NFL Week 1 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 7

2RT3R4C San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, throws next to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

In a game that was one-sided from the start, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 30-7 to open their 2023 season.

These were PFF’s standout players from the game.


Offensive spotlight: There were a handful of 49ers players who stood out, but we’ll focus on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk finished the game with an initial 92.5 receiving grade after catching all eight of his targets for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a key block for a 65-yard touchdown run from running back Christian McCaffrey.

Quarterback Brock Purdy went 19-of-29 with 220 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions in his first regular season game back from elbow surgery.

Defensive spotlight: There wasn’t much to write home about for the Steelers in this one, but if there was a lone spotlight, it was T.J. Watt.

Watt finished the game with three sacks, two forced fumbles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery and five quarterback hits, pending reviews. Regardless of his team’s outcome, those numbers will put him in the early Defensive Player of the Year conversation.

Rookie spotlight: Steelers rookie defensive lineman Keeanu Benton played well in his NFL debut. He finished the game with three combined tackles, getting some extra playing time after Cam Heyward left the game with an injury.


Box Score

Passing
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int Long Sacks Rtg
Brock Purdy 17.9 19 / 29 220 7.6 2 0 23 3 111.3
Pittsburgh Steelers
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int Long Sacks Rtg
Kenny Pickett 11.68 31 / 46 232 5 1 2 31 5 68.4
Rushing
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long Fum Lost
Christian McCaffrey 28.9 22 152 6.9 1 65 0
Brock Purdy 17.9 3 21 7 0 18 1
Deebo Samuel 11.3 2 8 4 0 5 0
Elijah Mitchell 1 5 10 2 0 4 0
Sam Darnold -0.2 2 -2 -1 0 -1 0
Pittsburgh Steelers
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long Fum Lost
Kenny Pickett 11.68 1 4 4 0 4 0
Jaylen Warren 6.8 3 6 2 0 3 0
Najee Harris 5.3 6 31 5.2 0 24 0
Receiving
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT YPR TD Long
Brandon Aiyuk 35.9 8 8 129 16.1 16.1 2 23
Christian McCaffrey 28.9 5 3 17 3.4 5.7 0 7
Deebo Samuel 11.3 7 5 55 7.9 11 0 22
George Kittle 4.9 6 3 19 3.2 6.3 0 11
Elijah Mitchell 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jauan Jennings 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pittsburgh Steelers
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT YPR TD Long
Allen Robinson II 11.4 8 5 64 8 12.8 0 31
Calvin Austin III 9.7 6 6 37 6.2 6.2 0 13
George Pickens 8.6 7 5 36 5.1 7.2 0 9
Diontae Johnson 7.8 6 3 48 8 16 0 26
Pat Freiermuth 7.3 4 1 3 0.8 3 1 3
Jaylen Warren 6.8 6 5 12 2 2.4 0 9
Najee Harris 5.3 2 2 2 1 1 0 4
Connor Heyward 3.9 4 2 19 4.8 9.5 0 11
Anthony McFarland Jr. 3.1 2 2 11 5.5 5.5 0 6

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