Let's get this out of the way: Brock Purdy played the worst game of his career. And let's add: the San Francisco 49ers won anyway.

For players and fans alike who say that the 'W' is all that matters, then that's all that matters. The 49ers are 8-4 and play Cleveland next weekend. That's what matters.


Sadly, with the injuries San Francisco has faced this year, fans can't realistically think the team will win it all this season. However, the playoffs are within reach, and the silver-lining specialist that I am repeats, "Anything can happen in the playoffs."

But let's look at last night. Quarterback Brock Purdy had a horrendous first half with three interceptions. The first one was a great play by cornerback Jaycee Horn, though Purdy's pass was a bit behind receiver Jauan Jennings. If the ball is more in front, maybe Horn knocks it down, but it probably wouldn't have been an interception.

The second interception was the worst to me because, one, Brock forced the throw and threw late, two, the offense was in field-goal range, and three, he could have easily run for the first down and then some. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said afterwards that Purdy threw it late, and it also looked to me like he underthrew it a little, also.

"You're just a little late, and when you do, which people are late a lot, you just can't throw it behind him when you are," Shanahan said. "You've got to put it in front of them. He had it a little behind them on all three, and all three of those corners made him pay."

The third pick was bizarre. Sometimes, safeties can roam the field. But corners? On this one, somehow Horn was left with no one to cover and had to come from the other side of the field to make the play. Commentator Troy Aikman said there is no way a quarterback could predict or see a corner coming from that distance.


So what do we have? Three picks, some of them costlier than others. (The defense bailed out the offense several times.) San Francisco won the game. Unless this becomes a habit of Brock's, and there is no reason to believe that it will, this game will be long forgotten. Fans and players alike remember both GOAT plays and goat plays. The reception that wins a game or the drop that costs the team one. After all, how many of The Faithful remember with great pride "The Catch" and that win over Dallas? Some in the league consider it the most famous play in league history.

Now, how many of The Faithful remember that quarterback Joe Montana had thrown three interceptions earlier in that game? The greatness of "The Catch" and the magnitude of the win wiped those gaffes from our collective memory.

Last night's game will not go down in history as anything more than the 49ers' eighth win of the season. If we make it to the playoffs, it will be considered one of however many wins and nothing more. It will not be thought of as a turning point of any kind, a breakout game for anyone, or an example of why Kyle Shanahan should or should not win Coach of the Year.

It was a game, and the 49ers won it. Now it's time to get ready for Cleveland.

Written By:

Jack Stewart


Jack Stewart was educated at Alabama and Emory and was a Brittain Fellow at Georgia Tech. His poetry has been published widely in the US and several other countries. His book No Reason was published in the Poeima Poetry Series in 2020.
All articles by Jack Stewart


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