 34-3 before an announced crowd of 69,592 at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday Night Football.
With the loss, the Raiders have lost four in a row and have been outscored by 85 points during the losing streak.
“I know it’s not looking pretty right now,” head coach Jon Gruden said. “I’ve heard a lot of negativity over the last six, seven months and rightfully so. But we’re going to build a championship football team here.”
This was the best NFL debut by a starting quarterback since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, as the 49ers improved to 2-7 on the season, while the Raiders fall to 1-7.
“I’m not sure about that right now. I grew up a huge Niners fan. I also grew up a Raiders hater from growing up mainly in the AFC West, and also having a history with them. It feels good definitely. It feels good to win and I’m definitely happy for our fans,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Things started well for the Raiders, as Derek Carr drove the Raiders down the field on their first series of the game that ended up with Daniel Carlson 37-yard field goal.
Unfortunately, those three points that the Raiders would score on their first ever trip to Levi’s Stadium.
“We just got outplayed. Period. Offensively, we didn’t put up enough points. We didn’t stay on the field long enough. Time of possession was clearly in their favor. A bad game offensively,” said Jared Cook.
Mullens immediately drove the 49ers down the field, as he went 3-for-3 on his initial drive as a professional that culminated with a 24-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Pierre Garcon and the 49ers never looked back.
The touchdown catch for Garcon, was his first as a member of the 49ers and his first since December 11, 2016 against the Philadelphia Eagles, while playing for the Washington Redskins.
Mullens, who was undrafted by any of the 32 NFL teams out of Southern Mississippi got the start over C.J. Beathard, who missed the game due to an injured right wrist in the 49ers 18-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.
The 151.9 passer rating for Mullens was the highest for a quarterback in a debut since the NFL merger.
The 31-point victory by the 49ers was the biggest victory in the series since the 49ers also beat the Raiders in their first ever meeting back in 1970.
Following a three-and-out by the Raiders on their next series, the 49ers took control of the game, as they held the ball for the next 7:24 that rolled over into the second quarter that ended with a Kendrick Bourne four-yard touchdown pass from Mullens on the 13th play of the drive.
Robbie Gould extended the 49ers lead up to 17-3 near the end of the second quarter, as he kicked a 39-yard field goal.
The 49ers lengthened the lead up to 24-3 on their first series of the third quarter, as drove the team down on just three plays. The key play on the drive happened when Mullens found George Kittle, who made a terrific one-handed catch and was finally tackled 71 yards later at the Raiders six-yard line.
“I closed my eyes, 100-percent,” said Kittle. “Yep. I just kind of stuck an arm out there and it fell in my hand,” Kittle added.
Mullens awarded Kittle on the end of the drive, as he found the big tight end for a 5-yard touchdown pass to stretch the 49ers lead up to three touchdowns.
After yet another failed drive by the Raiders that saw them go three-and-out, Raheem Mostert got in on the act, as he scored on a 52-yard touchdown run down the south sideline to stretch the lead up to 31-3 in favor of the home standing 49ers.
Unfortunately, on the 49ers next series on offense, Mostert was forced to leave the game with an arm injury.
“They didn’t tell me, but I would assume that it is a broken arm,” said Shanahan.
Gould rounded out the scoring in the fourth quarter, as he kicked a 25-yard field goal, his second field goal of the game.
It was a disastrous trip down Interstate 880 for the Raiders, who could only muster 242 yards of total offense on the evening.
Carr went 16-for-21 for 171 yards passing, but he was sacked seven times by the 49ers defense, who just manhandled the Raiders offensive line.
Doug Martin led the Raiders in rushing, as he carried the ball 11 times for 49 yards, while Jalen Richard led the Raiders in receiving, as he caught four passes for 45 yards.
“We’ve got to keep fight. We’ve got to go to get that dog. Go out there and keep fighting and fighting and fighting. Just go out there and show people that we still deserve to be in this league,” said Richard.
On the other side of things, the 49ers made it look easy, as they gained 405 yards of total offense, despite the fact that they were playing their third string quarterback, who never took an NFL snap prior to the game.
Before leaving the game with an arm injury in the third quarter, Mostert led the 49ers in rushing, as he carried the ball just seven time for 86 yards, including that 52-yard touchdown run.
Kittle led the 49ers in receiving, as he caught four passes for 108 yards, 71 of which came on one play just minutes into the third quarter that culminated with Mullens’ third touchdown pass of the game.
NOTES: Former 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past August was presented with his Hall of Fame ring by Hall of Fame President David Baker.
Owens, who played for the 49ers from 1997-2003 skipped the ceremony in Canton, Ohio, as he received his gold jacket at his college alma mater of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
UP NEXT: The Raiders return to the Coliseum, as they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, November 11.
The 49ers next play on November 12, as they face the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
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