Survive and move forward.
In many ways, those three words sum up the challenge that is the NFL playoffs. A team with Super Bowl dreams may just need to find a way to survive the week.That was certainly the case san francisco 49ers on Saturday night. Despite being the top-seeded team in the NFC and the favorite going into a game against the seventh-seeded team, green bay packersthe 49ers struggled early, trailing 21-17 with just over six minutes left in the game after Packers kicker Anders Karlsson missed a field goal that would have given Green Bay a 24-17 lead. I realized that.
San Francisco's offense took control at its own 31-yard line, and the offense had a chance to regain the lead. But second-year quarterback Brock Purdy, who until then had been watching the whole game, will need something more. Purdy completed just 17 of 32 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown, and while he didn't throw an interception, he did make some off-target throws that gave the Packers fewer chances for turnovers. I was certain that he was giving.
At that point, 49es fans may have been nervous, and maybe rightfully so. Beyond the numbers, Purdy seemed to be pitching poorly, and many wondered if the rain had something to do with it. Some of you probably remember the loss in Week 6. cleveland browns, and I thought history might be about to repeat itself. Deebo Samuel was knocked out early in the game with a shoulder injury, similar to Saturday night, and Purdy struggled in the rain that afternoon in Cleveland.
But when the team needed him most, the second-year quarterback stepped up.
The drive began with a pass from Purdy to Jauan Jennings, who completed a run fake to the right and a throw to the left flat, commanding the quarterback to give him a throw with a movement to the left. Following a seven point score and two goals scored, San Francisco suffered another losing streak. Purdy then bought time in the pocket before connecting on a checkdown to Christian McCaffrey for the second throw of the drive, but George Kittle fell incomplete and San Francisco was down 3-5 with 3:38 left. I was on the verge of your own 47-yard line.
If Purdy ever had a chance to make it big, this was it.
And he said:
Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk on a slant route, and despite near-perfect coverage by Kayshawn Nixon, the QB placed this throw in perfect position, giving Aiyuk a chance to ground the catch, and the 49ers got the fresh set. of down.
On the very next play, Purdy hit another big throw, this time connecting with Chris Conley on a deep out route, giving San Francisco another 17 yards.
Still, the job wasn't done, and the 49ers needed at least one more big play from Purdy on this night. It happened seconds later, and San Francisco had a 2nd-and-10 at the Green Bay 15-yard line. Purdy bent down to throw and looked to his right, toward McCaffrey. But feeling pressure in the pocket, the second-year QB pulled the ball down and tried to run.
Purdy's scramble gained 9 yards and McCaffrey's touchdown run on the next snap gave the 49ers the lead. Purdy hit the drive on 6-of-7 passes for 47 yards.
Then, Dre Greenlaw's interception late in the game clinched the 24-21 victory.
Still, it wasn't a perfect performance from Purdy, and he may face future questions about whether games like this are enough for the NFC Championship Game, or whether San Francisco should make it to the Super Bowl. Purdy finished the night completing 23-of-39 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown, and while he didn't turn the football over as mentioned earlier, he certainly gave the Packers a chance. He finished the night with an expected extra point per play of his 0.16, but that didn't change that. This was below the season average of 0.338.led to qualified successful applicants.
Purdy also admitted after the game that he needs to get better going forward.
“Obviously, there's a reason for a quarter, right? So the way I started was like, 'I've got to get better, I've got to play more efficient football.'” Purdy said after the game. “But when it comes down to it, with the season coming up, we’ve got to make it happen for the boys around us.”
Purdy even admitted that the situation was a factor.
“Yeah, there were times when I was down and the ball was a little wet on the grass, so yeah, it affected my accuracy a little bit,” Purdy said. said after winning. “But that's football, you have to get better in that area.”
To the coach, what Purdy did last time was what he needed to see.
“Brock, he made some big plays in this game. He made some mistakes, but to lead us on that last drive and get the win, that's all I want.'' Shanahan said after the game.
Purdy will get a chance to get better quickly in a game hosted by the 49ers. detroit lions or tampa bay buccaneers A trip to the Super Bowl is on the line next week. Purdy wasn't perfect, but he made the big plays the team needed when they needed him the most.
Giving San Francisco a chance to survive and advance is the name of the game in January.
