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With All-Pro tight end George Kittle sidelined and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams lasting just one snap, the 49ers’ playoff hopes landed squarely on Brock Purdy’s shoulders Sunday night.
The third-year quarterback delivered in spectacular fashion. Purdy racked up five total touchdowns – three through the air and two on the ground – as San Francisco outlasted Chicago 42-38 in a “Sunday Night Football” shootout that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
It’s the first time in nearly three decades that the 49ers have posted 40+ points in consecutive games, something they haven’t done since November 1995.
“I thought Brock had a hell of a game,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s been playing his ass off, made some huge plays tonight. Kept some drives alive with his legs, made some off-schedule plays, and he’s an assassin out there… he’s playing as good as it gets right now.”
The victory improved San Francisco to 12-4, setting up a massive showdown against Seattle on Saturday night. Everything is at stake – the NFC West crown, the conference’s top seed, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That last part carries extra significance with Super Bowl LX scheduled for Levi’s Stadium in February.
Purdy’s importance was impossible to miss in a game that nearly came down to which team had the final possession. After throwing a pick-6 on the very first play from scrimmage, he rebounded with near-perfect execution – finishing 24-of-33 for 303 yards with three touchdown passes and that lone interception. His legs added another dimension with 28 yards and two scores on six carries.
This performance wasn’t an aberration.
Coming off Monday night’s five-touchdown passing clinic against Indianapolis, Purdy has now accounted for at least five TDs in back-to-back games. He’s the first quarterback in 49ers history to accomplish that feat and joins elite company – only Tom Brady (2007), Russell Wilson (2020), Deshaun Watson (2017), Ben Roethlisberger (2014) and Daunte Culpepper (2004) have done it in consecutive games.
The numbers tell the story of Purdy’s exceptional play since returning from a right big toe injury in Week 11. During that span, he ranks third in QBR (80.0), second in completion percentage over expectation (7.5%), and has the lowest off-target throw percentage in the entire NFL at just 10.3%.
What’s been the difference? Purdy’s improved recognition of when to scramble and create outside the pocket has transformed his game. This was on full display during a third-quarter touchdown to fullback Kyle Juszczyk where Purdy dodged multiple defenders before finding his target alone in the endzone.
“It’s just one of those things where it’s football, and it’s going to happen,” Purdy explained about his improvisational skills. “How can I be smart outside of the design of the play but also have my eyes downfield because guys are moving and working, and there are explosive plays out there. I feel like it’s something that I sort of continue to learn as I go. It’s part of my game.”
Right tackle Colton McKivitz has witnessed Purdy’s development firsthand. “It’s his best [football] right now,” McKivitz said. “And it’s when his best is needed. This is what this team needs is this offense to come in and score and score a lot. … The way he’s playing, it’s awesome. To have a leader like that go and command the huddle and playing at that level, it’s a great confidence builder for us.”
Purdy also became the first Niners QB with at least three passing and two rushing touchdowns in a single game since Jeff Garcia accomplished the feat against Arizona back in Week 14 of 2003.
Of his 33 pass attempts Sunday night, Purdy threw just two off-target passes.
The 49ers now face a second consecutive short week before Saturday’s showdown with Seattle. The scenario mirrors 2019, when the NFC’s top seed came down to a Week 17 meeting against the Seahawks. That game ended dramatically with linebacker Dre Greenlaw tackling Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister at the 1-yard line as time expired, sending San Francisco to victory and eventually to Super Bowl LIV.
Though Shanahan wasn’t thrilled about the quick turnaround after the NFL announced the schedule Sunday night, he made sure his team understood what’s at stake.
“It’s huge,” Shanahan said. “So proud of the guys throughout the whole year, proud of today. It’s a hell of a deal being able to have the opportunity to play for the 1-seed, and these guys have earned it.”
