Brock

Purdy

Barrows pointed to the team’s investment at wideout — including a potential long-term deal with Brandon Aiyuk — and the drafting of Ricky Pearsall in the 2024 NFL Draft as reasons why the traditionally run-first Kyle Shanahan might lean more toward the pass this season. The team’s postseason run-pass splits, Barrows said, could be instructive for how the Brock Purdy-run offense might operate in 2024. The 49ers “called 109 pass plays and only 77 run plays (non-designed Purdy scrambles are counted as called pass plays) over those three games, a drastic departure from their run-forward ratio of the past,” Barrows said. “Given coach Kyle Shanahan’s trust in Purdy, the investment in the receiving room makes a lot of sense.” In 2023, the Niners had a 56 percent neutral pass rate, the 11th lowest in the NFL. They passed on 60 percent of their plays while trailing last season. An increase in Purdy drop backs would change the prospects for every San Francisco pass catcher in 2024.

It will be the Jets’ second straight Monday night season opener. Last year’s Week 1 was a waking nightmare for New York as Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles four snaps into the game and missed the rest of the season despite constant talk of an early return from injury. Rodgers and the Jets will take on a stingy Niners defense graded by PFF as 2023’s third best pass rushing unit and second best coverage unit. It will be a tough test for Rodgers, 40, and the Jets offense to start 2024. The game will be something of a homecoming for Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who served as the 49ers defensive coordinator for four years.

Purdy wasn’t the reason the 49ers lost, but he wasn’t going to be the reason they won, either, had they managed to pull it off. They probably should have. The Chiefs were uninspired on offense but just dominant on defense to turn the game into a Patrick Mahomes coin flip. You somehow lose those more than 50 percent of the time. One of the most heavily-debated football players in recent memory, Purdy shrugged off a torn UCL — thee of the Tommy John surgery — to not only repeat his surprising, sterling rookie campaign of 2022, but improve upon it in every way. Although he — understandably — has a reputation as a “YAC merchant” in coach Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system, Purdy has proven he is more capable of making plays outside of structure than past Shanny QBs such as Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, et al. Purdy lacks dynamic arm strength, but he has dynamism. Efficient with a nose for big plays, Purdy should have at least one more year of stat-padding to go as the Niners run back their elite skill corps for 2024.

This one was a tale of two halves for the 49ers, who went into the break down 24-7 after the Lions dominated time of possession in the first frame. Purdy would then lead an offensive eruption in the second half kickstarted by a circus reception by Brandon Aiyuk that deflected off a defender’s helmet. 27 second half points later and the 49ers head to another Super Bowl to face a familiar opponent in the Chiefs. Purdy leaned on the combination of Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, feeding the duo 17 targets on his 31 pass attempts on the evening. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will face another stiff test in the ultimate game of the 2023 season as Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has turned heads this year.

Several sailed passes and a few near interceptions highlighted much of Purdy’s night, but he did connect with George Kittle on a 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter while throwing a beautiful ball in the process. The loss of Deebo Samuel undoubtedly hurt the 49ers’ passing attack, as Purdy averaged just 6.5 YPA on the day, but the 49ers are now advancing to the NFC Championship game next week against an opponent that is yet to be determined. Regardless of who they face, the 49ers will get the benefits of home-field advantage for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Sam Darnold will draw the start. The 49ers have the No. 1 seed in the NFC locked up, so there’s nothing for them to play for this week. Instead, they will rest their key starters, giving them an extended break to get healthy for the Divisional Round. Christian McCaffrey has already been ruled out. Shanahan told reporters Purdy is the only player “for sure I don’t plan on playing.” We still expect George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel to play sparingly if at all.

Purdy set the 49ers’ single-season passing yards record in the fourth quarter and is now sitting on 4,280 yards with one game left to go. The second-year signal-caller enjoyed a productive day against a porous Commanders secondary, allowing only six passes to fall to the turf. His most impressive play came on his second touchdown pass when he evaded pressure and extended the play for several seconds before finding Brandon Aiyuk for a 17-yard score in the back of the end zone. Purdy remains in the MVP conversation heading into Week 18’s matchup against the Rams.

Purdy suffered a stinger for the second consecutive game in Week 16 against the Ravens but is good to go against the Commanders. Washington has bled production to quarterbacks this season and now will be without their top two corners, not exactly what they had in mind with a matchup on tap against the team scoring the third most points per game this season.

Darnold came into the game for Brock Purdy, who reportedly sustained a “stinger” in the second half. Purdy was cleared to return to the game but Darnold remained under center for the fourth quarter. He made a couple impressive throws against pressure, including a 28-yard score to Brandon Aiyuk. Darnold would be a borderline QB1 in Week 17 against Washington if Purdy is sidelined.

Purdy started the game off hot with 74 yards through the air on the team’s first possession, a possession that would end in the first of four interceptions thrown by the MVP candidate against the Ravens. The sledding was tough the rest of the way before Purdy picked up a stinger halfway through the fourth quarter, which ultimately was enough to end his evening. Sam Darnold came on in relief and tossed a touchdown to rookie wide receiver Ronnie Bell before effectively ending the game with an interception in the red zone while down by 14. The end score notwithstanding, this one had the feel of a playoff game between two of the league’s top overall teams, leaving fans of the game in a state of excitement as the postseason draws near.