Colin Kaepernick's final stat line vs. the Steelers was very impressive.
He completed 33 of 46 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns, and should have had a third passing score but Bruce Miller didn't hold on to the ball as he fell to the ground.
Kaepernick also led the 49ers with 51 rushing yards.
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But as Greg Cosell, Senior Producer of NFL Films, pointed out on Monday night, those numbers are "skewed."
"This was a game where they were behind big. So when that happens, the defense plays a little softer with their coverage," Cosell explained on KNBR 680-AM. "Let's say their down, but not to the point where it seems like the game is out of hand, then the coverage will probably not quite be as soft.
"Kaepernick, who I thought relatively speaking played well in this game -- his two big pass plays were to Davis for 43 yards, which was a busted Cover-3, and then the long one to Smith for 75, which was a really impressive throw -- but, I think when the defense plays a little tougher, they'll struggle to come from behind because of their offensive line, and likely because of Kaepernick to some degree."
The 49ers trailed 29-3 at the half, and Kaepernick registered just 61 passing yards in the first 30 minutes of action.
San Francisco 49ers
[MAIOCCO: 49ers' O-line ranks last in pass protection]
The offensive line surrendered five sacks as Kaepernick was constantly under pressure.
When asked what he thought about Kaepernick's performance, head coach Jim Tomsula kept it all in perspective.
"You lose a football game, you don't like to say anything was good. But Colin Kaepernick played a pretty good football game," Tomsula said on Monday. "Once again, doing the things we're asking him to do -- getting us into the plays we're asking him to get in to, throwing the ball well, seeing the field ... obviously reading the field, seeing the receivers, coverages, getting the ball where it needs to go.
"Obviously, did a really nice job with his feet, and his arm, and his brain."