With Brock Purdy sidelined by a toe injury, Mac Jones threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in his first start for San Francisco, and Fred Warner’s forced fumble recovery and a Bryce Huff strip-sack in the closing minute gave the 49ers a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025.
Jones completed 26 of 39 passes to eight different receivers, operating without tight end George Kittle, who was on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and without fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who left with a concussion in the first half. Spencer Rattler set career highs in touchdown passes and completion percentage for New Orleans, but the Saints dropped to 0-2 under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Alvin Kamara totaled 120 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches. A Rattler completion to Kamara, initially flagged as an incompletion and overturned to a fumble after a San Francisco challenge, ended New Orleans’ best scoring drive of the second half, with Warner recovering at the 49ers’ 32-yard line.
Table of Contents
Match Summary
Detail
Information
Final Score
San Francisco 49ers 26, New Orleans Saints 21
Date
September 14, 2025
Venue
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Attendance
70,078
Broadcast
FOX
Vegas Line
San Francisco 49ers -3.0
Over/Under
40.5 (Over)
Winning QB
Mac Jones – 26/39, 279 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT, 113.1 rating
Bryce Huff (1.0), Upton Stout (1.0), Nick Bosa (1.0)
Sacks (NO)
Carl Granderson (2.0), Chris Rumph II (1.0)
Turnovers
Mac Jones fumble lost (SF); Alvin Kamara fumble lost (NO)
Records After Game
San Francisco 49ers 2-0, New Orleans Saints 0-2
Box Score
Score by Quarter
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
San Francisco 49ers
6
10
3
7
26
New Orleans Saints
0
7
7
7
21
Scoring Summary
Quarter
Time
Team
Scoring Play
Score
1st
3:25
49ers
Luke Farrell 11-yd pass from Mac Jones (Eddy Piñeiro kick failed)
SF 6, NO 0
2nd
11:23
49ers
Eddy Piñeiro 44-yd field goal
SF 9, NO 0
2nd
1:14
Saints
Juwan Johnson 18-yd pass from Spencer Rattler (Blake Grupe kick)
SF 9, NO 7
2nd
0:07
49ers
Christian McCaffrey 7-yd pass from Mac Jones (Eddy Piñeiro kick)
SF 16, NO 7
3rd
7:11
Saints
Rashid Shaheed 3-yd pass from Spencer Rattler (Blake Grupe kick)
SF 16, NO 14
3rd
3:20
49ers
Eddy Piñeiro 46-yd field goal
SF 19, NO 14
4th
12:18
49ers
Jauan Jennings 42-yd pass from Mac Jones (Eddy Piñeiro kick)
SF 26, NO 14
4th
6:18
Saints
Devaughn Vele 3-yd pass from Spencer Rattler (Blake Grupe kick)
SF 26, NO 21
Team Statistics
Stat
San Francisco
New Orleans
Total Yards
344
307
Total Plays
68
67
Yards per Play
5.1
4.6
First Downs
23
21
Passing First Downs
15
12
Rushing First Downs
5
6
Penalty First Downs
3
3
Net Passing Yards
267
186
Completions / Attempts
26/39
25/34
Yards per Pass Attempt
6.4
5.0
Interceptions Thrown
0
0
Sacks Allowed (Yards Lost)
3 (12)
3 (21)
Rushing Yards
77
121
Rushing Attempts
26
30
Yards per Rush
3.0
4.0
3rd Down Efficiency
8/15 (53%)
4/11 (36%)
4th Down Efficiency
0/0
1/2
Red Zone (Made/Att)
2/2
3/3
Turnovers
1
1
Fumbles Lost
1
1
Penalties (Yards)
5 (40)
7 (45)
Time of Possession
30:45
29:15
Passing Statistics
Jones’ three-touchdown, zero-interception performance was his best since throwing for 316 yards and three scores against Philadelphia in Week 1 of the 2023 season while with New England. Rattler, in his second NFL season, set career marks in completion percentage (73.5%) and touchdown passes in the same game, yet finished with no wins to show for either effort.
