He's the most polarizing player left in the playoffs.
Is Brock Purdy really that good?
Is he a star or just the product of a coach with good skill position players and creative offensive schemes surrounding him?
Is he one of those special talents who can carry a team on his back like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, or is he just a game manager?
The debate surrounding the 49ers' 24-year-old quarterback has intensified this week ahead of San Francisco hosting the Lions in the NFC Championship game on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.
Purdy's stats are hard to ignore.
He played in 25 games, starting 21 of them, and had a record of 17 wins and 4 losses. He has thrown 44 TD passes and only 15 INTs, giving him a career passer rating of 111.4.
This season, Purdy threw for 4,280 yards, a completion percentage of 69.4 percent, 33 TDs, and just 11 INTs. He led the league in passer rating at 113.0, with the most yards per attempt at 9.6 and yards per completion at 13.9.
Still, questions still remain about how good he is and how far he can carry the 49ers.
The cruel reality is that those questions will remain unless Purdy leads the 49ers to a victory over the Lions and gets them to the Super Bowl.
Many questions about Purdy have been raised by the national media, which is comprised of many former NFL players. And many of them caused the ire of his teammates, Purdy supporters.
ESPN NFL analyst and former defensive back Ryan Clark was one of the most vocal in criticizing Purdy this week, saying that Purdy “can operate Kyle Shanahan's offense at a very efficient level,” but that he “is able to manipulate the players around him.” He hasn't raised his level of play.” ”
That sentiment rippled through the shoulder pads of Purdy's supporters, especially those to whom he pitched the ball.
“Brock Purdy has been great and consistent every day,” tight end George Kittle said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “Second-year player and second year participating in the NFC Championship.”
In fact, Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles at 5-0 at the end of last season, but he injured his throwing elbow in that game and the 49ers lost.
He's done nothing but win this season and put up gaudy numbers in the process, but he still has more non-believers than any of the four quarterbacks playing Sunday – far more.
“Obviously we're all sitting here because of him,” 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk told reporters this week. “Stable. Guy. Just a football player. I love playing football with him. It's because of a quarterback like him that I have the opportunity to play my best football this weekend,” I’m sitting here today because of quarterbacks like him.”
San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel wrote on social media, “I've never seen this much hate for a QB who led the league in almost every category.”
Purdy skeptics got a boost from Purdy's uneven performance in the 49ers' divisional playoff win over the Packers last Saturday. He struggled in the rain and was out of bounds early in the game, completing just 17-of-32 on the Niners' first eight possessions and had two passes nearly intercepted.
But they made up for it on their final possession, going 6-of-7 for 47 yards before running in Christian McCaffrey with six yards left.
It was Purdy's first return of the season in the fourth quarter. He completed 23 of 39 for 252 yards and one TD, improving to 3-1 in postseason games. However, his only downside was getting injured in last year's NFC title game.
This will be the last pick in the 2022 draft, but there are still haters.
“He's a talented quarterback and gets the ball to his playmakers in space,” Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone told reporters this week in what could be described as lukewarm praise. “Contrary to the narrative, he can pitch really well.”
Purdy will need more success on Sunday to further shift the narrative toward being seen as one of the elite quarterbacks in the game.
Sports are cruel in that sense.
