Survive and advance.
In some ways, these three phrases sum up the gauntlet that’s the NFL playoffs. Groups with Tremendous Bowl desires typically simply must discover a solution to survive for another week. That was definitely the case for the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night time. Regardless of being the top-seeded staff within the NFC, and being favorites heading into their sport towards the seventh-seeded Inexperienced Bay Packers, the 49ers struggled early and located themselves trailing 21-17 with simply over six minutes left within the sport after Packers kicker Anders Carlson missed a area objective that will have given Inexperienced Bay a 24-17 lead.
The San Francisco offense took over at their very own 31-yard line, and their offense had an opportunity to regain the lead. However they would wish one thing extra from second-year quarterback Brock Purdy, who up till that time had appeared off all through the sport. Purdy had accomplished simply 17 of 32 passes for 205 yards and a landing, and whereas he had not thrown an interception, he had definitely given the Packers quite a lot of possibilities at a turnover with some off-target throws.
At that time 49es followers may need been nervous, and maybe rightfully so. Past the numbers Purdy appeared off along with his throws, and lots of puzzled if the wet circumstances had been an element. Some most likely thought again to a Week 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and puzzled if historical past was about to repeat itself. Deebo Samuel was knocked out early in that sport with a shoulder harm — as he was on Saturday night time — and Purdy struggled in wet circumstances that afternoon in Cleveland.
However when his staff wanted him most, the second-year quarterback got here via.
The drive began with a completion from Purdy to Jauan Jennings, on a throw to the left flat coming off of a run faux to the best, that tasked the quarterback with throwing on his transfer to the left. Following that achieve of seven and a pair of runs, San Francisco had a contemporary set of downs. Purdy then linked on his second throw of the drive on a checkdown to Christian McCaffrey after shopping for a while within the pocket, however an incompletion to George Kittle noticed San Francisco dealing with a third and 5 with simply 3:38 left within the sport, from their very own 47-yard line.
If there was a time for Purdy to make a big-time throw, this was it.
And he delivered:
Purdy hits Brandon Aiyuk on a slant route, and regardless of near-perfect protection from Keisean Nixon, the QB places this throw within the absolute good spot, giving Aiyuk an opportunity to make the catch going to the bottom, and the 49ers have a contemporary set of downs.
On the very subsequent play Purdy hit on one other huge throw, this time connecting with Chris Conley on a deep out route to choose up 17 extra yards for San Francisco:
Nonetheless, the job was not achieved, and the 49ers wanted no less than another huge play from Purdy on this night time. It got here a couple of snaps later, with San Francisco dealing with a 2nd and 10 at Inexperienced Bay’s 15-yard line. Purdy dropped to throw and appeared to his proper, within the path of McCaffrey. However feeling some stress within the pocket, the second-year QB pulled the ball down, and appeared to run:
Purdy’s scramble picks up 9 yards, and on the very subsequent snap the 49ers retake the lead, with a landing run from McCaffrey. Purdy completed the drive hitting on 6 of his 7 passes for 47 yards.
Then a late interception from Dre Greenlaw sealed the 24-21 win.
Nonetheless, it was not an ideal efficiency from Purdy, and he could face questions going ahead about whether or not a sport like that shall be sufficient within the NFC Championship Recreation, or ought to San Francisco advance, a Tremendous Bowl. Purdy completed the night time having accomplished 23 of 39 passes for 252 yards and a landing, and as famous earlier whereas he didn’t flip the soccer over, he definitely gave the Packers alternatives. Whereas he completed the night time with an Anticipated Factors Added per Play of 0.16, that was nonetheless under his season common of 0.338, which led certified passers.
Even Purdy admitted after the sport that he’ll have to be higher going ahead.
“Clearly it’s 4 quarters for a purpose, you recognize? So the best way I began, it’s like, ‘Man, I’ve received to be higher, received to play environment friendly soccer,’” Purdy stated after the sport. “However when it comes all the way down to it, with the season on the road, you’ve received to make it occur to your boys round you.”
Purdy even admitted the circumstances performed an element.
“Yeah, there was some occasions the place I used to be dropping again and the ball’s a bit moist from the grass, and yeah, type of affected some accuracy and stuff,” Purdy stated after the win. “However dude, that’s soccer, so I’ve received to be higher in that space.”
For his coach, what Purdy did on the finish was what he wanted to see.
“Brock, he made some huge performs on this sport. Missed a pair, however main us down on our final drive and getting the win, that’s all I can ask for,” Shanahan stated following the sport.
Purdy will get an opportunity to be higher quickly sufficient, when the 49ers host both the Detroit Lions or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers subsequent week with a berth within the Tremendous Bowl on the road. It was not good from Purdy, however when his staff wanted him most, he made the massive performs they wanted.
Giving San Francisco an opportunity to outlive and advance, which is the secret in January.