Passing Box Score
Player
Team
Cmp
Att
Cmp%
Yards
TD
INT
Sacks
Yds Lost
Long
Rating
Mac Jones
SF
26
39
66.7%
279
3
0
3
12
42
113.1
Spencer Rattler
NO
25
34
73.5%
207
3
0
3
21
39
118.1
Advanced Passing
Player
Team
Air Yards (IAY)
IAY/Att
Comp Air Yds
YAC
Drops
Bad Throws
Pressure Rate
Mac Jones
SF
254
6.5
144
135
1
6 (15.8%)
16.3%
Spencer Rattler
NO
250
7.4
117
90
2
4 (11.8%)
12.5%
Rushing Statistics
New Orleans held a 44-yard ground advantage, with Kamara carrying 21 times for 99 yards, but the Saints converted none of their rushing yards into touchdowns. San Francisco’s run game produced 77 yards on 26 attempts, with McCaffrey doing the bulk of the work.
San Francisco 49ers
Player
Car
Yards
Avg
Long
TD
1D
Yds Before Contact
Broken Tkl
Christian McCaffrey
13
55
4.2
10
0
4
50
0
Brian Robinson Jr.
6
20
3.3
7
0
0
20
0
Mac Jones
6
6
1.0
13
0
1
2
1
Ricky Pearsall
1
-4
-4.0
-4
0
0
-10
2
Team Total
26
77
3.0
13
0
5
New Orleans Saints
Player
Car
Yards
Avg
Long
TD
1D
Yds Before Contact
Broken Tkl
Alvin Kamara
21
99
4.7
15
0
4
82
1
Spencer Rattler
4
14
3.5
9
0
2
-13
4
Kendre Miller
5
8
1.6
6
0
0
4
1
Team Total
30
121
4.0
15
0
6
Receiving Statistics
Jennings, listed as questionable before kickoff, produced San Francisco’s biggest play with a 42-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 26-14. McCaffrey’s 7-yard scoring catch on the last play before halftime, from the Saints’ 7-yard line with 11 seconds remaining and no timeouts, gave the 49ers a 16-7 lead at the break.
San Francisco 49ers
Player
Pos
Tgt
Rec
Yards
Avg
Long
TD
1D
YAC
ADOT
Jauan Jennings
WR
10
5
89
17.8
42
1
3
48
9.1
Ricky Pearsall
WR
6
4
56
14.0
15
0
4
0
16.5
Christian McCaffrey
RB
7
6
52
8.7
14
1
3
28
3.1
Kendrick Bourne
WR
3
3
32
10.7
13
0
2
9
7.7
Jake Tonges
TE
5
4
31
7.8
11
0
2
26
1.4
Luke Farrell
TE
3
2
15
7.5
11
1
1
17
-1.0
Kyle Juszczyk
FB
1
1
5
5.0
5
0
0
2
3.0
Brian Robinson Jr.
RB
1
1
-1
-1.0
-1
0
0
5
-6.0
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR
1
0
0
–
–
0
0
–
16.0
Brayden Willis
TE
1
0
0
–
–
0
0
–
2.0
Team Total
38
26
279
10.7
42
3
–
–
New Orleans Saints
Player
Pos
Tgt
Rec
Yards
Avg
Long
TD
1D
YAC
ADOT
Chris Olave
WR
10
6
54
9.0
14
0
4
6
12.2
Rashid Shaheed
WR
5
4
52
13.0
39
1
2
13
11.2
Juwan Johnson
TE
9
5
49
9.8
18
1
3
36
6.1
Brandin Cooks
WR
2
2
26
13.0
20
0
2
1
12.5
Alvin Kamara
RB
6
6
21
3.5
6
0
0
34
-2.2
Devaughn Vele
WR
1
1
3
3.0
3
1
1
0
3.0
Kendre Miller
RB
1
1
2
2.0
2
0
0
0
2.0
Team Total
34
25
207
8.3
39
3
–
–
Defensive Statistics
Warner’s fumble recovery in the third quarter ended New Orleans’ best scoring drive of the second half at the San Francisco 32-yard line. With the Saints trailing 26-21 and driving, Huff strip-sacked Rattler on fourth-and-1 at the New Orleans 42 with 1:03 remaining, with Cesar Ruiz recovering for the Saints but surrendering possession on downs. The 49ers then ran out the clock.
San Francisco 49ers
Player
Pos
Total
Solo
Ast
Sacks
TFL
QB Hits
PD
FF
FR
Fred Warner
LB
11
7
4
0.0
1
0
1
1
1
Nick Bosa
DL
9
3
6
1.0
1
2
0
0
0
Dee Winters
LB
8
6
2
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Upton Stout
CB
5
4
1
1.0
1
1
0
0
0
Renardo Green
CB
5
5
0
0.0
0
0
1
0
0
Mykel Williams
DE
5
4
1
0.0
2
0
0
0
0
Marques Sigle
S
5
2
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Deommodore Lenoir
DB
4
4
0
0.0
1
0
0
0
0
Bryce Huff
DE
4
3
1
1.0
1
1
0
1
0
Jason Pinnock
S
3
2
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Luke Gifford
LB
3
0
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Kalia Davis
DL
2
1
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Darrell Luter Jr.
