How the 49ers Reached the Super Bowl: A Season Recap Highlighting Top Players

The San Francisco 49ers will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. They had an up-and-down start to the season but were often regarded as one of the team’s top teams.

Let’s take a look at how the 49ers made it back to the Super Bowl, highlighting the team’s top fantasy options throughout the season.

Regular Season

San Francisco made an early statement at being the team to beat with a 30-7 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one in Pittsburgh. San Fran held a 391-239 advantage in total yards.

Quarterback Brock Purdy finished with 240 total yards and two touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey went for 169 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Aiyuk added 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Deebo Samuel had 63 total yards.

Week two saw the Niners claim a fun 30-23 road win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was pretty much a shootout, with two Rams’ turnovers proving to be a big part of the final score.

Purdy had 211 total yards and a touchdown, while McCaffrey went for 135 total yards and a score. Samuel added 101 total yards and a score, while Jauan Jennings had 51 receiving yards.

San Fran moved to 3-0 after a 30-12 beatdown of the New York Giants. The hosts had a 441-150 advantage in total yards.

Purdy had 310 passing yards and two scores, with McCaffrey adding 119 total yards and a score. Samuel finished with 131 total yards and a touchdown, George Kittle contributed 90 receiving yards and Ronnie Bell caught a touchdown.

A 35-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals moved the Niners to 4-0.

Purdy had 283 total yards and two scores, and again didn’t have a turnover. McCaffrey went for 177 total yards and four touchdowns, while Aiyuk went off again for 148 yards.

A clash with the Dallas Cowboys looked like a good test, but San Fran dominated and won 42-10 at home. The hosts held a 421-197 advantage in total yards and got four takeaways.

Purdy threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns, with Kittle catching three of the touchdowns and finishing with 67 receiving yards. McCaffrey had 78 total yards and a touchdown, while Jordan Mason had 69 rushing yards and a score. Samuel had 85 total yards of offense, Aiyuk went for 58 receiving yards and fullback Kyle Juszczyk caught a touchdown.

The Niners’ first loss was to the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland won 19-17 behind P.J. Walker at quarterback.

Purdy had just 125 passing yards and a touchdown, while throwing his first interception of the season. McCaffrey was limited to 52 yards and a touchdown, while Mason rushed for another score. Aiyuk had 76 receiving yards, but everyone else was pretty much held in check.

The Niners lost a second straight game in week seven, falling 22-17 to the Minnesota Vikings on the road. San Fran had three turnovers, including two Purdy picks.

Purdy finished with 291 total yards and a touchdown. McCaffrey had 96 total yards and two scores, while Kittle (78), Aiyuk (57) and Jennings (54) all had over 50 receiving yards.

The Niners were beaten down by the Cincinnati Bengals in week eight, falling 31-17 at home. Three more turnovers proved costly.

Purdy had 422 total yards and a touchdown, but threw two picks and lost a fumble. McCaffrey tallied 118 total yards and two scores. Kittle went for 149 receiving yards, while Aiyuk had 109 receiving yards.

Samuel played nine offensive snaps during the team’s three-game skid, so while he wasn’t always contributing huge offensive numbers, his presence alone made a big difference.

San Fran got back on track with a 34-3 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 10. The visitors held a 437-221 advantage in total yards and won the turnover battle 4-0.

Purdy had 296 passing yards and three scores. McCaffrey went for 142 total yards, while Samuel had 59 total yards and a score. Kittle, Aiyuk and Juszczyk all caught a touchdown, with Kittle going for 116 receiving yards along the way.

A 27-14 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers boosted the Niners record to 7-3. It was another dominant showing, with a 420-287 advantage in total yards.

Purdy had 346 total yards and three touchdowns. Aiyuk had 156 receiving yards and a touchdown, Kittle added 89 receiving yards and a touchdown and McCaffrey went for 103 total yards and a score.

The 49ers moved to 8-3 after a 31-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. San Fran had a 377-220 advantage in total yards.

Purdy threw for 209 yards and a score, while being picked off once. McCaffrey had 139 total yards and two scores, while Samuel added 94 total yards and a score. Aiyuk had 50 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Another tough test loomed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but San Fran won 42-19 to start the Eagles’ tailspin. 

Purdy threw for 314 yards and four scores, while avoiding any turnovers. McCaffrey had 143 total yards and a touchdown, while Samuel had 138 total yards and three scores. Aiyuk and Jennings each caught a touchdown, while Kittle finished with 68 receiving yards.

San Fran got win No. 10 after topping Seattle 28-16. San Fran had 527 total yards of offense, with two turnovers holding the team back from even more points.

Purdy had 368 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. McCaffrey went for 153 total yards, but it was Mason that scored a touchdown. Samuel scored twice and had 150 total yards. Aiyuk contributed 126 yards, while Kittle had 76 yards and a touchdown.

San Fran had 406 more offensive yards in a 45-29 road win over the Cardinals in week 15.

Purdy had 242 passing yards and four touchdowns. McCaffrey had 187 total yards and three scores, while Samuel had 59 total yards and two touchdowns. Kittle added 54 receiving yards.

San Fran was thumped 33-19 at home by the Baltimore Ravens the following week. Purdy’s MVP chances all but evaporated after throwing four picks.

Purdy had 255 passing yards, but no scores in the game. Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass to Bell late. McCaffrey still had 131 total yards and a touchdown, while Kittle and Aiyuk had 126 and 113 receiving yards, respectively.

A 27-10 win over the Washington Commanders in week 17 helped the Niners clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC. San Fran had a 408-225 advantage in total yards.

Purdy bounced back with 230 passing yards and two scores. McCaffrey had 91 total yards, while Elijah Mitchell had 80 rushing yards and a score. Samuel tallied 72 total yards and a score, while Aiyuk had 114 receiving yards and a touchdown.

With the top seed secured, San Fran rested most of its starters in week 18. The Niners lost 21-20 to the Rams, who also rested starters. Darnold accounted for 209 total yards and two scores, throwing a touchdown to Bell. 

Postseason, So Far

After their bye week, the Niners got a big scare from the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers. Purdy led a late touchdown drive to help San Fran escape with a 24-21 win.

Purdy finished with 266 total yards and one score. McCaffrey had 128 total yards and two scores, while Kittle had 81 receiving yards and a score. Jennings had 61 receiving yards after Samuel left early with an injury.

San Fran trailed 24-7 at halftime against the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round, but scored 27 unanswered points on its way to a 34-31 win.

Purdy had 315 total yards and a touchdown, while throwing a pick. McCaffrey had 132 total yards and two more scores. Samuel returned and had 96 total yards, while Mitchell scored a rushing touchdown. Aiyuk had 68 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The Niners’ defense made a couple timely fourth-down stops to change the momentum of the game. They allowed 442 yards of offense though.