When Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a serious foot injury in Week 13 against the Dolphins, many figured the 49ers‘ season was over after previously losing Trey Lance to injury, leaving Brock Purdy — the final player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft — as the last quarterback standing. At best, the hope was San Francisco’s top defense could help them grind out some wins if Purdy avoided giving the ball away.
Instead, the 49ers have picked up right where they left off, and might even be playing better, with “Mr. Irrelevant” under center. If Purdy accomplishes what people think he could, we’re talking about one of the best underdog stories in sports history.
“I’m surprised people aren’t talking about it more honestly,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner told NBC Sports after the 49ers’ Week 18 win. “It’s something that is incredible for ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ to lead the team that we have into the postseason now on our way to try to earn a Super Bowl and knowing that we have full confidence in achieving that with him, it’s truly, truly impressive.”
Purdy has earned that praise from his teammates with his play over the last five weeks. Purdy isn’t just skating by, he leads the entire NFL in touchdown passes, yards per pass attempt and passer rating since his first career start in Week 14. It’s the highest passer rating by any 49ers player through the final five weeks of the regular season since Steve Young in 1996
Brock Purdy NFL rankings since first career start in Week 14
|
Team PPG |
33.6 |
1st |
|
Pass TD |
11 |
T-1st |
|
Yards per attempt |
8.9 |
1st |
|
Passer rating |
119.0 |
1st |
It’s one of the best statistical starts by any quarterback in league history, too. He is the only QB since 1950 to win his first five starts with multiple touchdown passes in each game. He also has the second highest passer rating by any QB through five starts since 1950, between Kurt Warner and Patrick Mahomes. Any time you’re in the same company as Warner and Mahomes, who both won MVPs in their first year as full-time starting QBs (not to mention Warner’s Super Bowl MVP), you’re doing something right.
Highest passer rating in first five career starts since 1950
|
Kurt Warner (1999) |
131.4 |
|
Brock Purdy (2022) |
119.0 |
|
Patrick Mahomes (2017-18) |
116.3 |
|
Tony Romo (2006) |
115.8 |
San Francisco is putting up big points in those games, too. The 49ers lead the NFL with 33.6 points per game in Purdy’s first five starts. Only four QBs since 1950 have led their teams to more…
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