Brock Purdy can’t be beat. At least not for now.
The 49ers defense has carried the squad through its win streak, but they needed to get picked up by the rookie quarterback on Sunday afternoon.
Few could have seen Jarrett Stidham carving up the 49ers defense in his first career start, after the Raiders benched longtime franchise quarterback Derek Carr earlier in the week. Las Vegas entered the game as 10-point underdogs but the Raiders held a 10-point lead in the third quarter.
Purdy didn’t flinch.
The wunderkind held strong in the fourth quarter and put the 49ers in position to win in regulation, overcoming an interception in the process. Robbie Gould could have won the game in regulation but missed a field goal. All good, as Gould connected in overtime after a 49ers interception to secure an intense 37-34 New Year’s Day win over the Raiders.
In leading the 49ers to win against the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Seahawks and Commanders, Purdy didn't have to author any comebacks. As the 49ers jockey for the No. 2 seed -- and possibly the NFC's top seed -- Purdy found himself in a high-pressure situation against upset-minded Vegas.
"It was great for me to go through that and feel it again," Purdy said. "The last time I felt like that was in college in the tight games like that.”
Purdy didn’t have much success passing down the field for most of the game, but he led the team to three straight scoring drives in the fourth quarter. The Niners offense also got huge contributions from Christian McCaffrey (19 carries, 121 yards, 6 catches, 72 yards) and Brandon Aiyuk (9 catches, 101 yards) down the stretch.
Purdy led a go-ahead touchdown drive with 2:17 left in the game, but his work wasn’t done. Stidham led a lightning quick game-tying TD drive and Purdy went back to the huddle. In the final 1:11, Purdy and Aiyuk connected four times for 52 yards to set up a 41-yarder as time expired, but Gould missed it. The drive easily could have been a game-winner for Purdy, who continues to develop in his scintillating run of success.
"What Brock's doing is real," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's a talented guy who's very tough."
After Gould's miss, it was time for the defense to step up and play like the top-ranked unit in the league. Ditto for DPOY front-runner Nick Bosa.
Bosa had a relatively quiet game on Sunday afternoon in Sin City. The NFL sack leader got some pressure in the second half but failed to collapse the pocket at his usual rate against the Raiders. But in the game’s most crucial sequence, Bosa bullied the 49ers to a victory, as he got into Stidham’s face and affected a throw that ended up as an interception for Tashaun Gipson.
“Man I was happy to see the ball fluttering in the air," Bosa said.
Gipson returned the ball inside the 10-yard line and Gould didn’t miss his 23-yard chip shot, as the Niners (12-4) won their ninth straight.
Purdy finished with a decent stat line 22-of-35 for 284 yards, but it was his play in the clutch that will be remembered. Mr. Irrelevant continues to pass every test in his way. He is the first rookie quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 to win his first four NFL starts. Purdy has also accomplished something Jimmy Garoppolo has never done -- throw two touchdowns in five straight games.
Stidham finished 23-of-34 for 365 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions -- racking up the most passing yards against the Niners defense since Patrick Mahomes had 423 in Week 7. Stidham also made some plays with his feet, rushing the ball seven times for 34 yards, as the Raiders totaled 500 yards of offense.
"Obviously a ton to correct defensively," Bosa said. "For the offense to take control and win it for us was ginormous. We needed that. I'm proud of them. A lot to get better on, but I think we needed this as a defense. That's a good team. That's the best running back (Josh Jacobs) I've played against in my career, no doubt about it. That dudes a beast. They have a lot of talented players and the quarterback played good. The NFL will humble you 100 percent of the time."
The 49ers' hopes to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC are still alive. Gardner Minshew and the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) are still within striking distance, while the Minnesota Vikings (12-4) lost Sunday and fell into a three-way tie with the Niners and Dallas Cowboys (12-4). Heading into the final week, San Francisco holds the No. 2 seed by virtue of its conference-best 9-2 record in the NFC.
