Most national pundits assumed that the San Francisco 49ers would have no answer for standout rookie running back Phillip Lindsay. However, San Francisco managed to limit Lindsay to just 30 yards on the ground. Instead it was the Denver Broncos who couldn't find a remedy for 49ers second-year tight end George Kittle, who put up a monster performance in Week 14. Kittle registered career-highs and put up historic numbers while reaching his first career 1,000-yard season.
Here's a breakdown of key numbers and stats from the 49ers 20-14 win over the Broncos.
0 points allowed by San Francisco's defense through the first half, marking the first shutout by the 49ers in the first half of a game since 2016 against the Los Angeles Rams.
3 or more receptions of 70-plus yards in a single season for Kittle, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (three in 2015) and Torrey Smith (three in 2015) as the last players to accomplish the feat.
3.9 yards per play allowed by the 49ers defense against the Broncos, the fewest allowed since Week 16 of 2016 (3.1 against Rams).
4 receptions (at least) for Kittle in 11 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career and the longest by a member of the 49ers since Terrell Owens accomplished the feat in Weeks 5-15 of the 2002 season.
5 games this season with 90 or more receiving yards for Kittle, tying Vernon Davis (2009) for the most such games in a single season by a 49ers tight end.
5 receiving touchdowns for Dante Pettis, tied for second-most by a rookie in 49ers franchise history (WR Dave Parks – 8; RB Jimmy Thomas – 5). Pettis' five touchdown receptions on the year ranks third among all NFL rookie wideouts (Calvin Ridley – 8; Anthony Miller – 6).
20.39 MPH – Kittle's top speed during his 85-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. That's the third-fastest speed reached by a tight end as a ball carrier this season according to NextGen Stats. Kittle has two of the top six speeds reached by a tight end this season.
85 yard touchdown from Nick Mullens to Kittle is tied for the 11th-longest play from scrimmage and tied for the seventh-longest pass play in franchise history.
90 rushing yards on 23 attempts for Jeff Wilson Jr., both career-highs.
210 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions for Kittle. Kittle's 210 receiving yards are the most in a single game by a tight end in franchise history and the third-most by a tight end in a single game in the NFL since 1960. Kittle's 210 receiving yards in the first half were the most in the first half of an NFL game since Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent registered 224 receiving yards against the Detroit Lions in 1987.
274 total yards allowed by the 49ers defense. That's the lowest total for the Broncos offense all season.
332 passing yards by Nick Mullens. Mullens is the first undrafted 49ers quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in consecutive games since Jeff Garcia accomplished the feat in the three straight games in 2000. He also joins Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (Weeks 5 and 6 in 2018) as the only undrafted quarterbacks in the NFL to throw for 300 or more yards in consecutive weeks since the start of the 2017 season.
708 yards after catch for Kittle, the second-best of any NFL player (Christian McCaffrey – 710) and the most of any NFL tight end.
1,103 receiving yards through 14 weeks for Kittle. He has now set the franchise record for the most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end. Kittle became the first member of the 49ers to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since Anquan Boldin registered 1,062 yards in 2014. Kittle's total is the most by a 49ers player since Boldin had 1,179 yards in 2013. Kittle ranks 10th in the NFL in receiving yards.
