The Bengals beat the 49ers with a classic 31-17 victory.

California’s Santa Clara Levi’s Stadium hosted a midseason fantasy game between two Super Bowl teams. The Bengals beat the 49ers with a classic 31-17 victory, behind Montana-like play from Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow.

To separate receivers against a top 49ers defense, Burrow completed 28 of 32 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns at a career-high 87.5 percent.

Joe Mixon of Oakley, California, won with a five-yard touchdown with 2:54 left. Mixon had a season-high 16 touches for 87 yards.

Burrow ran for 43 yards, while wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had his third 100-yard day of the season with 100 yards on 10 catches. After an ankle ailment, Pro Bowl right end Trey Hendrickson had a sack strip.

On Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw‘s home field, Bengals defenders Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt intercepted 49ers QB Brock Purdy on two straight throws late in the second half. National recognition went to the 49ers’ exceptional combo. Despite last-second yardage, Purdy passed for 365 yards. Cincinnati produced crucial defensive plays to stop Purdy, who lost at home for the first time in nine NFL starts.

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As Purdy attempted to pass across the middle to Brandon Aiyuk for the second fourth-quarter interception, the Bengals led 17-10. Wilson was prepared with his career-high tenth interception—more than any NFL linebacker in the 2020s.

In the last 13 minutes, Burrow hit a 17-yard pass over wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase‘s shoulder to lead 24-10. A backward flip by Chase terminated play.

Burrow’s longest rush of the season, a 20-yard Gumby Saturday Night Live special up the middle, set up Evan McPherson’s 56-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 17-10 lead in the second half’s first

The 49ers needed a first down from their 8, so the Bengals’ red-zone defense was essential again. The Bengals allowed no points in a series inside 20 for the sixth time this season. Purdy went to his right sideline to pass to Mitchell. Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt tipped and caught it.

After embracing the Montana pregame, Burrow led the Bengals to a 14-10 halftime lead, like Montana. He completed 21 of 23 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in his longest career skein, including his final 19 passes. More was expected after he decimated the 49ers on short, intermediate center-field plays.

After regaining control with 2:54 left, Burrow passed to Mixon for a first down with 30 seconds left. A commanding 236-yard half ended when tight end Irv Smith mishandled the ball after Burrow hit him on a screen at the 5.

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Like all season, four of ten first-series plays were beneath center. They led fifth, but Nick Bosa was caught by a neutral zone edge. In under five minutes, Burrow threw a seven-yard touchdown to Tyler Boyd, who beat nickelback Isaiah Oliver. Chase scored with a 15-yard middle catch.

For the drive play, Burrow dodged three sacks on third-and-ten. On the last one, he lied about being fired by Arik Armstead. Rather, he got up and found Tee Higgins to pass to for the first down.

Burrow’s throw on 7/9 was 60 yards. Running 20 yards between left guard Cordell Volson and center Ted Karras, Mixon scored the only touchdown of the drive. Mixon forced All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga to miss, earning him ten points. In the first half, Mixon gained 55 yards on seven carries.

In the next series, Trayveon Williams’ 41-yard kick return, their longest of the season, gave the Bengals nearly 50 yards on first down. Two first downs came from three under-center snaps in the first three plays. Shotgun, Burrow found Boyd open over the middle for 22 yards.

Like rookie wideout Andrei Iosivas‘s first NFL touchdown, they scored to go up 14–7 two weeks ago. Burrow feigned a free play after two flags. He moved right with the ball down and waited for Iosivas to score from a yard out and Charvarius Ward to shake hands in the right corner for five seconds.

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Burrow completed 10 of 12 for 95 yards, including the game-winning 106 yards on first down on the first two plays. He checked into a quarterback draw on third-and-nine and forced Oliver to miss in the box for the first down, saving the series.

Armstead caught Evan McPherson on a third-down play that required a stiff wind to push his 43-yard field goal try to 50 yards for the 49ers’ only halftime sack. Though it was missed horribly, it ended his eight-goal streak.

A third-and-one play against fullback Kyle Juszczyk was stopped by tackler Cam Taylor-Britt for the Bengals’ first series win. Nice line drive by DJ Reader.

Purdy was cleared following the series. He ran 15 yards left on third-and-long without a receiver. Left-handed pocket pressure left wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk open for 31 yards.

McCaffrey tied the NFL record with a two-yard touchdown in his 17th straight game.

Besides a field goal, the Bengals’ first-half performance against the dangerous 49ers was ordinary. McCaffrey was held to 31 yards on six carries and Purdy to 114, 34 of which came in the last series.

Right NFL end Trey Hendrickson returned before halftime after a second-quarter ankle injury.