Starting quarterback Brock Purdy was in midseason form during Saturday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but kicker Jake Moody stole the show in the 49ers’ thrilling 22-19 win at Allegiant Stadium.
Moody lifted the 49ers to the win by booting a 59-yard field goal as time expired, setting off a wild celebration.
Long before Moody played the role of hero, Purdy saw action on one drive and completed 5 of his 7 pass attempts for 66 yards. Three of those completions went to second-year pro Ricky Pearsall, who will have a big role for the 49ers this season.
The Purdy-led drive ended in a 30-yard Moody field goal to give the 49ers an early lead, but the Raiders punched back, taking a 10-3 lead less than two minutes into the second quarter.
Backup quarterback Mac Jones threw an interception on his first possession, but he led the 49ers on a game-tying drive five minutes into the second quarter. Veteran running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who re-signed with San Francisco last week, punctuated the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Moody’s inconsistency continued when he badly missed a potential go-ahead 53-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
The Raiders answered with a 35-yard Daniel Carlson field goal just before halftime, to take a 13-10 lead into the locker room.
Moody bounced back late in the third quarter, sneaking a 26-yard field goal by the left upright to tie the game 13-13.
Carlson and Moody each made two fourth-quarter field goals, with the 49ers’ kicker booting a 44-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game.
The Raiders had a chance to drive down the field in the final minute to attempt to win the game, but quarterback Cam Miller was intercepted by 49ers safety Jaylen Mahoney with 21 seconds remaining.
Third-string quarterback Carter Bradley threw two incompletions before Moody trotted on the field and kicked the 49ers to victory.
Jones completed 13 of 16 of his pass attempts for 135 yards and was intercepted once.
Bradley finished the game for the 49ers, completing 8 of 13 passes for 96 yards.
Robbie Chosen led 49ers receivers with five receptions for 92 yards. Ke’Shawn Vaughn paced the backfield with 24 yards on nine carries.
Here are Matt Maiocco’s three takeaways from the 49ers’ preseason win over the Raiders:
Puni out several weeks
Things did not look good when right guard Dominick Puni sustained a right knee injury in the first quarter.
Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game that Puni sustained a possible PCL injury and that the second-year pro will be out a few weeks.
The 49ers conclude the preseason next Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers and then have two weeks off before they open the regular season against the Seahawks on Sept. 7 in Seattle.
The 49ers simply could not afford to lose Puni for any length of time because of the overall state of the team’s offensive line.
The 49ers entered training camp looking to find a player to fill the void at left guard with the departure of Aaron Banks in free agency. Ben Bartch, the presumptive starter, is out for a week or more with an elbow injury.
Rookie Connor Colby started at left guard in place of Bartch. Nick Zakelj took over at right guard for the second drive of the game when Puni was injured.
Puni widely was regarded as the team’s second-best offensive lineman last season behind left tackle Trent Williams. Puni is considered a player who could be among the 49ers’ next generation of stars.
Moody locks it down
It did not start off so well for Jake Moody, but the 49ers’ kicker came through in a big way on Saturday.
Moody nailed a 59-yard field goal as time expired to supply the 49ers with the winning points. He also made kicks of 50 and 44 yards in the fourth quarter.
He turned around a day that was not going so well through the first three quarters of the game. He finished making five of his six attempts.
His 44-yard field goal with 37 remaining in regulation to pull the 49ers into a 19-19 tie. Had it missed that kick, there would certainly be an uprising among the fan base.
Because up to that point, Moody looked a little shaky.
Moody made a 30-yard field goal attempt and an extra point before lining up late in the second quarter for a 53-yarder.
His field-goal attempt started left and remained left. His kick never had a chance, even after a clean snap and hold. In the third quarter, he barely made a 26-yard attempt just inside the left upright.
Moody bounced back and looked much steadier in the fourth quarter and looks as if he is the guy who will be kicking when the regular season begins.
A taste of Purdy-Pearsall connection
Purdy and Pearsall have fashioned a nice rapport during training camp, with the young wide receiver establishing himself as the quarterback’s favorite target during practices this summer.
Purdy’s first three pass attempts were directed to Pearsall, whose receptions went for gains of 7, 14 and 21 yards. Their 21-yard connection on a third-and-18 play.
Purdy started the game and played the first series. He completed his first five passes for 66 yards before that drive stalled and the 49ers settled for a field goal.
After that opening 12-play, 61-yard drive, coach Kyle Shanahan sat down the 49ers’ offensive starters for the remainder of the game.
Pearsall is looking to carry over the momentum of his rookie season into Year 2. In his final two games of 2024, he caught 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in games against Detroit and Arizona.
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