The 49ers defeated the Bears in a classic NFL shootout. If you wanted defense, this wasn’t the game for you. Brock Purdy and Caleb Williams put on a show in what will likely be an NFL classic in years to come. The two young guns combined for 633 yards air yards and five touchdown throws. Brock tacked on two more touchdowns with his legs.
The game started with a massive throat punch when Purdy threw a pick six the first play of the game. In the moment, I felt disheartened. Then I watched the replay. The pick was a tipped ball the receiver should have snagged. Unfortunately, Trent Williams appeared to pull a hamstring while chasing down the intercepting defender. Williams sat the rest of the game.
The Niners didn’t miss a beat with Williams off the field. Austen Pleasants filled in admirably for Trent, allowing only one sack in the game. The Niners were also without the venerable George Kittle. Jake Tonges (tight-end) picked up where he left off earlier this season, snagging seven key receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. Tonges may be the heir apparent to Kittle, if the Niners can keep him on the roster.
The Defense Found a Way!
The Niners defense struggled mightily against the Bears. However, they managed to accumulate several key stops during the game. The first key stop came during the Bears first drive. The Niners quite simply forced a three and out. The second occurred right before halftime. On a rare occasion, Coach Saleh dialed up a drive ending blitz, allowing the Niners to go into half-time 28-21. Third, the Niners forced the Bears to kick a field goal with only 5:22 left in the game. Minutes later, the 49ers scored what would be the game winning touchdown. Yet there was still more drama to unfold.
The Bears final drive of the game was eventful. With only 21 seconds left in the game, the Bears executed a hook and ladder play what was corralled by Ji’ayir Brown and Deommodore Lenoir. The Bears started that play on the Niners 13-yard line and were stopped at the 2.5-yard line.
Finally, the next play was the Bear’s last of the game. The Niners could have called a time out to ensure they had the right defensive call. They opted not to because the Bears appeared rushed. With four seconds left, Coach Saleh put his best available four pass rushers on the field: Bryce Huff, Yetur Gross-Matos, Sam Okuayinonu and Clelin Ferrell. The back seven defenders was the Niners classic nickel package, with Darrell Luter Jr. and Chase Lucas subbing in for injured starters Renardo Green and Upton Stout.
At the snap, the defensive line came hurtling forward, but suddenly, Gross-Matos dropped his 6’5 265-pound frame to the goal-line in coverage. Sam Okuayinonu followed suit. Dee Winters also remained near the line of scrimmage to spy Williams as the remaining defensive end’s executed withering pressure. As Huff pushed Caleb Williams out of the pocket, Matos came up to apply more pressure. The coverage was a mixture of man and zone, almost perfectly checkered to stop most throws in the end-zone. Matos came up fast into William’s face as Williams was retreating to the sideline and finally, he unloaded the ball where it landed harmlessly into the dirt. The game was over.
Brock Purdy’s Excellence
Brock Purdy is playing the best football he has ever played since putting on the 49ers uniform. The only thing that slows him down are injuries. If a throw is off, it’s because a route was executed incorrectly, or he is injured. Purdy rarely makes a mistake. According to Greg Cosell, one of his unique abilities is to read the defense as he is dropping back into the pocket, allowing him to know exactly where to throw with timing and rhythm. We saw this executed over and over on Sunday Night Football.
Purdy’s mobility adds an element to his game that elevates him and the team when a play breaks down. One of the niftiest plays Purdy has ever executed occurred at the end of the 49ers first drive of the second half. The Niners were deep in the red-zone. They lined up in the I-formation.
Purdy takes the snap, fakes the hand off and he rolls to his left. Purdy could have hit Kyle Juszczyk early in the play, but he didn’t like it. As Purdy was pressured from the back side defensive tackle, a new defender peeled off his coverage and started bearing down on Brock. Purdy continued towards the sideline. Then he stopped, backed up out of the pressure, juked the defender as the back side defender caught up to him. Purdy skittered between the two defenders towards the line of scrimmage and found Juszczyk all alone in the end-zone.
Balance Wins the Day
The 49ers run a balanced offense. They ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries. Brock Purdy accounted for six of those carries along with two rushing touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey continued his consistent play with 23 rushes for 140 yards and one touchdown. The run game is vital to the 49ers offense. The defenders must always account for the run-game which gives the 49ers a decided advantage in the pass game. The rush attack also slows the game down and allow their defense to rest.
The 49ers have one more game in the regular season. If they defeat the Seahawks, the Niners secure home field advantage for the duration of their play-off run.
Odds and Ends
- Brock Purdy is the first 49er Quarterback since Jeff Garcia to throw and rush for a touchdown in the first quarter of a game.
- Brock Purdy is the first quarter back in NFL to ever throw a pick six, a touchdown and rush for a touchdown in the first quarter of a game.
- The 49ers put up 330 yards of offense in the first half for the first time SINCE 1998.
- Brock Purdy has accounted for ten touchdowns in the last two games.
- Christian McCaffrey has executed his third season of 2000 scrimmage yards in his career.
