(95.7 The Game/WGR 550) - Brock Purdy is rightfully cementing himself as one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, but as Patrick Mahomes has showcased, sometimes you simply need to be great rather than just good.
Purdy had a tremendous second pro season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Most weeks he made few mistakes, helping guide the 49ers to dominance throughout the regular season.
However, he and San Francisco had one close call after another in the playoffs, and it finally came back to bite them in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
The 24-year-old completed 23 of his 38 pass attempts for 255 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He was smart with the ball, somehow avoiding any turnovers, and taking just one sack despite Steve Spagnuolo sending plenty of pressure.
However, he never really made any game-altering plays.
Joe Shasky from "The Morning Roast" on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco says the difference between good and great loomed large in Las Vegas on Sunday.
"He was good, but not great," Shasky said on Monday following the 49ers' 25-22 overtime loss. "No one is saying he lost the game, but to win a Super Bowl – he had been excellent all year, he was great all year – but the reality is in the playoff games he was just good. That’s the difference.
"I’m not trying to rip the guy, he’s in his second year. But part of what we’re talking about when we talk about franchise quarterbacks, when you want to win a Super Bowl, you have to be great. He was good."
Of course, not all of it falls on Purdy.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel struggled to get separation, while tight end George Kittle was a non-factor in the passing game. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan also should’ve gotten running back Christian McCaffrey more touches on the ground.
But to Shasky’s point, sometimes the franchise quarterback gets called upon to make something out of nothing. That was an area this postseason where Purdy left a little to be desired.
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