Thompson: Brock Purdy managed up, managed down and saved the 49ers

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Crucial run of the night time might not have been by Christian McCaffrey. Or Deebo Samuel. And even by George Kittle on certainly one of his epic catch-and-runs.

Nope. It was most likely by the sport supervisor. Probably the most momentum-seizing, back-breaking, Lions-taming runs, a case could possibly be made, have been by Brock Purdy, the conductor of a 17-point comeback within the San Francisco 49ers’ 34-31 win Sunday over Detroit within the NFC Championship Sport.

“I’m blocking my man, and subsequent factor I do know I hear screaming,” left guard Aaron Banks stated from the occasion within the 49ers locker room at Levi’s Stadium after the sport. “And Brock is 20 yards downfield.”

One candidate was Purdy’s 21-yard scramble on second-and-11 within the third quarter. He took off up the center and turned on his child burners to get away from Lions defensive again Brian Department. Two performs after the protection compelled a turnover, Purdy had the 49ers first-and-goal at Detroit’s 4-yard line. McCaffrey completed the drive with a 1-yard rating to tie the sport at 24.

Purdy takes off for 21 yards!

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— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024

Purdy’s scamper was symbolic of the 49ers’ aggressive temper. Purple-zone points wouldn’t get in the best way this time. A area objective wasn’t an possibility.

He may’ve scored himself if not for Samuel.

“He ran proper into me and bounced off,” Samuel stated. “I really feel like if I might’ve made that block, he most likely would’ve scored.”

One other candidate was Purdy’s breathtaking scramble on the primary play of the following drive. McCaffrey missed the block on blitzing Detroit security Ifeatu Melifonwu. However Purdy ducked beneath what would’ve been an 8-yard sack on first down, spun to his left and scooted in the direction of the sidelines. Earlier than getting tackled, he threw a laser alongside the sidelines to Kyle Juszczyk for a toe-tapping first down. It was the primary play on the drive that produced the go-ahead area objective. It was the primary signal Purdy was in his bag.

Purdy magic in full impact 🪄

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— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024

Another choice, possibly one of the best one, was his third-and-4 run on what amounted to the game-winning drive to ship the 49ers to the Tremendous Bowl in opposition to Kansas Metropolis. With just below 5 minutes left, and the 49ers simply throughout midfield, Detroit was determined for a cease. However Purdy stepped up within the pocket and took off once more. He escaped the grasp of Lions sack specialist Aidan Hutchinson, slipped the diving clutches of linebacker Jack Campbell, and outran linebacker Alex Anzalone to the sting.

After turning up the sector, weaving into open area, Purdy didn’t slide. He dove head first. As a result of he needed each yard. As a result of scared cash don’t make cash. As a result of championships aren’t gained with passivity.

Brock Purdy retains on doing harm together with his legs!

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— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024

Purdy has been typecast by many because the prototypical sport supervisor. A passenger greater than a driver. A beneficiary greater than a benefactor. A loss preventer greater than a victory retriever. The sport supervisor label is mainly a pejorative in fashionable quarterback discourse.

However Sunday, the 49ers wanted one thing extra. Their season was on the road. Their championship hopes have been slipping away.

Purdy turned who they wanted him to be: a playmaker, a distinction maker. Within the second half, he was 13-for-16 passing for 174 yards and a landing. No interceptions. His 49 speeding yards was one of the best proof he wasn’t merely a passenger on this historic comeback. He was driving.

“I believed it was the distinction between profitable and shedding,” head coach Kyle Shanahan stated of Purdy’s scrambling. “He made some massive performs together with his legs, getting out of the pocket, transferring the chains on some first downs, some explosives. He competed his ass off at this time. Wasn’t straightforward for any of us. He saved grinding. He was unbelievable there within the second half.”

Within the NFC divisional spherical, Purdy overcame his struggles to come back up clutch on the ultimate drive, marching the 49ers to the game-winning rating. He one-upped himself for the NFC title, main San Francisco from 17 factors down.

He orchestrated a run of 27 factors over 5 consecutive drives, flipping the script on the Lions.

“Once I’m down 17 at half,” Purdy stated, “truthfully I’m considering, ‘Alright God. You’ve taken me right here. Win or lose, I’m gonna glorify you.’ That’s my peace. That’s the enjoyment. That’s the steadfastness. That’s the place I get it from. That’s the trustworthy reality.”

Detroit had a major hand in its personal demise. Dropping passes. Passing on area targets in favor of satisfaction and sample. Purdy made positive all their misdeeds have been punished.

It was greater than sufficient so as to add some texture to the controversy about Purdy. At the least to provide his detractors pause. At the least to acknowledge the likelihood his ceiling could be even increased than his halo. He will not be on the extent of the possible MVP Lamar Jackson or uber-talented Josh Allen. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are extra coveted abilities.

However Purdy isn’t house.