CB
2
1
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Ji’Ayir Brown
S
2
1
1
0.0
0
0
1
0
0
Jordan Elliott
DL
2
0
2
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Alfred Collins
DL
2
0
2
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
Yetur Gross-Matos
DL
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Chase Lucas
CB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Tatum Bethune
LB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Siran Neal
DB
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Sam Okuayinonu
DL
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Team Total
77
46
–
3.0
7
5
3
2
1
New Orleans Saints
Player
Pos
Total
Solo
Ast
Sacks
TFL
QB Hits
PD
FF
FR
Demario Davis
LB
11
5
6
0.0
0
0
0
0
1
Jonas Sanker
S
8
5
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Carl Granderson
DE
7
5
2
2.0
3
3
0
0
0
Isaac Yiadom
CB
7
6
1
0.0
1
0
0
0
0
Alontae Taylor
CB
6
3
3
0.0
1
0
2
0
0
Justin Reid
S
5
5
0
0.0
0
0
1
0
0
Pete Werner
LB
5
5
0
0.0
1
0
2
0
0
Vernon Broughton
DT
3
0
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Chris Rumph II
DE
2
2
0
1.0
1
1
0
1
0
Nathan Shepherd
DT
2
1
1
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
Cameron Jordan
DE
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Davon Godchaux
DT
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Kool-Aid McKinstry
CB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Quincy Riley
CB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Danny Stutsman
LB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Bryan Bresee
DT
0
0
0
0.0
0
1
1
0
0
Team Total
61
42
–
3.0
7
6
6
1
1
Fumbles and Turnovers
Player
Team
Fumbles
Lost
Recovered
Mac Jones
SF
2
1
1
Fred Warner
SF
0
0
1
Alvin Kamara
NO
1
1
0
Spencer Rattler
NO
1
0
0
Demario Davis
NO
0
0
1
Cesar Ruiz
NO
0
0
1
Neither team recorded an interception.
Special Teams
Kicking
Player
Team
FGM/FGA
Pct
Long
XPM/XPA
Points
Eddy Piñeiro
SF
2/2
100%
46
2/3
8
Blake Grupe
NO
0/1
0%
–
3/3
3
Piñeiro, who signed with San Francisco that Wednesday, connected from 44 and 46 yards in his team debut. Grupe missed a 40-yard attempt on the Saints’ first possession.
Punting
Player
Team
Punts
Yards
Avg
Long
Touchbacks
Inside 20
Thomas Morstead
SF
4
173
43.3
49
0
2
Kai Kroeger
NO
4
171
42.8
52
1
1
Returns
Player
Team
Type
Returns
Yards
Avg
Long
TD
Isaac Guerendo
SF
Kickoff
2
47
23.5
25
0
Skyy Moore
SF
Punt
1
1
1.0
1
0
Kendre Miller
NO
Kickoff
3
82
27.3
34
0
Rashid Shaheed
NO
Punt
2
23
11.5
19
0
Player Snap Counts
Snap counts unofficial.
San Francisco 49ers – Offense (71 snaps)
Player
Pos
Snaps
Pct
Mac Jones
QB
71
100%
Trent Williams
T
71
100%
Dominick Puni
G
71
100%
Jake Brendel
C
71
100%
Colton McKivitz
T
71
100%
Ricky Pearsall
WR
63
89%
Jauan Jennings
WR
62
87%
Connor Colby
G
61
86%
Jake Tonges
TE
56
79%
Christian McCaffrey
RB
55
77%
Luke Farrell
TE
41
58%
Kendrick Bourne
WR
35
49%
Brian Robinson Jr.
