A historic performance at SoFi Stadium on Sunday earned 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 8. He became just the 11th player ever, the third player since the merger, and the first since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdowns in the same game during the 49ers’ 31-14 drubbing of the Rams.
Buy 49ers TicketsHe threw a 34-yard touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk in the second quarter to get his day started. That tied the game at 7-7 and marked McCaffrey’s first touchdown as a 49er.
Late in the third quarter, McCaffrey found paydirt himself on a nine-yard touchdown pass from QB Jimmy Garoppolo. On that play, McCaffrey wasn’t supposed to be out in a route, but good instincts by him and good protection by the offensive line gave Garoppolo a window to hit the RB for a go-ahead TD that made it 17-14 for the visitors.
His third TD was a one-yard run that sent him into the history books. That run was set up by a 25-yard McCaffrey scamper the play before.
In all, he accounted for 183 of San Francisco’s 368 yards with 34 in the air, 55 as a pass catcher, and 94 on the ground. He also accounted for three of the team’s four touchdowns. McCaffrey was a one-man wrecking crew for the 49ers in a game where they were shorthanded on the offensive side with WRs Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings both sidelined.
Given the historic element of his day and the fact he carried his new team to a much-needed NFC West victory, the NFC Offensive Player of the Week choice was an easy one.
