49ers report card from win over Seahawks: A+ for entertainment in latest entry of division rivalry

SEATTLE – Here is how the 49ers (5-0) graded in Sunday’s 32-29 win over the host Seattle Seahawks (3-2):

PASS OFFENSE: B

Mike Evans went up for the jump ball and got it. Again and again. It brought Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense into position for a go-ahead, fourth-quarter touchdown, which Brandin Cooks scored on a 7-yard pass before Evans, again, used his body to protect a 2-point conversion catch. Evans, two weeks after busting his ribs, finished with seven receptions for 113 yards, including a 2-yard grab that started Sunday’s scoring spree. Purdy’s response from a third-quarter interception, his first since the season opener: 11-of-12, with the lone incompletion being a throwaway for intentional grounding. He was finally sacked this season; three times, in fact — twice because rookie Connor Colby yielded to the imposing Byron Murphy II.

RUN OFFENSE: B

A day after announcing the birth of his son, Christian McCaffrey fathered the 49ers’ game-winning drive that started with runs for 8 and 13 yards, then a 3-yard catch. Kaelon Black then cut up the middle for an 11-yard run, and after a 4-yard McCaffrey catch and 5-yard Black run, the 49ers were in position for a winning field goal. They had just 94 yards as a team, but McCaffrey had 68 yards on 11 carries, including his fifth touchdown run this season.

PASS DEFENSE: A-

Renardo Green intercepted Sam Darnold on the Seahawks’ opening drives of each half. Even more impressive may have been the pass rush that produced five sacks – this season’s single-game high and 25% of last season’s sack total. Those sacks came from Gracen Halton, Osa Odighizuwa, Keion White and Sebastian Valdez. Eight different players had a hit on Darnold, not including Dre Greenlaw, who was ejected after a late hit on Darnold out of bounds and an ensuing Greenlaw headbutt to one of the several Seahawks who swarmed him.

RUN DEFENSE: A-

Halton’s goal-line strip and fumble recovery for a touchdown was a mesmerizing way to end a wild first half. Earlier, Fred Warner forced a fumble at the 11-yard line, leading to McCaffrey’s touchdown the next play. The Seahawks are sorely missing top-notch running backs and the 49ers made sure to hold them to 3.4 yards per carry. The lone gaffe was a 16-yard run by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whose 102 receiving yards and a touchdown were expected.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Corliss Waitman averaged 43.2 net yards on five punts, the best of which pinned the Seahawks at the 4 thanks to Siran Neal and Ashtyn Davis, with Halton’s strip-fumble touchdown coming the next play. Eddy Piñeiro made up for his wide 52-yarder by drilling the game-winner from 44 with 1:56 remaining. Jacob Cowing’s muffed punt could cost him that job, so stay tuned on that.

COACHING: A

Coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t necessarily avenge Mike Macdonald’s defensive mastery in last season’s final two meetings but to emerge with a win in Seattle can never be understated.