The results of feeding McCaffrey were historic. Of all the legendary players to walk the line over the past 60 years, none had a night like CMC.
According to OptaStats, McCaffrey had more rushing yards than anyone else on both teams combined, led all players on both teams in receiving yards and scored more points than the entire opposition. No other NFL player in the Super Bowl era has done all of that in the same game.
For a downtrodden Niners club, having McCaffrey perform the way he did Sunday night, an unstoppable force that picked up a little gain every time he touched the pigskin, allowed them to overcome a horrendous injury situation that still saw them without Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall on offense and brutal season-ending injuries to the likes of Fred and Nick Bosjua. along with several other warriors in the defense. the ball.
When McCaffrey is on a heater like Sunday, it makes managing these injuries easier.
“He’s huge,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s the most consistent player I’ve ever been around. He just lets you stay on track. He gets every yard in the run game and more and what he does in the pass game … it’s rare that you’re going to throw a ball to him and not be able to finish.”
It’s no coincidence that CMC had its best day of skiing with George Kittle back in the fold. The tight end upgrades the run blocking at the second level, providing running backs that weren’t there in other weeks.
“It’s a whole different ballgame when he’s in there,” McCaffrey said of Kittle. “Even when he doesn’t have a big stat game, the attention he brings opens up so much.”
At 5-2 despite all the injuries, the Niners are a dangerous team heading into Thanksgiving. Shanahan’s crew has shown time and again that they won’t be derailed by injuries.
As long as McCaffrey is healthy, they can continue to rack up wins.