Brock Purdy had a shaky start during the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions. He threw an interception on a pass intended for Deebo Samuel, which the Lions turned into a touchdown. That score helped the visiting team race to a 24-7 halftime lead.
If the game stayed that way, Purdy’s detractors would have more ammunition to say that the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant can’t lead the San Francisco 49ers to victory. They also say that he’s a system quarterback who benefitted from a talented roster around him.
However, he proved his doubters wrong when he started playing like a starting quarterback of an elite team. He improved his performance in the second half. On their second drive after the intermission, he completed a 17-yard pass to Samuel and a 51-yarder to Brandon Aiyuk. He ended the sequence with a six-yard touchdown pass to Aiyuk, trimming Detroit’s lead to seven.
Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starting QB in 2 years is crazy man…
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 29, 2024
Give that man Brock Purdy his flowers.
After this, Purdy and the 49ers’ offense did not waste Arik Armstead’s fumble recovery. The former Iowa State standout extended the drive with a 21-yard scramble that brought the ball to Detroit’s four-yard line. Christian McCaffrey’s touchdown run and the extra point tied the game and erased the Lions’ momentum.
Purdy led the 49ers to another touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. He made another 21-yard scramble before McCaffrey went on a 25-yard run. Elijah Mitchell finished the drive with a touchdown.
Brock Purdy finished the game with 20 completions for 267 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He added five carries for 48 rushing yards. More importantly, the Niners wouldn’t have booked their trip to Super Bowl LVIII without him.
He will face another elite winner in two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes this time. With San Francisco having a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy, Purdy can silence his critics for good once he has that silverware on his hands.
-Lance Fernandez