George Kittle used a rival-school jab to greet Nick Bosa at the podium after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 on Sunday.

Kittle was waiting to speak after Bosa’s press conference and listened to the end of it. As Bosa wrapped up and the two passed each other, Kittle, who played at Iowa, went after his teammate’s Ohio State background.

“You’re so well-spoken, you speak so well... for an Ohio State guy! Did you graduate?” Kittle said. Kittle played at Iowa from 2012 to 2016 and finished his college career with 48 receptions for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Bosa spent three seasons at Ohio State from 2016 to 2018 and had 77 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in 29 games. Bosa was then drafted second overall in 2019, while Kittle went in the fifth round in 2017 and became one of the best tight ends in the league.

The comment was clearly a joke between teammates, and it gave the 49ers a lighter moment at the end of a dominant afternoon.

Bosa returned to the lineup Sunday after missing five games with a calf strain he suffered in practice, and his return helped a defense that smothered the Raiders in the second half.

The 49ers (7-1) scored touchdowns on their first three drives, with Christian McCaffrey scoring on a 1-yard run and a 12-yard pass and Brock Purdy scrambling for a 1-yard score.

Kittle played a part on that early scoring march, as Purdy started the drive with a 37-yard pass to the tight end. San Francisco rushed for 190 yards against Las Vegas’ 24, built a 21-10 halftime lead and broke the game open in the second half with five takeaways, its first time doing that since a game against the Raiders at Candlestick Park 20 years ago.

Linebacker Jaden Dugger intercepted Kirk Cousins and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the half.

Rookie safety Treydan Stukes later picked off a deep pass from Purdy that was intended for Kittle, but Fred Warner punched the ball out of Brock Bowers’ hands on the next series, and Dre Greenlaw recovered it.

Warner also fell on a Michael Mayer fumble in the end zone for a touchback, and Purdy capped the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins, the receiver’s first career touchdown. Cousins finished with three interceptions, including ones by Renardo Green in the end zone and Malik Mustapha in the fourth quarter.

The game also came with bad news. Rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton was carted off in the fourth quarter with a broken left ankle that will end his season, and the entire 49ers sideline surrounded him as he left the field. San Francisco also saw cornerbacks Green (back) and Deommodore Lenoir (foot) leave late with injuries.

The 49ers visit Dallas next Sunday. The Raiders, who allowed at least 30 points for a sixth straight game and tied an NFL record, host Seattle.