SANTA CLARA — The bye week fixed what Atlanta broke. The 49ers took the ball away from the Las Vegas Raiders five times Sunday and beat them 38-17 at Levi’s Stadium, moving to 7-1 and staying unbeaten at home.
Two weeks ago in Atlanta, four turnovers cost San Francisco a game it should have won. Against the Raiders, the turnovers went the other way: three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and the 49ers turned them into points.
McCaffrey back, and back in the end zone
Christian McCaffrey, cleared to play after a hamstring strain, needed less than six minutes to make it count. He punched in a 1-yard touchdown run on the first drive, then caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy in the second quarter. Purdy added a 1-yard scramble for a score late in the first quarter, and San Francisco led 14-0 before the Raiders found their footing.
Purdy completed 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, including a 37-yard strike to Watkins in the final minute of the third quarter that put the game away at 35-17. The 49ers ran for 190 yards and held the ball for more than 38 minutes.
The defense took it
The play of the day came on the first snap of the second half. Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins fumbled the snap, picked it up and threw anyway, and Dugger intercepted it and ran 35 yards for a touchdown. That made it 28-10, and Las Vegas never got closer than 11 again.
The Raiders managed 24 rushing yards all day. Cousins ran for one touchdown and threw a 21-yard score to Brock Bowers, but Las Vegas, which started the season 3-0, has now lost five straight.
Next up: Dallas
The 49ers go to Dallas next Sunday, Nov. 15. Kickoff is 1:25 p.m. Pacific.
Final: 49ers 38, Raiders 17.
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