The San Francisco 49ers have been on a roll, and quarterback Brock Purdy's latest performance has solidified their position as a top contender in the NFL. On Monday night, Purdy led his team to a resounding 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for 295 yards and an impressive 5 touchdowns. This feat marks the first time in his career that Purdy has achieved 5 touchdowns in a single game, and he became the first Niners quarterback to accomplish this on a Monday night.
According to coach Kyle Shanahan, Purdy's performance was "pretty close to a perfect game." The young quarterback has been on a hot streak, throwing for 9 touchdowns with only 1 interception and posting an 85.7 QBR, which is the second-best in the NFL since his rough outing against the Carolina Panthers on November 25. The 49ers' offense has been dominant, with the team averaging a league-high 34.4 points per game during their 5-game winning streak.
Purdy's Success has been a significant factor in the 49ers' winning streak, and his ability to perform under pressure has been impressive. The team hasn't punted in 133 minutes and 35 seconds of game time, a feat that has not been achieved by the 49ers since at least 1950, according to the Elias Sport Bureau. This level of performance has the Niners believing that Purdy is as close to healthy as he has been all season, and his confidence in the huddle has been palpable.
When you're in that huddle, it's only one voice speaking," said left tackle Trent Williams. "You've got 10 grown men staring at you and you can't fool grown men. The confidence that he has in that huddle... from A to Z, he does it at a really high level. I say it all the time. He's a godsend.
Purdy's ability to take deep shots and connect with his receivers has been a significant improvement, and he finished 12-of-16 for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns on passes thrown 10-plus yards downfield against the Colts. This performance has alleviated any concerns that Purdy would struggle on the big stage, and he has shown significant growth since his previous performances on Monday nights.
As Purdy acknowledged after the game, he had a tendency to press in high-pressure situations, but he has learned from his mistakes and is now focused on taking it one play at a time. "I feel like right now, I've got to be my best one play at a time," he said. "That Christmas game a couple years ago, it was like, 'Man, we're on Christmas, Monday night, MVP talk, like hit a couple of completions early in the game and felt good.' And then after that, I'm getting complacent with going through my reads and stuff and making the right decisions. [I] definitely have learned from that, but there's always still room for improvement."
While the 49ers' victory was a significant one, the team did not leave the game without injury concerns. Tight end George Kittle was in the midst of a 7-reception, 93-yard performance before leaving the game with an injury, and the team will be monitoring his status closely in the coming days.
The 49ers will look to continue their winning streak in their next game, and with Purdy at the helm, they are a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. As the team prepares for the playoffs, they will be focused on maintaining their momentum and making a deep run in the postseason.
Original: ESPN
Image: ESPN
Written by Npsports
