November 8, 2026 | San Francisco 49ers 38, Las Vegas Raiders 17
The San Francisco 49ers returned from their bye week with an impressive performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, winning 38–17 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
Brock Purdy threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Christian McCaffrey contributed both a rushing and receiving touchdown, while Jordan Watkins delivered one of the game’s biggest offensive plays.
San Francisco’s defense was equally important, forcing four turnovers and shutting down the Raiders’ running game.
The 49ers entered the matchup looking to respond to their first defeat of the season against Atlanta, and they wasted little time taking control.
First Quarter: San Francisco Controls the Clock and Builds an Early Lead
The 49ers opened the game with a methodical drive, using McCaffrey and their passing attack to move downfield.
Purdy kept the offense moving, and McCaffrey eventually finished the 69-yard possession with a one-yard touchdown run. Eddy Piñeiro converted the extra point to give San Francisco a 7–0 lead.
Las Vegas struggled to establish any rhythm on its opening possession. Kirk Cousins couldn’t connect with Brock Bowers on third down, forcing the Raiders to punt.
The 49ers responded with another lengthy drive.
Purdy found George Kittle for a 37-yard gain, helping move San Francisco into scoring position. Later in the possession, the quarterback escaped pressure and scrambled for 18 yards on third-and-15, keeping the drive alive.
That was an important moment. Instead of settling for a punt or field goal attempt, San Francisco continued moving toward the end zone.
Purdy eventually scored on a one-yard scramble, extending the lead to 14–0 with just under two minutes remaining.
The Raiders began moving the ball late in the quarter, with Bowers making a 20-yard reception, but San Francisco carried its two-touchdown advantage into the second.
End of First Quarter: 49ers 14, Raiders 0.
Second Quarter: Raiders Respond, but McCaffrey Restores the Advantage
Las Vegas finally found the end zone early in the second quarter.
Cousins connected with Tre Tucker for a 14-yard gain before Ashton Jeanty helped move the Raiders closer to the goal line.
Cousins finished the drive himself, scoring on a two-yard quarterback sneak to cut San Francisco’s lead to 14–7.
The Raiders had some momentum, but the 49ers answered with another impressive possession.
Starting deep in their own territory, San Francisco put together a 12-play, 84-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes.
Purdy connected with Watkins for 24 yards and found KhaDarel Hodge for another 17. McCaffrey also helped keep the chains moving, including a successful fourth-and-one conversion.
With 5:20 remaining, Purdy found McCaffrey for a 12-yard receiving touchdown.
The 49ers were back ahead 21–7.
Las Vegas responded with a drive into San Francisco territory, but the possession stalled after negative plays pushed the Raiders backward.
Matt Gay converted a 50-yard field goal to make it 21–10.
The 49ers entered halftime having scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions. Their ability to sustain long drives was making life difficult for the Raiders’ defense.
Halftime: 49ers 21, Raiders 10.
Third Quarter: Pick-Six Changes Everything
Any hopes of a Raiders comeback suffered a massive setback almost immediately after halftime.
On Las Vegas’ first offensive play of the third quarter, Cousins mishandled the snap, recovered the ball, and attempted a short pass.
Jaden Dugger intercepted it and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown.
Just six seconds into the second half, San Francisco had extended its advantage to 28–10.
It was a disastrous start for the Raiders, who needed a clean possession to work their way back into the game.
To their credit, Las Vegas responded with a productive drive.
Cousins connected with Tucker for 16 yards and found Bowers multiple times as the Raiders moved into San Francisco territory.
Bowers eventually caught a 21-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 28–17.
For a moment, the Raiders had an opportunity to make things interesting.
San Francisco’s offense then gave Las Vegas another chance when Purdy threw an interception to T.J. Stukes.
But the 49ers defense stepped up.
Fred Warner forced a fumble from Bowers, and Dre Greenlaw recovered it, ending the Raiders’ possession.
Later in the quarter, the Raiders again threatened to score. Cousins found Michael Mayer for a 24-yard completion, but Upton Stout forced a fumble near the goal line.
Warner recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
Instead of allowing Las Vegas to close the gap, San Francisco had produced another critical takeaway.
Purdy then led the 49ers downfield, finding Watkins for 19 yards and Kittle for 12.
With 44 seconds remaining in the quarter, Purdy connected with Watkins on a 37-yard touchdown pass.
San Francisco had turned a potentially competitive game into a commanding 35–17 lead.
End of Third Quarter: 49ers 35, Raiders 17.
Fourth Quarter: San Francisco Closes the Door
Las Vegas entered the final quarter needing a major comeback, but another costly mistake ended a promising opportunity.
Cousins connected with Bowers for a 33-yard gain to the San Francisco one-yard line.
However, a potential touchdown to Michael Mayer was wiped out by offensive pass interference.
Two plays later, Cousins attempted a pass into the end zone, where Renardo Green intercepted it for a touchback.
It was another frustrating sequence for the Raiders. They had moved within striking distance but came away with nothing.
San Francisco took advantage by slowing the game down.
Kaelon Black contributed several important runs, including an 18-yard gain that helped the 49ers continue draining the clock.
McCaffrey remained involved, and Purdy helped keep the offense moving as Las Vegas struggled to get its defense off the field.
Piñeiro eventually converted a 35-yard field goal with 5:24 remaining, extending the advantage to 38–17.
The Raiders couldn’t produce the quick scores they needed, and San Francisco finished off a comfortable victory.
Final Score: 49ers 38, Raiders 17.
San Francisco’s Defense Made the Difference
The 49ers’ offense deserves plenty of credit, but their defense played an enormous role in deciding this game.
San Francisco forced four turnovers, including Dugger’s interception return for a touchdown.
Warner was involved in two critical third-quarter takeaways, recovering Mayer’s fumble near the goal line after previously forcing a fumble from Bowers.
The 49ers also completely shut down the Raiders’ rushing attack.
Las Vegas managed just 24 rushing yards, while San Francisco produced 182.
That difference made the Raiders increasingly dependent on Cousins and the passing game, allowing San Francisco’s defense to attack more aggressively.
Purdy and McCaffrey Keep the Offense Rolling
Purdy completed 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
His contributions went beyond passing. His scrambling ability helped extend multiple drives, particularly his 18-yard run on third-and-15 in the opening quarter.
McCaffrey continued his excellent season, scoring once on the ground and once through the air.
Watkins also made a major contribution, catching four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. His 37-yard score late in the third quarter effectively ended any realistic hopes of a Raiders comeback.
San Francisco finished with 414 total yards and 26 first downs.
Raiders’ Turnovers Waste Bowers’ Strong Performance
Brock Bowers was one of the few bright spots for Las Vegas, finishing with seven receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Cousins completed 22 of 31 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
But the Raiders couldn’t overcome their mistakes.
Las Vegas repeatedly moved into promising positions, only to lose possession through interceptions or fumbles.
Their inability to run the football made matters worse, and the defense struggled to stop San Francisco’s lengthy drives.
Final Thoughts
The 49ers needed a response after suffering their first loss of the season, and they delivered one.
San Francisco controlled the opening half with long touchdown drives, then used defensive takeaways to take command after halftime.
Purdy was effective, McCaffrey continued finding the end zone, and the defense made the Raiders pay for their mistakes.
For Las Vegas, this was a difficult afternoon. The Raiders showed occasional flashes offensively, particularly through Bowers, but four turnovers and a nonexistent running game were too much to overcome.
San Francisco leaves Week 9 with a convincing victory and plenty of momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Final Score: San Francisco 49ers 38, Las Vegas Raiders 17.
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