On Sunday at Levi's Stadium, the 49ers raced to a big first-half lead, then leaned on a ferocious second-half defensive effort to put away the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17. The victory improved San Francisco to 5-0 at home this season and kept the team atop the NFC standings through nine weeks.

Quarterback Brock Purdy directed three first-half touchdown drives as the 49ers built a cushion that proved necessary. It was the sixth straight game in which San Francisco has led by at least 10 points, only to see its opponent mount a rally. The 49ers have survived all but one of those scares — a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 25 in which they blew a 14-3 lead.

This time, the defense slammed the door.

Rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger returned an interception for a touchdown to ignite a turnover spree in the third quarter. Star linebacker Fred Warner forced his fifth fumble of the season, and second-year cornerback Upton Stout punched the ball away from Raiders tight end Michael Mayer at the 1-yard line to snuff out a scoring threat late in the third quarter.

All told, the 49ers forced five second-half turnovers, including three in the third quarter, turning a tense game into a lopsided final score. The defense's ability to take the ball away repeatedly prevented Las Vegas from seizing momentum after the Raiders had cut into the lead.

The 49ers' formula — a fast start followed by a second-half survival test — has become a defining characteristic of their season. While the results have largely been positive, the pattern has kept fans on edge and raised questions about the team's ability to close out opponents cleanly.

For now, the 49ers will take the wins. At 7-1, they remain one of the NFL's best teams, with a perfect home record and a defense capable of delivering when it matters most. But the margin for error may shrink as the schedule toughens.

San Francisco returns to action next week, looking to build on its hot start while hoping to avoid another nail-biting finish.