49ers, Brock Purdy dominant in season opener (2024)

By David Lombardi, Mark Kaboly, Matt Barrows and Mike DeFabo

The San Francisco 49ers opened their 2023 season in dominant fashion, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-7 on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Six months to the day after having elbow surgery to address a torn ulnar collateral ligament, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tossed for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-29 passes.
• The 49ers outgained the Steelers 391 yards to 239. The Steelers possessed the ball for nearly 15 minutes less than the 49ers.
• Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett finished with 232 yards on 31-of-46 passing and two interceptions.
• The Steelers lost starters Cam Heyward to a groin injury in the first half and Diontae Johnson to a hamstring injury in the second half.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

San Francisco dominant in all phases

The 49ers flexed their muscles in all three phases of the game, formally announcing their status as true title contenders this season. Purdy was sharp, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk were electric and the entire Kyle Shanahan offensive machine hummed in the run-blocking department, which is always the greatest bellwether of 49ers’ offensive success.

Their defense, the NFL’s No. 1 unit last season, stifled Pittsburgh for much of the contest. The 49ers aren’t without flaws — right tackle Colton McKivitz allowed three sacks to T.J. Watt — but there’s no denying that this was a commanding road win to open the regular season. That’s especially notable following the 49ers’ particularly newsy offseason. —Lombardi

Steelers horrible day on offense

After a preseason’s worth of perfection, the offense couldn’t have played a worse game even if it tried. The first-team offense scored on all five of its preseason possessions. On Sunday, the first team was awful. It went three-and-out on its first five drives (one was an interception on third down) and didn’t get its initial first down until 39 seconds left in the first half.

Pickett threw two interceptions, the running game was nonexistent and the play calling was suspect. It looked more like a midseason game last year than what we saw during the offseason and preseason. — Kaboly

Can the 49ers’ defense be even better in 2023?

It appears that it has a chance to improve from its No. 1 ranking in 2022. Nick Bosa, fresh off his holdout, was quiet on the stat sheet as Pittsburgh double-teamed him for much of the game. But other 49ers, namely Arik Armstead and Drake Jackson, feasted with pressure.

The addition of premier pass-rushing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave has clearly upped the oomph of the 49ers’ pass rush and they’re still elite at linebacker and safety. The fact that it took Pittsburgh nearly 29 minutes to record its first first down is a testament to the 49ers’ defensive potential. — Lombardi

Christian McCaffrey’s hot start

McCaffrey, who was excellent after arriving at midseason last year, was even better on Sunday, perhaps showing the benefit of having spent an entire offseason in the 49ers’ offense. His season-high rushing total for 2022 was 121 yards. He finished with 151 rushing yards against the Steelers to go along with 17 receiving yards. Last year, McCaffrey talked about learning a little more about the 49ers’ unorthodox zone-blocking scheme — and the correct cut-back lanes — every week. He said he continued to get comfortable with the season this offseason.

Bosa’s long absence seemed to have no impact on his playing time. The 49ers defensive end, in fact, was on the field for every snap until the Steelers went on a long drive at the end of the first half. Bosa finished with two tackles and no sacks. However, he was part of a group that put steady pressure on Pickett early in the game and at one point he drew a holding penalty against the Steelers’ James Daniels. The defensive-line star for the 49ers may have been fellow end Jackson. He was brought in as a third-down rusher and had three sacks. Jackson had three sacks all of last season. — Barrows

San Francisco investments paying off early dividends

The 49ers doubled down on Trent Williams, Armstead and George Kittle this week with significant contract restructures that opened up $42 million of 2023 salary-cap space. The franchise’s bet: These stalwart veterans will continue to be productive for at least two more (preferably three) seasons.

The outcome of that wager is still a long way from being determined, but today’s opening tour de force from the 49ers certainly illustrates what their brass is thinking: This team is geared up to win a lot now and it’s not planning on slowing down anytime soon. —Lombardi

T.J. Watt’s record-setting day

Watt had a record-setting afternoon at Acrisure Stadium, tallying three sacks to tie James Harrison for the Steelers franchise record with 80 1/2 career sacks. He tied the record in memorable fashion, dragging down Purdy for a sack and snatching the football in the process.

However, in many ways, he was one of the few Steelers defensive players who did his job well. The 49ers scored on each of their first four possessions to take a 20-0 lead and never looked back. Pittsburgh will need better from one of the league’s highest-paid units. —DeFabo

Key stats

McCaffrey’s 151 rushing yards were his most since 2019 and his 168 all-purpose yards were his second most as a 49er.

Required reading

• 49ers QB Brock Purdy looks like 2022 self in silencing ‘haters,’ trouncing Steelers
• Thompson: Brandon Aiyuk, even in a phone booth, shows how dangerous 49ers can be
• Nick Bosa and Brock Purdy vs. T.J. Watt and Kenny Pickett: The symmetry of 49ers-Steelers
• How the 49ers paid Nick Bosa huge money — all while surging to No. 1 in cap space

(Photo: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)