Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 games of the decade

By James Jones

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Defensive tackle Justin Smith #94 and linebacker Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers wait for a play against the New York Giants in the third quarter on October 14, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Defensive tackle Justin Smith #94 and linebacker Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers wait for a play against the New York Giants in the third quarter on October 14, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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49ers, Raiders
Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders is sacked by Cassius Marsh #54 and Dekoda Watson #97 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Honorable Mention: Raiders @ 49ers: Week 13 — Nov. 1, 2018 

The 2018 season saw the 49ers train jump completely off the tracks.

Week 3 at Kansas City facing a Chiefs team, which was as daunting an opponent as the 49ers would face all season, was the harbinger of death for 2018. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the year to a torn ACL as he was leading what would have been his third consecutive touchdown drive.

San Francisco suffered six straight losses, including the fateful day in Missouri, before facing the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football. This contest signified the final “Battle Of The Bay,” as the Raiders will be moving to their new Las Vegas digs to start the 2020 season.

While this was the final regular-season game between the teams with the Raiders still residing in at the Oakland Coliseum, it mattered little to the NFL landscape. The 49ers were 1-7 and the Raiders were 1-6 after already having their bye week.

This contest may have been the last the teams would play as cross-bay rivals, but it was the first for a different reason. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens started his first NFL game on this night. All he did was post a line of 16-of-22 for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

It goes without saying, Mullens shined in his NFL debut as he lit up the stat sheet. His performance also brought with it some impressive accolades as well as a passer rating of 151.9 .

This was the highest rating any quarterback had ever posted in his first start in the NFL. Mullens targeted Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle four times in this game, completing all four passes. One of which was pure beauty, as Kittle snagged the pass with one hand and rumbled 71 yards to the Oakland 6-yard line.

The 49ers defense sacked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr seven times en route to the victory. Carr finished the game 16-of-21 for 171 yards and no touchdowns, as San Francisco cruised to a 34-3 win.

Emerging victorious in Mullens’ first-ever pro start was reason enough to celebrate this game. Having it come in the final game of a Bay Area rivalry, and 49er fans being able to lay claim to this fact, gets it an honorable mention on this list.