We know George Kittle was the 49ers MVP on offense. We gave a rookie the nod defensively.
The shorthanded 49ers were run off the field by the Green Bay Packers by the score of 38-10 on Sunday. The game was close at times, but the mistakes piled up, and the Packers ran away with the game. Any team missing their starting quarterback, best defensive and offensive linemen, and one of their top corners is too much for anyone to overcome. However, the 49ers were mistake-filled again, which doesn’t come down to missing players. Through 11 weeks, this is the 2024 49ers.
It’s Monday, so let’s award gold jackets to the two bright spots from Sunday’s loss.
Offense – George Kittle
Kittle is the 49ers offensive MVP. There’s no debate. Sure, Jauan Jennings has been incredible this season, but Kittle carried the team during the roughest times in 2024. In three of Kittle’s last four games, the all-world tight end has at least six catches. The 49ers’ red zone offense has struggled, but Kittle has touchdowns in three straight games, with eight touchdowns in 2024.
Despite missing two games, Kittle is on pace to shatter last season’s reception total of 65. Through nine games, Kittle has 49 receptions and has already surpassed his 2023 touchdown total of six. How good has Kittle been? According to Pro Football Reference, 2024 is a career-high success rate for the eight-year veteran. 2018 was a banner year for Kittle with 1,377 yards, but his success rate (56.6%) was far behind his 2024 pace (69.5%).
2024 is Kittle’s most efficient season by far. On 59 targets, Kittle’s catch rate is 83.1 percent. Somehow, at 31 years old, Kittle continues to evolve and add to his resume.
George Kittle has been incredible this season.
2023: 90 targets, 65 receptions, 1,020 yards, 6 TD, 60% success rate – 16 games
2024: 59 targets, 49 receptions, 642 yards, 8 TD, 69.5% success rate – 9 games
Missing two games and yet Kittle is on pace to destroy his 2023 #’s
— Jason Aponte (@JasonAponte2103) November 25, 2024
Defense – Malik Mustapha
In a game where the 49ers missed 20 tackles, Mustapha was one of the few bright spots for the 49ers defense. Deommodore Lenoir was the highest-graded 49ers defender, but Mustapha was the highest-graded tackler (85.8) and missed zero tackles on Sunday.
Mustapha added six tackles with a defensive stop and allowed one catch on his lone target for 11 yards on 27 coverage snaps. Lenoir and Mustapha were the best defenders on the field and were graded one and two as overall defenders and run defenders, but the nod for the gold jacket goes to the rookie for not missing any tackles.
The Packers were running the football at will, but Mustapha was up to the task and continued his solid play as a rookie.