Brock Purdy doesn’t need to be great for the San Francisco 49ers to win.
When he is, they’re unstoppable.
Purdy threw for 254 yards on 17-of-24 passing, including a career-high four touchdowns and a 144.4 quarterback rating, lighting up the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night at Levi’s Stadium, 42-10.
It was Purdy’s most dominant passing performance of his young and blossoming career. He did it against the number-one defense in the NFL. In front of a national audience, did he leave anyone wanting more?
“I thought he missed one throw today to [Brandon Aiyuk], but everything else seemed flawless,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame. “He did a great job against a great pass rush in tight coverages. Guys gave him time and guys made some plays too.”
Shanahan is a perfectionist, but the caveat talk surrounding No. 13 has become commonplace in media circles. Purdy made some good throws, but… He makes great decisions with the football, but… He always remains poised, but… Against the Cowboys, there were no ‘buts.’
Dallas pressured Purdy early by focusing on Christian McCaffrey, stacking the box, and forcing the 49ers signal caller to beat them. Purdy torched the Cowboys on the first drive, completing all four passes, including a 19-yard touchdown pass on the run to George Kittle.
Purdy’s most impressive drive however, came on the first possession of the second half. After a false start put the 49ers behind the sticks, Purdy drilled Aiyuk on a deep crossing route for 23 yards. The pass was placed perfectly over the outstretched hands of Dallas linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Two plays later, Purdy dialed up arguably his best ball of the night, also to Aiyuk, on the sideline for a 40-yard gain. However, a holding penalty wiped away the massive gain.
Instead of a first-and-goal, Purdy was dealt the hand of 3rd-and-14. He responded by hitting Deebo Samuel in stride over the middle for a 43-yard gain.
The NBC telecast immediately zoomed in on Purdy. His expression was deadpan.
Finally, on 3rd-and-2 at the 10, Purdy sold a play-action sprint and calmly dropped it into Kittle’s hands for the Tight End’s third touchdown. It was a backbreaking drive that Dak Prescott followed by throwing the ugliest of his three interceptions, a hail mary-like pass Tashaun Gipson Sr. picked off. The Cowboys mailed it in from there.
Purdy frustrated the Dallas defense on Sunday the same way he frustrates pundits who try to devalue his performance. Purdy unquestionably has a great defense, brilliant play caller, and weapons galore. That should not take away from his ability to maximize all of it.
“I think people are starting to see the type of quarterback that he is,” said Aiyuk after the game.
“How good he really is and how he has taken this offense and completely opened it up.”
Purdy opened up the aerial effort in a game where the Cowboys largely neutralized McCaffrey, holding the 49ers running back to just 78 scrimmage yards. His previous low this season was 119. Instead, Purdy spread the ball around. He completed passes to seven different receivers, none of which had more than 70 yards.
It’s not about where Purdy ranks among NFL quarterbacks. It’s not about his undeniably efficient statistics. It’s about the ease with which he puts opponents away. That is why the 49ers are undefeated and the best team in the league. That is where his greatness lies.
In each of his first 10 NFL starts (all wins), Purdy has scored 30 or more points in nine of them. That puts him in elite company, joining Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning as the only QBs to score 30 or more in nine straight regular season games.
Time will determine whether Purdy’s career remains in that Hall-of-Fame stratosphere. So far, he’s only gone in that direction.