Why Whitner has confidence Purdy is the 49ers’ franchise. QB
Why does Whitner have confidence? Purdy is the 49ers’ franchise. QB first appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Brock Purdy didn’t have the best performance of his young NFL career in Saturday’s victory over the Green Bay Packers, but his reaction to adversity impressed NBC Sports Bay Area’s Donte Whitner.
Whitner believes Purdy’s ability to put the club on his back and lead the 24-21 comeback victory with the season on the line clearly identifies Purdy’s future with the 49ers, confirming his place as the franchise quarterback.
“After Saturday’s big comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, I think it’s fair to say that Brock Purdy has arrived,” Whitner remarked on the newest episode of “Hitner’s Hot Take.” “And we can remove the game management tag. He had icy water in his veins. Yeah, he missed a few throws during the day, but when it counted in the fourth quarter, Brock Purdy took the offense on his shoulders.
“… I think it’s fair to say after receiving MVP consideration during the season, after leading the 49ers to a big comeback victory in the playoffs, that we can say the 49ers have their franchise quarterback in Brock Purdy.”
Purdy completed 23 of 39 passes for 252 yards, a touchdown, and an 86.7 passer rating in Saturday’s victory. His performance in the first three and a half quarters raised some eyebrows, but he stepped up and delivered when it counted the most.
His game-winning drive in the waning minutes of play, followed by Dre Greenlaw’s game-saving interception, sealed the victory for San Francisco. While Purdy, coach Kyle Shanahan, and numerous other 49ers players admitted that there is still much opportunity for growth before Sunday’s NFC title game against the Detroit Lions, Whitner was thoroughly impressed with Purdy’s poise down the stretch.
“The throw over the middle to Jauan Jennings was probably his best throw of the year,” Whitner told ESPN. “The toss to [Chris] Conley on the sideline demonstrates that he trusts each and every one of his playmakers, even if they are not starting. And the finest thing he did was perform brilliantly without one of his top playmakers, Deebo Samuel. Before Saturday’s game, the 49ers were 0-3 when Deebo Samuel did not finish the game.
“The Green Bay Packers defense performed admirably. They did an excellent job rerouting the 49ers’ skill position players, which threw Brock Purdy’s timing off. However, in the fourth quarter, he tightened the screws. And after battling for most of the game, Brock Purdy took over the offense.
Purdy’s professional career is only getting started, but if he can help San Francisco win Super Bowl LVIII and the franchise’s sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, Whitner’s prediction might become a reality.