The San Francisco 49ers pulled out a 20–9 win over the Carolina Panthers in their Week 12 matchup on November 24 at Levi’s Stadium. The result pushed the San Francisco 49ers to 8–4, but it didn’t quiet concerns about Brock Purdy’s performance.
Purdy finished 23 of 32 on his pass attempts for 193 yards with one touchdown, yet the focus after the game centered on the three interceptions he threw. Moreover, with Mac Jones on the bench, the pressure is on Purdy to deliver in each contest.
Amid Purdy’s struggles against the Panthers, FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back on his criticism of the 49ers starter, comparing him to the Miami Dolphins‘ Tua Tagovailoa.
“Brock Purdy’s last 20 starts: 30 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, passer rating that’s equal to Tua,” Cowherd said in a video published on November 25. “And what did I always call Brock Purdy? A right-handed Tua. A little mobility, not a big arm, [and] a little injury prone. Tua, don’t trust them in cold weather. Brock Purdy [has] had ball security issues in wet weather. It’s the same guy. It really is.
“I think Tua throws a more accurate ball consistently. I think Purdy’s a little bit better athlete and a much more aggressive thrower of the football. But in the last move off people because you’re paying Purdy and other people now, Brock Purdy is a mid-90 passer rating guy with injuries. That’s what he is. Don’t shoot the messenger. That’s what he is right now.”
Brock Purdy Defends Himself After Three Interceptions
Even with three turnovers, Purdy stood by his choices, insisting that each pass he made was the right one.
“Honestly, the decisions to go to those spots, I was fine with,” Purdy said postgame (h/t KNBR). “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I need to drive the ball a little more. I kept it in the air too long on multiple throws.
“But again, that’s on me. I thought our receiver did a great job getting separation and winning. Execution-wise, I need to throw the ball more on a line and put it there… Toe is fine. It feels good out there. It’s really just about seeing the play develop, anticipating, and letting it rip at the end of the day. It had nothing to do with my toe.”
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Isn’t Overreacting
While people like Cowherd are making a big deal of Purdy’s turnovers, Kyle Shanahan didn’t overreact to the three interceptions. The 49ers head coach felt Purdy made the right choice, even though the way it was executed led to the turnovers.
“You can’t throw behind [the pass catcher],” Shanahan told reporters (h/t KNBR). “You [have] got to put it in front of him. He had a little behind him on all three, and all three of those corners made him pay…
“He’s alright. I mean, I talk communicated with him throughout the game and at halftime, but nothing big. Mixed dealing with him throughout the game, too. And Brock was fine. Just three throws he’d like to take back.”
“It makes me a lot more hesitant if they’re all bad decisions. But he was seeing it right. They were all really good decisions. You just missed the throw on him. I think it is a lot worse when you feel like he’s not making the right decisions.”
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