Stats and Facts: 49ers Turn Steel into Gold in Victory Over Pittsburgh

The San Francisco 49ers open the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998 following the Week 3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Take a look at some key stats and figures from the 49ers 24-20 victory over Pittsburgh.

Team Notes:

• The 49ers have won their home opener for the first time since 2016 [W, 28-0 vs. LAR (9/12/16)].
• San Francisco is now 2-0 against the AFC North this season, with two games remaining against the division (Week 5 against Cleveland Browns; Week 13 at Baltimore Ravens).
• The 49ers improved to 12-10 overall against the Steelers, including a 6-5 record at home. San Francisco has now won three-straight home games against Pittsburgh.

Offensive Notes

• The 49ers offense totaled 436 yards (168 rushing and 268 passing) against Pittsburgh. Along with the 572 net yards the offense amassed in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals (259 rushing and 313 passing), it marked the first time the 49ers offense had over 430 total yards in consecutive weeks since 2003 [Week 14, 2003 against Arizona Cardinals – 496 (232 rushing and 264 passing) and Week 15, 2003 at Cincinnati Bengals – 502 (171 rushing and 331 passing)].
• With Jeff Wilson Jr.'s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, the 49ers offense has now scored a touchdown on their opening possession of the second half in all three games this season.

Defensive Notes

• The 49ers now have five interceptions on the season, the most by the team in Weeks 1-3 since 2011 (five interceptions).
• San Francisco's defense limited Pittsburgh's running backs to 79 yards on the ground. It marks the second-straight week the team has held its opponent to under 80 rushing yards.
• The 49ers held the Steelers to 3-of-12 on third down (25 percent).
• Entering the Week 3 "Monday Night Football" contest, the 49ers rank second in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (283.3).
• The 49ers defense registered two takeaways on the day (one interception, one fumble recovery), with each takeaway leading to touchdowns (1-yard touchdown run by Wilson Jr.; 5-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Dante Pettis).
• Through the first three weeks of the season, the 49ers have turned seven takeaways into 32 points, ranking second in the NFL for the most points off of takeaways.

Most Points Off Takeaways in 2019

Player Notes

Arik Armstead

• Late in the fourth quarter with the 49ers trailing 17-20, Armstead forced a James Conner fumble, marking his second-career forced fumble [at Buffalo Bills (Oct. 2016)]. The fumble was recovered by DeForest Buckner.

DeForest Buckner

• Buckner recorded his fourth-career fumble recovery and first since Dec. 2018 against the Chicago Bears. The takeaway led to the game-winning touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Pettis.
• Buckner brought down Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph for a 9-yard sack. He now has 2.0 sacks on the season, 23.0 for his career and has registered 1.0 sack in consecutive games for the fourth time.
• In addition to his fumble recovery, Buckner was also credited with a forced fumble, marking the second of his career.

Jimmy Garoppolo

• Trailing 17-20 with 1:20 to go in the game, Garoppolo found Pettis in the end zone on a 5-yard game-winning touchdown pass. It marked Garoppolo's third fourth quarter comeback win with the 49ers (Week 13, 2017 at Chicago Bears; Week 15, 2017 vs. Tennessee Titans) and his first game-winning touchdown pass.
• Garoppolo is averaging a career-high 8.8 passing yards per attempt this season, the third best in the NFL among players with two or more starts.
• Garoppolo is 9-2 (.818) as the 49ers starting quarterback. He has the best win percentage of any quarterback since Week 13, 2017 (minimum 10 starts).

K'Waun Williams

• Williams intercepted Rudolph, marking his first interception of the season and the second of his career. His interception led to Wilson Jr.'s 1-yard touchdown run.

Dee Ford

• Ford brought down Rudolph for a 5-yard sack. He now has 2.0 sacks on the season and 32.5 for his career.

Jeff Wilson Jr.

• San Francisco's running back finished the game with 8 carries for 18 yards and two touchdowns. He now has four rushing touchdowns on the season and at least two rushing touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
• Wilson Jr. becomes the first member of the 49ers with at least two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games since Frank Gore in Weeks 7-8 of the 2013 season.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wilson Jr. is 1-of-4 undrafted players in the common draft era with two or more rushing touchdowns in two of the team's first three games of a season (Isaiah Crowell – 2018; Priest Holmes – 2001, 2002 & 2003; Dan Reeves – 1968).

George Kittle

• Kittle finished the game with 57 receiving yards on six receptions. Week 3 marked Kittle's eighth-straight game with 50 or more receiving yards.

Consecutive Games of 50+ Receiving Yards