Christian McCaffrey stats vs. Falcons: How 49ers star added to historic pace in 'SNF' win

Christian McCaffrey's resurgent season continued in a prime-time win over the Falcons.

Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey stats vs. Falcons: How 49ers star added to historic pace in 'SNF' win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The defense was the star of the night for the San Francisco 49ers in a 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but Christian McCaffrey quietly did his thing yet again.

Injuries have been the story of the season for the 49ers, but they have found ways to win through key absences and did so again on Sunday partly because McCaffrey has managed to stay healthy. McCaffrey put San Francisco's offense on his back against Atlanta, and his effort set the tone all night. 

With seven games down and 10 to go, McCaffrey is on pace to make some history this season with his rushing and receiving production.

Here's a look at McCaffrey's performance against the Falcons and his historic pace.

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Christian McCaffrey stats vs. Falcons

McCaffrey erupted for 201 total yards in Sunday's victory. Here are the final numbers:

  • Rush attempts: 24
  • Rush yards: 129
  • Yards/carry: 5.4
  • Receptions: 7
  • Rec. yards: 72
  • Total TD: 2

The 49ers' passing offense slowed against the Falcons, but McCaffrey went to work on the ground and through the air. He scored both of San Francisco's touchdowns on the night, putting the 'Niners on the board in the second quarter and icing the game when he found the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

It was easily McCaffrey's top rushing performance of the season, as he had yet to reach 70 yards on the ground before Sunday's breakthrough, but 72 receiving yards was largely on pace with his production this season. McCaffrey actually has more receiving yards than rushing yards on the season, partly the result of injuries to Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall and more early on.

That production through the air gives McCaffrey a chance to do something never done before in NFL history. Here are the details.

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Christian McCaffrey season pace 

Through seven games, McCaffrey is on pace to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. If he reaches both marks, he would be the first player in NFL history to post multiple seasons with both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards.

McCaffrey is already one of three players to achieve the feat in one season, along with Roger Craig in 1985 and Marshall Faulk in 1999. McCaffrey posted a 1,000-1,000 campaign with the Carolina Panthers in 2019, so he can be the first to do it twice and first to do it with two different teams.

Here is his updated 17-game pace:

  • Rushing yards: 1,129
  • Receiving yards: 1,253

That isn't all, as McCaffrey's pace of 1,253 receiving yards would be enough for the single-season record for receiving yards by a running back. The current record is 1,097, set by Del Shofner in 1960. 

McCaffrey is also leading the 49ers in both rushing and receiving yards through seven games, something he didn't do with the Panthers in his 1,000-1,000 season or his Offensive Player of the Year season with San Francisco in 2023. 

McCaffrey already joined two greats Sunday night with his seventh career game of at least 100 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards.

There is reason to believe McCaffrey's historic receiving pace won't continue. Kittle returned Sunday night, while Aiyuk and Pearsall are both expected back at some point. That might force McCaffrey into a more traditional role, but he's proven he can carry his weight as a pass-catcher and is already more than halfway to 1,000 yards through the air.

Category: Football