Brock Purdy’s career-worst game against the Ravens was a Christmas gift to everyone out there who — for whatever misguided reason — had decided he wasn’t, in fact, a good quarterback.
There was downright glee about Purdy’s come-to-earth game on ESPN, Fox Sports, and countless podcasts and YouTube streams (does everyone have one of those these days?).
But you know who has zero doubt that the 49ers’ second-year quarterback is good enough to lead the team to the Super Bowl?
His coaches and teammates.
It would have leaked out on Monday if there were any doubts about Purdy’s abilities in the 49ers’ locker room.
A small, passive-aggressive comment, a bit-to-effusive praise of backup Sam Darnold, or outright questioning of Purdy’s quality — we didn’t hear a peep of negativity from the Niners after Purdy’s four-interception game.
And, trust me, there are too many recorders and cameras in that room postgame to have missed it.
In fact, the only person with the 49ers who seemed to be questioning Purdy was Purdy.
“Our team came ready to play, and for me to make some decisions like that, it pains me,” Purdy, who made his 23rd NFL start on Christmas, said. “It’s not fair to these guys. I have to realize that, and understand that, and I have to get better for my team.”
But George Kittle had a different take:
“Just keep slinging it,” the tight end said he told Purdy. “We’re the No. 1 seed in the NFC for a reason: because you sling the ball, you get it to our playmakers in space.”
The Niners’ wide receivers and offensive line echoed that sentiment. On FanDuel TV, Deebo Samuel seemed ready to fight Cam Newton for the former NFL MVP’s ripping of Purdy on his podcast.
Yes, the sports media landscape might be complicated, but Purdy’s teammates’ message is not:
They have his back. He’s their guy.
And that’s, obviously, a good thing. If a quarterback loses the locker room, he has no chance of having success.
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But what’s more important is that Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t doubting Purdy after his disastrous game.
Remember, with Purdy’s predecessor, Shanahan refused to let him throw in big games. Jimmy Garoppolo threw 27 times, total, in the 2019 NFC Playoffs.
Coaches tell you what they truly think about players by how they use them.
Shanahan never really trusted Garoppolo.
He trusts Purdy, though.
He might even trust Purdy too much.
“Brock’s been one of the better ones I’ve ever been around — when to take the big play and when to check it down,” Shanahan said Monday. “I thought he made one real bad decision on that last night.”
And Kittle is correct, the 49ers’ offense had put up huge numbers this season because of the quarterback’s ability to push the ball downfield. Purdy’s MVP candidacy might be over — you can’t lay an egg like that on national television this late in the season — but it was real and undeniable heading into Week 16.
Sure enough, Shanahan came out looking for Purdy to throw the ball in Monday’s game against the Ravens.
Even after two, and then three interceptions, Shanahan kept letting Purdy rip it.
That’s trust. Expect it to continue in the season’s final two weeks, starting Sunday against the Commanders in Washington.
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It should be noted, if not for those interceptions — a massive if — the 49ers were moving the ball against Baltimore. The Niners ran the ball well, yes, but the passing game was a big part of them averaging 8.5 yards per play in the first half Monday and 7.3 yards per play before the start of the garbage-time fourth quarter. Those are elite numbers, in line with what the Niners’ offense has done this season.
You can’t do that without high-level quarterback play.
“I just think the fact he’s played this long and never had a game like this is pretty unusual,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s four-interception game. “I think that’s the reality of the NFL. I’m not saying it’s bound to happen, but I wish he didn’t have as many picks today.
“Brock, he’ll bounce back.”
