The San Francisco 49ers overcame the absence of starting quarterback Brock Purdy and a late push from the New Orleans Saints to escape with a win at Levi’s Stadium. Backup Mac Jones stepped up in a big way, and the defense delivered when it mattered most, helping the Niners avoid a 0-2 start and keep pace in the NFC.
Top two takeaways from 49ers' 26-21 victory over the Saints:
Mac Jones proves he can lead in Brock Purdy’s absence
Backup QB Mac Jones delivered under pressure. Despite missing starter Brock Purdy, Jones threw three touchdowns, completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards, and avoided interceptions.
He engineered a crucial late-first-half drive, striking Christian McCaffrey in the end zone, which gave the 49ers momentum going into the locker room. Big plays followed in the second half, including a 42-yard TD to Jauan Jennings, helping extend the lead when New Orleans threatened.
He was sacked three times and lost a fumble, but did not get rattled. Jones looked like a true starting quarterback against the Saints, but time will only tell his future as QB1, depending on Purdy's injury timeline.
Defense & turnovers make the difference down the stretch
The Saints kept things close thanks to some strong offensive efforts, but the 49ers’ defense came up with the game-changing plays.
Fred Warner forced and recovered a fumble late in the third quarter, after a Shanahan challenge overturned an initial ruling, a momentum swing that led to a major scoring drive. In the fourth quarter, pressure from the front, especially sacks by Nick Bosa and Bryce Huff, helped seal the win by halting the Saints’ final push.
Bosa, Huff, and Upton Stout each finished the game with a sack.
Up next for San Francisco: Sunday, September 21 vs. Arizona Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX)
