Brock Purdy admits to searching for the big play after throwing 4 INTs

Dec 30, 2023, 8:00 PM | Updated: 8:06 pm

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Bal...

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

You cant win them all, with Brock Purdy admitting to going for the home-run ball down big Christmas night.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback is coming off the worst performance in his young NFL career. Week 16 saw Purdy throw four interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens, the most in a single game for any 49ers QB since Colin Kaepernick in 2015. Worst off all, they came before the ten-minute mark the third quarter.

The signal-caller understands his mistakes though, taking the criticism of the national media on the chin. Purdy is fully aware of the tape, reviewing it as soon as possible to dissect what happened.

But sometimes a loss can really be a win for development, with Purdy using his misfortunes to improve as soon a possible.

“The game and the situation sort of happened really quick,” Brock Purdy said Thursday. “They went up quick. Second and third quarters, they’re up multiple scores and we have to make a play. Mentally it was a good experience that you have to make it one play at a time, think clearly in terms of what we’re doing each play, and not try to get back into the game with one or two explosives.

“Those are things I had to learn. Toward the end I was searching for big plays to get back into the game than playing quarterback. Those are things I had to learn.”

Purdy details the "fine line" between being aggressive with the ball and making smart decisions 🔽 pic.twitter.com/8jjCUe5Owu

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 28, 2023

The Iowa state alum now holds a record of 18-5 as an NFL starter, with the pros outweighing the cons dramatically. Still, Christmas 2023 was a shock for many, including Brock Purdy.

The 49ers have a tendency to struggle once trailing, especially by more than one score. The Red & Gold under coach Kyle Shanahan are 0-38 when trailing by more than eight points entering the fourth quarter, and Purdy was partially at fault for that.

Down big, the young QB started looking to extend plays, something San Francisco hasn’t asked him to do really. The result: Great defensive plays/turnovers by an extremely-athletic AFC contender.

Purdy admits to trying to do too much Week 16 against the Ravens, needing to trust the process of the offense more, despite the lop-sided score.

“It’s not being in the right state of mind at quarterback, having the aggressive trigger to make the big throw and big play, but shoot, you don’t want to turn the ball over again. It’s a sucky state of mind. But that’s the learning experience, that every play has a life of its own and not try to win the game with big plays,” he explained.

The gunslinger also trusts his ability to make the throws, so it’s a bit of give-and-take.

Brock Purdy, 24, was an MVP candidate before the contest, second in the NFL in passing yards (4050). In fact, the Arizona native is on pace to become the 49ers’ single-season passing leader in Week 17, potentially passing Jeff Garcia (4,278).

Brock Purdy needs 229 more passing yards to be the all-time single season leader in passing yards for the 49ers.

Jeff Garcia had 4,278 yards in 2001 and Purdy is currently at 4,050 this season.

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) December 28, 2023

Yes, he had a very bad game. But that won’t deter the seven-kneeled QB that is Brock Purdy, focused on the task ahead.

“My process and routine is going to be the same, like all year,” the QB stated. “It’s about the moment, heat of battle, being smart with the ball, doing what coaches ask. Obviously it’s to be smart. In terms of the process, I’ll be the same guy I was all year in terms of getting ready for the game. It’s about [the] heat of the battle.”

Instead, Purdy will use the outside noise and his mistakes to his advantage, looking to harness that chip on his shoulder that guided him to his meteoric rise up the quarterback rankings.

“For me it’s a great learning experience, in not buying into what’s going on around and being said,” Purdy said. “It’s about being in the moment, make right decisions, protect the ball. Not to say I’ll be perfect moving forward. It’s football, you’re not perfect.

“People can say things and you can buy into it. You need to have that chip on your shoulder, put your head down, go to work, show teammates week in and week out that you’re the guy.”

That mentality, along with his talent, is a key factor in why Shanahan and the 49ers feel so confident in their young QB. He’s coachable and responds when his back against the wall.

“I just think it’s him. That’s how he is when I coach him,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said about Purdy Friday. “He says what he thinks. I say what I think. He’s a very humble guy, but extremely competitive. That’s just Brock.

“That’s how I see him handle talking to people out of here. He’s always going to take responsibility. He doesn’t just do it because he knows how to talk to the media. That’s how he looks at things. He always looks inward first and he genuinely feels that way. Sometimes I think he’s too hard on himself in terms of that. Not too hard on himself, that’s just how he is. But it’s cool that he never shows frustration. I think it’s pretty easy for him because I don’t think he has a lot of frustration with other people. I think he always looks at what he can do better.”

"Sometimes I think he's too hard on himself … he always looks at what he can do better."

Shanahan raves about Purdy's mental makeup 🧠 pic.twitter.com/TrxEq5asMT

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 29, 2023