Brock Purdy did it together with his legs in addition to arm Sunday, speeding for 49 key second-half yards to assist spark the 49ers’ comeback over the Lions. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Photos)

“I don’t have sufficient good issues to say about Brock,” McCaffrey stated. “All he’s performed since he’s been right here is play at an elite degree. And the whole lot begins with him. We’re fortunate he’s our quarterback. He takes numerous warmth for completely no motive. All he’s performed is been an awesome chief and an awesome participant.”

Purdy doesn’t have a giant arm. Or the blazing athleticism. His inexperience exhibits up at instances. His accuracy can abandon him. He’s had sufficient interceptions dropped to persuade you he have to be residing proper. He put up some astounding statistics, throwing his identify into the MVP conversations, however he’s additionally had some moments to make the considered him profitable the league’s highest honors a bit ridiculous.

All of that was evident within the first half on Sunday. It was the model of Purdy really easy to query, to scoff at when talked about with the elite. He accomplished simply 47 % of his passes the primary two quarters — together with an interception that arrange a Detroit landing — and missed a number of different throws. The potent 49ers offense, in opposition to a susceptible protection, mustered simply seven first-half factors.

Your entire Bay Space was asking to talk to the supervisor.

That’s when Purdy emerged. The younger man with a healthful smile, accountable apparel and at-your-service humility.

“My religion by no means wavered,” 49ers security Tashaun Gipson Sr. stated of his quarterback. “I’ve been saying all of it yr. You’ve acquired a man like that who can management the sport, who is aware of the place to go and when to go along with the ball. I’m pleased he’s on my staff. I’ll inform y’all that. I by no means fear. When Purdy must put up factors, that’s when he’s at his greatest.”

What pulled the 49ers by way of was the immeasurables of Purdy. The gunslinger mentality. The mid-major resolve. The Mr. Irrelevant chip on his shoulder. The little man toughness.

Like that heart-stopping throw to Jauan Jennings on third-and-4 with the 49ers down 17. Purdy scrambled, stopped in need of the road of scrimmage and threw a go throughout his physique to the center. It was extra like an alley-oop, and Jennings wanted all of his 6-foot-3 body and 6-foot-4 wingspan to snag the one-handed catch and maintain the drive alive. It was Patrick Mahomesian.

However most of all, the center. Purdy isn’t afraid of the stress. He can look rattled generally, however not sufficient to shake him right into a shell. His will to win took over Sunday.

The play of the sport, his deep chuck to Brandon Aiyuk, was him being the alternative of a sport supervisor. With the 49ers down two touchdowns, and after the protection had simply provide you with an enormous turnover on downs, Purdy wasn’t trying to play it protected.

He was making an attempt to make a play. He sensed they wanted one thing massive and he went for it.

AIYUK UNBELIEVABLE!

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— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024

“In that second,” Purdy stated, “I’m it like we want a play. I’m not going to be silly and simply throw the ball up. However B.A. is one-on-one. I’ma take that opp. Particularly in this sort of sport. We would have liked that sort of play. So folks can say what they need, however I used to be giving my man a shot.”

The Lions had a single security who was hovering in the course of the sector. When Samuel reduce on a crossing route, the protection went with him. That left Aiyuk one-on-one with Detroit cornerback Kindle Vildor.

“I seen it reside,” Samuel stated. “I seen the man reduce the excessive cross that I used to be operating and I simply appeared up and Brock reduce it unfastened.”

Purdy is right here, and never Jimmy Garoppolo, as a result of the 49ers can’t win the Tremendous Bowl with out a quarterback succesful and keen to hit the deep ball. For all his success, Garoppolo’s hesitancy to throw downfield, even when created by Shanahan’s hesitancy to name for longer throws, put a ceiling on the 49ers’ offense. They drafted Trey Lance trying to get extra dynamic.

They ended up with Purdy, who can scramble and push the ball downfield.

The 49ers misplaced the final Tremendous Bowl they reached as a result of they couldn’t rating within the fourth quarter. Whereas Patrick Mahomes was fashioning himself right into a legend, the 49ers offense stifled below Garoppolo’s predictable slant passes and pocket confinement.

Purdy might not outduel Mahomes, both. But it surely’s not off the desk. It was stated he couldn’t come from behind and he has. It was stated he couldn’t carry the staff and he did. It was stated he wasn’t the explanation the 49ers gained and he was. He’s, certainly, surrounded by expertise. And he may get outclassed. He may come up brief. However Sunday was extra proof of the gamer in him. He can handle up. He can handle down.

Purdy isn’t afraid. To not run for it, or sling it, or take the highest off the protection.

His go to Aiyuk wound up a bit too deep — or go interference might need prevented Aiyuk from attending to the ball — and Vildor had an interception probability. His job is to remain on prime of the receiver, and he did. However the go bounced off his helmet and into the arms of Aiyuk.

Fortunate? Completely. However fortune favors the daring.

“I noticed the replay,” Kittle stated, “and I used to be like, ‘Simply how we needed it to look. Off the man’s facemask proper to B.A.’ Dang. Brock’s good at soccer isn’t he?”

If he’s a sport supervisor, he have to be the premium model.