The 49ers had a slow start defensively in their 48-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday, but the team finished the night with a dominant performance that featured several players posting career-best PFF grades.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy had a standout performance with the help of his offensive teammates, who kept pressure to a minimum. The signal-caller’s 96.6 overall grade is the best of this NFL career, and the highest of any quarterback this season. 

No matter what the Colts’ defense dialed up, Purdy had an answer. When under pressure, the fourth-year pro completed seven of his nine attempts for 81 yards with one touchdown and a 141.2 passer rating. 

Purdy also successfully pushed the ball downfield, completing three of his four passes of 20 or more yards downfield for 71 yards with one touchdown and a 156.3 passer rating. He extended plays consistently with a 7.3 percent pressure-to-sack ratio, which is the lowest of any NFL quarterback this season with 200 or more drop backs. 

The 49ers’ offense only allowed six total pressures: Colton McKivitz and Dominick Puni each permitted two hurries, while Spencer Burford allowed one. Luke Farrell allowed the only quarterback sack, where the ball was tipped up into the air and the tight end caught the ball for a positive play. Neither Jake Brendel nor Trent Williams allowed a pressure. 

George Kittle, who left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, earned a 94.8 grade after his season-high seven catches for 115 yards with a touchdown. It is the All-Pro’s highest grade since Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season, and the highest of any tight end in a 2025 game. 

All seven of Kittle’s receptions resulted in either a first down or a touchdown, helping make him PFF’s top-graded tight end overall with a 91.3 grade on the season. His contested catch rate of 91.7 percent (11 out of 12) leads all pass catchers with at least 10 contested targets. 

Contested catches are a hallmark of Jauan Jennings, who caught two on “Monday Night Football” for a total of 18 on the season, tying him for fourth among all pass catchers. All five of Jennings’ receptions resulted in either a first down or a touchdown, and three of them came on third down. 

Colton McKivitz allowed two hurries, but his 82.9 overall grade on the season ranks ninth among qualifying offensive tackles, and his 90.6 run blocking grade ranks fourth. Williams has a third-ranked 91.5 overall grade on the season, including a 92.8 in run blocking grade, which ranks him second. 

Defense

Dee Winters’ 94.0 overall grade is a career high. The linebacker allowed one catch on three targets for 11 yards, with one pass break up and a game-sealing pick six.

CJ West also received a career-high overall grade (90.9) as a result of his team-leading four quarterback pressures (one sack, three hurries) in just 12 pass-rush plays.

A third player who received a career-high overall grade in Week 16 (84.8) is Upton Stout, who allowed four catches on eight targets for only 45 yards and two pass breakups. The nickel back also registered five solo tackles and two stops.

The 49ers reduced their number of missed tackles in Week 16 but still were charged with eight — three by Tatum Bethune, who was returning from a high ankle sprain, while Malik Mustapha, Darrell Luter Jr., Winters and Luke Gifford all missed one. 

Colts quarterback Philip Rivers surprised the 49ers’ defense with an average depth of target of 10.4 yards, which doubles his number from Week 15 (5.2 yards). Once Robert Saleh’s group settled down in the second quarter Monday, they were able to limit Rivers and the Colts’ offense . 

Saleh attempted to disguise what his group was trying to do, and surprisingly, they were more effective when they did not blitz. The defense got pressure on six of 10 drop backs in second half (60 percent) when they did not blitz and three of their six attempts (50 percent) when they did blitz.

Defensive Pressure Rate:

First half – four of 22 drop backs (18.2 percent)

Second half – nine of 16 drop backs (56.3 percent)

49ers Defense Blitz Rate:

First half – two of 22 drop backs (9.1 percent)

Second half – six of 16 drop backs (37.5 percent)

Luter stepped in for Renardo Green, who is dealing with a neck injury, and received a 53.6 overall grade, allowing catches on all three targets for 42 yards, a touchdown and a pass breakup. Deommodore Lenoir received a 41.0 overall grade, allowing catches on all three targets for 45 yards.

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