San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery celebrates a big play against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday Jan 1, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)
by Marko Ukalovic
LAS VEGAS — 2023 opened with an explosion of fireworks…on the field in Sin City.
In a game that resembled an old Western style shootout, kicker Robbie Gould’s 23-yard field goal in overtime gave the San Francisco 49ers a 37-34 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.
San Francisco has won a season best nine games in a row and currently sit as the second seed in the NFC thanks to the Minnesota Vikings 41-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Las Vegas has lost two games in a row and has been eliminated from the playoff contention. It was the fifth time this season Las Vegas has blown a double-digit lead in the second half. They have lost all five games when doing so.
Las Vegas came into the game with a new starting quarterback as Jarrett Stidham replaced Derrek Carr who was benched by head coach Josh McDaniels for the final two games of the regular season. Carr has left the Raiders entirely and is expected to be either traded or cut during the off season.
What looked like a supposed blowout on paper, with San Francisco rolling and the drama that unfolded in Las Vegas, turned out to be one of the best games of the NFL 2022-23 season as both teams went back and forth in the high scoring game.
Las Vegas (6-10) drew first blood on its opening drive with an impressive six play 75-yard drive that was capped off by Stidham finding tight end Darren Waller down the right side for a 24-yard touchdown reception.
“Yeah I guess so”, said 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said if that served a wakeup call for the defense. “Obviously when they go down and score right away. I’m not sure the last time that happened, I guess (when the) Miami (Dolphins) scored on their first play of the game. I didn’t feel prior to the game that guys weren’t up for it, that they weren’t ready to go. It’s just a matter of technique and doing our job.”
San Francisco (12-4) answered back on its opening possession with an eight play 67-yard scoring drive of their own. Brock Purdy connected with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on a slant pattern for a two-yard touchdown reception. The touchdown was set up by Christian McCaffery’s 38-yard run to the Raiders one-yard line on a 3rd and 3. McCaffery had 53 rushing yards on the drive.
After a 20-yard field goal by Daniel Carson, the 49ers marched down the field on their next possession with a 13 play 75-yard scoring drive that was aided by back-to-back passing interference penalties. Purdy found his favorite target George Kittle in the back of the endzone for a two-yard touchdown reception to give San Francisco its first lead at 14-10.
San Francisco’s number one defense in the league gave up over 500 yards of offense to a Las Vegas offense that had struggled to move the ball, especially in second half of games. They also did not record a sack in the game, the first time since Week 14 against Tampa Bay.
“I think we really needed this as a defense. That’s a really good team (Raiders). (Jacobs) is the best running back I’ve played against in my career, no doubt about it. That dude’s a beast. And they have a lot of really talented players. The NFL will humble you a 100 percent of the time,” defensive end Nick Bosa said.
Las Vegas came out to start the second half firing on all cylinders. The Raiders defense sent the 49ers off the field on and three and out then their offense needed just six plays to go up 24-14 when Stidham scrambled out of the pocket and found Adams wide open after a blown coverage for a 60-yard touchdown reception.
San Francisco responded back with an eight play 75-yard drive with a balanced attack. McCaffery hit paydirt with a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
Amik Robertson picked off Purdy after coming down with a 50-50 ball that was intended for Kittle at the Raiders 18-yard line.
49ers returned the favor when Kerry Hyder Jr tipped up a pass from Stidham and went into the hands of Drake Jackson at the Las Vegas 42-yard line. San Francisco converted a Gould 43-yard field goal to even the score.
The 49ers regained the lead 27-24 with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter when they had a seven play 59-yard drive finished off with a Gould 24-yard field goal.
The Raiders answered back with 57-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson to complete a seven play 36-yard drive with 4:08 remaining.
Then things got wild in the final four minutes of the game. San Francisco drove down in less than two minutes to regain the lead when Jordan Mason scored in a 14-yard rushing touchdown. The touchdown was set up by a 38-yard reception by McCaffery on a screen pass.
“To have that kind of game, it was great to feel like that. It’s the fourth quarter, the game’s on the line. Now we gotta go and put up points. It was great for me to go through that and feel that again. The last time I felt that was when I was in college, winning the tight game,” Purdy said.
The Raiders weren’t done as they returned the favor getting the equalizer in just four plays. An impossible catch that only Adams could make went for 45 yards and then Warner’s passing interference against Waller inside the endzone set up Josh Jacobs one yard rushing touchdown with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation when two big receptions by Aiyuk set up a 41-yard field goal, but the veteran kicked sailed the kick wide right forcing overtime.
The Raiders won the toss but on the fifth play, defensive end Nick Bosa pushed Kolton Miller into Stidham that forced the ball to popup in the air and then intercepted by Tashaun Gipson as returned it to the Las Vegas three-yard line that set up Gould’s game winning field goal.
Purdy finished 22 of 35 for 284 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. McCaffery led all rushers with 121 yards on 19 carries to go along with his one touchdown. Aiyuk led the 49ers in receiving with nine catches for 101 yards.
Stidham, who had a great debut in his first ever NFL start, went 23 of 34 for 365 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Adams had a monster game as he led all receiver with seven catches for 153 yards to go along with his touchdowns. Jacobs chipped in with
GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-8 on third down conversions. Las Vegas went 4-for-10.
The 49ers have won five of the past six meetings against the Raiders and now lead the all-time series 8-7.
UP NEXT: San Francisco concludes the regular season when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday 1/8 TBD at Levi’s Stadium
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