NEW ORLEANS – The 49ers are 2-0 for the fourth time in seven seasons, and although this undermanned version doesn’t look like world beaters, they outlasted the Saints 26-21 Sunday.
It was a wild ride with Mac Jones debuting in place of an injured Brock Purdy, but Jones delivered three touchdown passes, the final one being a 42-yard strike to Jauan Jennings on third down for the eventual winning points.
A week after opening with a 17-13 win at Seattle, the 49ers defense had its ups and downs, but it never relinquished the lead, and like Week 1, a strip-sack fumble secured the victory.
“Two games like this, dogfights to start the year, and closing it on defense, there’s no better feeling,” defensive end Nick Bosa said.
It all went down at the historic Superdome, which turned into the “Red Room” with red-clad 49ers fans accounting for more than half of the 70,078 crowd.
It wasn’t over until a last-minute stop by the 49ers. On fourth-and-1 from their own 42, Bryce Huff created a strip-sack fumble of Spencer Rattler, a week after Bosa had similar strip-sack heroics in Seattle.
“We saved our best rush for the end,” Bosa said. “I kicked inside and rushed the guard. I just saw the ball flailing around. I’m happy for Huff.”
Huff, acquired in a June 2 trade from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, credited his teammates for his play of the day, saying: “Luckily everybody on the D-line won their rep, so he didn’t have any place to step up and I was able to have the edge and get home.”
Three hours after it began, Jones took a knee in victory formation, capping his successful debut (26-of-39, 279 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, one fumble).
Jones, making his 50th career start after three years in New England and last year’s relief role in Jacksonville, said he “worked through nerves” and settled down with the help of a pep talk from left tackle Trent Williams, who was questionable to play because of a knee injury.
Said Jones: “Trent just came up to me, like, ‘Just go hoop, dude. Go make plays.’ And I was like, ‘Alright, if Trent Williams can say that, then I can do it.’ ”
Jones surged with a 77-yard, last-minute touchdown drive before halftime that he capped with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, who finished with almost as many receiving yards (52) as rushing yards (55).
That was McCaffrey’s first touchdown since the Super Bowl two seasons ago — “I’d love to get there a lot more,” he said — but Jones’ last touchdown pass would provide the eventual winning points.
On third-and-11 early in the fourth quarter, Jones deftly threw a pass over the middle that hit Jennings in stride. That play call is a staple of coach Kyle Shanahan’s, and not even the Saints’ Cover-2 defense could prevent it.
“In my mind, I didn’t think I was going to get the ball because the ‘backer dropped and got depth,” Jennings said, “but Mac ripped it, a beautiful ball, and I got into the end zone. ”
Said Jones: “That’s one of Kyle’s favorite plays. They gave us a different look than what we were thinking. Jauan just had a drive-by and caught it. I looked to the left a little bit, moved the ‘backer and threw it. He took it to the house. He did a great job playing through some stuff.”
Jennings, who was questionable with a shoulder injury, also banged up an ankle. Already playing without Purdy (toe) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring; injured reserve), the 49ers lost two other offensive starters by the second quarter: fullback Kyle Juszczyk (concussion) and left guard Ben Bartch (ankle).
What set up that final touchdown drive was Fred Warner’s expertise: He punched free a football Alvin Kamara had just caught at the 49ers’ 29-yard line. Warner recovered it, and Shanahan won a replay challenge to secure the takeaway.
That ensuing touchdown drive proved vital, because the Saints responded with Rattler’s third touchdown pass of the game, cutting the 49ers’ lead to 26-21 with 6:18 remaining.
The 49ers couldn’t run out the clock, though. This is where former Saints punter Thomas Morstead entered the mix, pinning New Orleans at the 11- and 6-yard lines for its final two possessions.
That the Saints (0-2) threatened the 49ers was remarkable considering their rebuilding state under first-year coach Kellen Moore. They own the longest Super Bowl LX odds (500-to-1) at the casino down Poydras Street. Their quarterback, Rattler, has yet to win in eight career starts. His receivers had three drops by halftime, including Chris Olave missing a potential touchdown on the opening series. Defensive penalties kept many a Niners drive alive.
Jones helped spark a Saints comeback when his penchant for holding onto the ball led to a strip-sack fumble on the opening series after halftime. A 3-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed past safety Jason Pinnock (and a six-man defensive-line front) pulled the Saints within 16-14.
The 49ers scratched back with a 46-yard field goal from Eddy Pineiro (on fourth-and-2) to lurch ahead 19-14 with 3:20 left in the third quarter. It was Pineiro’s second field goal of the day in his debut, after opening with a missed point-after kick that sparked memories of his just-ousted predecessor, Jake Moody.
Shanahan was not ready to state afterward whether Jones would make an encore start or if Purdy would return for next Sunday’s home opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Purdy, with a visibly swollen big toe on his right foot, said he’s doing well but would only offer “we’ll see” when asked if he’s cautiously optimistic about a prompt return.
Jones, meanwhile, gave his teammates further reason to be confident with him at the controls.
“He’s just fun energy,” Bosa said. “To have a backup quarterback who has that much swagger, the offense feeds off it. He did a great job today.”
Added Jones: “I’ve got a long way to go, and it’s just one game, right? It’s good to just kind of feel a little bit of confidence again, and I’ve just got to carry that to the next week.”
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
