The San Francisco 49ers had been arguably extra undermanned in Week 7 than they had been in Week 6. Christian McCaffrey used to be in a position to play, however Deebo Samuel used to be unavailable after struggling a shoulder damage right through the 49ers’ 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Trent Williams fought thru an ankle damage to stick at the box that day, however he used to be inactive in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday evening. Brock Purdy has his paintings lower out for him, at the street for a 2nd consecutive week.
No longer handiest did the 49ers lose to the Vikings, they didn’t grasp the lead at any level right through the sport. The ones wide-open crossing routes didn’t provide themselves, and the pocket used to be no longer constantly blank. San Fran didn’t rating till there used to be one minute last in the second one quarter and would pass directly to lose the sport, 22-17. Purdy threw interceptions at the 49ers’ ultimate two drives of the sport.
All through the primary part, Purdy performed neatly, despite the fact that unspectacularly. He used to be 11-for-13 for 122 yards. The 49ers had a possibility to take an early lead on their first ownership, and their falling brief used to be no longer Purdy’s fault. Kirk Cousins started the sport in “Primetime Kirk” mode and threw an interception at the opening power of the sport. The 49ers complex the ball deep into Vikings’ territory, however McCaffrey misplaced a fumble. At the 49ers’ subsequent power Jake Moody — who ignored a possible game-winning box function in opposition to the Browns — didn’t convert on a 40-yard strive.
There may be quite a few blame to cross round for the 49ers falling even farther from their perch because the simple, perfect workforce within the league. A number of gamers will have to were higher — one defensive instance being Charvarius Ward — but if the 49ers had a possibility to win past due, Purdy seemed simply as uneasy as he did from time to time in opposition to the Browns.
And not using a Williams, the Vikings had been in a position to use drive and make Purdy some distance much less at ease within the pocket than he has been maximum of his NFL occupation, for the second one week in a row. The landing that San Francisco scored in the second one part used to be a display cross that McCaffrey took 35 yards to the home.
Purdy’s two fourth-quarter interceptions got here on passes that typically fall into the palms of a participant dressed in a gold helmet who has quite a few YAC in entrance of him. The center of the sphere has been a spot the place the 49ers can get large yardage positive aspects. As a substitute, they’ve had issues there for 2 video games in a row, and unhealthy performs in Week 7 halted possible game-winning drives.
Although San Francisco is 5-2 at the season and has been in large part dominant, Purdy has proven vulnerability all over this season. Simply because he has no longer thrown quite a lot of interceptions does no longer imply that his ball placement and decision-making were infallible. PFF’s Steve Palazzolo co-signed NFL analyst Arif Hasan who identified that Purdy is fourth in turnover-worthy play price this season.
The 49ers have a roster and training group of workers this is in a position to making lifestyles a lot more uncomplicated for Purdy than it will were if he used to be compelled onto the sphere to quarterback a miles much less strong group. He has in large part made the proper choices, and has proven athleticism to create performs for his skill-position threats.
On the other hand, those closing two video games made public what had already been spotted. Purdy has made some deficient choices this season. Whilst the 49ers are coping with key offensive accidents, he’ll proceed to obtain much less forgiveness for his mistakes in judgment.
Willams and Samuel’s accidents have no longer been deemed season-ending. McCaffrey performed one week after no longer completing a sport. Thus far, the 2023 49ers nonetheless seem to be on track against the highest of the NFC.
The convention isn’t specifically sturdy, and of the ten last video games at the 49ers’ time table, handiest 4 are in opposition to the highest tier of the NFL — the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens. Except they undergo a rash of season-ending accidents, the NFC West name will have to belong to the 49ers.
Ultimate season although, Purdy didn’t get the chance to position his abilities on complete show right through the playoffs. The New York Giants had been overmatched, and his elbow went lifeless right through the primary quarter in opposition to the Eagles.
Purdy goes to be examined the remainder of this season, and much more so in January. If he struggles, he is also a tender late-round select who can handiest be faulted such a lot, however that gained’t salve the injuries of a Tremendous Bowl contender arising brief. As for the individuals who guess on him to guide arguably the most efficient roster within the league to a championship, they deserve some questions if the 49ers don’t hoist a Lombard Trophy on account of some deficient QB decision-making.
