Credit to the Green Bay Packers for putting up a hell of a fight against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.
It was another example of the hidden downside of the playoff bye week. There was a definite rust-factor with the Niners. However, when push came to shove, Brock Purdy and company rose to the occasion.
Famously, Purdy was the very last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has vastly outplayed the expectations that were set for him.
For large portions of this season, he was regarded as one of the favorites to win the NFL MVP … That possibility has probably sailed away, but there’s only one piece of hardware Brock has his eyes on.
The road won’t be easy for Purdy and the Niners. They’ll host the red-hot Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game this coming Sunday. If they win, they’ll have to take on either the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs or the #1 seeded Ravens.
In other words, nothing will be easy, and everything will have to be earned … But it’s a challenge Purdy accepts with open arms.
When it mattered most, at the biggest stage, with the game & season on the line, with the entire football world watching…
BROCK PURDY ANSWERED & ROSE TO THE OCCASION. 💯🔥❤️
His Joe Montana. His Steve Young. His Tom Brady type moment.
ALL THE CRITICS ARE SILENCED 🤐🤫 #49ers pic.twitter.com/LDceb06yWi
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) January 21, 2024
It’s been an extremely impressive season for Purdy who has constantly silenced his doubters … And to think, all of this nearly didn’t happen.
Thats because – according to Purdy himself via a story by ESPN – head coach Kyle Shanahan and the Niners front office were trying to lure Tom Brady to San Francisco to replace him (at least temporarily).
“Early in the offseason, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan sat down with Purdy and assured him that if he was healthy, he would be the starter unless Brady wanted to play one more season for his hometown Niners,” ESPN reported.
“An ecstatic Purdy understood the logic, but the competitor in him also bubbled under the surface. “That meant so much to me,” Purdy said. “I remember him saying, if we can get Tom Brady, we’re going to try to get him. And I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s the GOAT. I get it.’ But something deep down inside me was sort of like, ‘Dude, I just showed you that I can play well in this system. And we were one game away from the Super Bowl.’ … More than anything, I was like, ‘OK, now let’s go.’”
BREAKING: #49ers HC Kyle Shanahan HEAVILY ATTEMPTED to get 46-year-old Tom Brady out of retirement this offseason, per ESPN.
🤯🤯🤯
The plan was for Brock Purdy to ride the bench, Kyle told him. pic.twitter.com/pU53bZ1eWw
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 21, 2024
Shanahan’s quarterback decisions have been a topic of discussion in the past. In 2020, he chose Jimmy Garoppolo over Brady, believing the latter was past his prime.
However, as ESPN’s report indicated, Shanahan attempted to acquire the 46-year-old Brady, a move that would have sent Purdy to the bench.
Thank God Tom Brady is nowhere near the 9ers!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
— Lynn Barat (@BaratLynn77082) January 22, 2024
You have to wonder how Brady feels about his decision to retire…
Regarded as the most intense competitor in NFL history, does he regret not joining the loaded-Niners, especially since they seem destined to win the Super Bowl???
Brady
Cmac
Deebo
Kittle
Shanahan pic.twitter.com/rm5POBxt5f— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 22, 2024
Brady does seem happy – and busy – in retirement … But again, you have to wonder.
As far as Shanahan and the Niners, do you think they’re perfectly fine with the way things turned out?
Do you think this San Francsico team would be even better with Brady at quarterback?
As much as Purdy seems to respect Brady, being told that they at least explored the possibility of temporarily replacing him no doubt gave him an extra chip on his shoulder.
Looking at the big picture, will Purdy and the 49ers win the Super Bowl this season???