RB
16
23%
Kyle Juszczyk
FB
10
14%
Ben Bartch
G
10
14%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR
9
13%
Brayden Willis
TE
6
8%
Skyy Moore
WR
2
3%
San Francisco 49ers – Defense (71 snaps)
Player
Pos
Snaps
Pct
Fred Warner
LB
71
100%
Marques Sigle
S
71
100%
Deommodore Lenoir
DB
71
100%
Renardo Green
CB
71
100%
Jason Pinnock
S
71
100%
Dee Winters
LB
69
97%
Nick Bosa
DL
59
83%
Upton Stout
CB
56
79%
Mykel Williams
DL
48
68%
Jordan Elliott
DL
37
52%
Kalia Davis
DL
34
48%
Sam Okuayinonu
DL
28
39%
Bryce Huff
DL
28
39%
Alfred Collins
DL
24
34%
Yetur Gross-Matos
DL
17
24%
CJ West
DL
13
18%
Ji’Ayir Brown
S
7
10%
Chase Lucas
CB
6
8%
New Orleans Saints – Offense (71 snaps)
Player
Pos
Snaps
Pct
Spencer Rattler
QB
71
100%
Chris Olave
WR
71
100%
Kelvin Banks Jr.
T
71
100%
Dillon Radunz
G
71
100%
Taliese Fuaga
T
71
100%
Cesar Ruiz
C
71
100%
Erik McCoy
C
71
100%
Juwan Johnson
TE
68
96%
Alvin Kamara
RB
61
86%
Rashid Shaheed
WR
50
70%
Brandin Cooks
WR
48
68%
Devaughn Vele
WR
24
34%
Jack Stoll
TE
18
25%
Kendre Miller
RB
11
15%
Moliki Matavao
TE
4
6%
New Orleans Saints – Defense (71 snaps)
Player
Pos
Snaps
Pct
Jonas Sanker
S
71
100%
Kool-Aid McKinstry
CB
71
100%
Alontae Taylor
CB
71
100%
Demario Davis
LB
71
100%
Justin Reid
S
70
99%
Pete Werner
LB
63
89%
Carl Granderson
DE
58
82%
Bryan Bresee
DT
55
77%
Cameron Jordan
DE
51
72%
Nathan Shepherd
DT
46
65%
Isaac Yiadom
CB
38
54%
Davon Godchaux
DT
33
46%
Chris Rumph II
DE
24
34%
Vernon Broughton
DT
24
34%
Jonah Williams
DT
22
31%
Fadil Diggs
DE
9
13%
Terrell Burgess
S
4
6%
PFF Grades
Initial grades, subject to review.
Offense
Player
Team
Pos
Grade
Snaps
Trent Williams
SF
T
84.8
71
Colton McKivitz
SF
T
80.5
71
Spencer Rattler
NO
QB
79.0
71
Jack Stoll
NO
TE
77.9
18
Jake Brendel
SF
C
75.7
71
Defense
Player
Team
Pos
Grade
Snaps
Fred Warner
SF
LB
93.4
71
Bryce Huff
SF
ED
91.1
28
Demario Davis
NO
LB
81.9
71
Nick Bosa
SF
ED
79.4
59
Justin Reid
NO
S
76.6
70
Game Information
Date
September 14, 2025
Kickoff
1:00 PM ET
Venue
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Surface
SportTurf (Dome)
Attendance
70,078
Duration
3 hours, 6 minutes
Broadcast
FOX
Vegas Line
San Francisco 49ers -3.0
Over/Under
40.5 (Over)
Coin Toss
San Francisco won, deferred
Referee
Shawn Smith
Umpire
Tra Blake
Down Judge
Jay Bilbo
Line Judge
Jeff Seeman
Back Judge
Dino Paganelli
Side Judge
Boris Cheek
Field Judge
Dyrol Prioleau
The 49ers’ 2-0 start was the fourth time since 2019 the franchise opened with back-to-back road wins. In two of those previous seasons, San Francisco reached the Super Bowl. Jones, whose time with Jacksonville and New England over the two prior seasons produced little consistent output, completed his second career game with at least three touchdowns and 250 passing yards. Cameron Jordan’s 51 defensive snaps gave him 228 regular-season appearances for New Orleans, tying Drew Brees’ all-time franchise record.
For the Saints, two home losses in as many weeks both came by five points or fewer, with late turnovers and self-inflicted penalties undercutting what were, on balance, competitive performances statistically. Rattler threw three touchdowns without an interception in Week 2 and posted a 118.1 passer rating; the final margin did not reflect that. New Orleans’ 2025 opener and its Week 2 result shared the same shape: a winnable game lost in the final stretch to a mistake the offense could not overcome.
Cornelia Lindqvist is a Swedish-American sports journalist with 4 years of experience covering professional athletics. She previously worked at Sports Illustrated before joining Newzire. Cornelia reports on the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, international football, and cricket, covering game results, roster moves, trade deals, playoff standings, and player statistics. Her sports analysis background helps readers understand the strategies and numbers behind wins and losses.
