49ers report card: Defense gets straight As in post-bye statement

SANTA CLARA — A rested and rejuvenated 49ers team played host to the reeling Raiders on Sunday afternoon, and it played out about as expected.San Francisco ran the ball down the throats of the Las Vegas defense, opened up a two-touchdown lead on its first two drives and never looked back in a commanding 38-17 win.Rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger took Kirk Cousins’ first pass of the second half to the house, and the 49ers forced four more turnovers after halftime to ensure they came out of their bye week on the right note.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.
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Never miss a story An instant report card from San Francisco’s win to improve to 7-1:For the most part, like the rest of the 49ers’ offense, Brock Purdy’s best work of the afternoon came on the ground.He was forced out of the pocket, but it usually worked in his favor.He picked up 40 yards on seven runs, including three scrambles on the 49ers’ second scoring drive of the opening quarter.
Facing third and 14, Purdy escaped for 18 yards and first down into the red zone.Two plays later, he was on the move again for another first down, inside the 10, and he capped it off by out-stretching the ball over the goal line to put the 49ers ahead 14-0.After a week off, Purdy had some rust to shake off early on, notably missing a wide-open George Kittle for what would have been a big gain, but settled in as the game went on.Purdy underthrew Kittle in the second half and was picked off for the fifth time this season.
But the 49ers defense negated it almost immediately, forcing a fumble two plays later.Purdy finished 17-of-25 for 232 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns to offset the INT.His second touchdown pass of the afternoon was the 100th of his career.Las Vegas, with the NFL’s 31st-ranked rush defense, had no answe...