Brock Purdy may have been the 262nd pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he's been playing like a quarterback who never deserved the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" for the San Francisco 49ers.
Purdy has guided the 49ers to three wins in his first taste of NFL action, and they weren't flukes. Defeating the Miami Dolphins after filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo and then beating Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first career start is no small deal however you slice it. Doing so while throwing for 395 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception — well, that's far from irrelevant.
Purdy took his hot play into "Thursday Night Football" for the 49ers, and again, his execution was on point in San Francisco's 21-13 win.
Purdy dazzled Amazon Prime's audience with a fake, and then another fake, before hitting George Kittle up the seams for a beautiful touchdown pass and catch.
That's right, it was a double fake:
The double pump fake! A beautiful play-call leads to a George Kittle TD from Brock Purdy. pic.twitter.com/XfWJIpW4g1
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 16, 2022
Not to be outdone, the pair connected later in the game for a 54-yard pass and catch that saw Purdy hit Kittle on the sideline in stride, and the big tight end did the rest and created himself a highlight.
GEORGE KITTLE AGAIN pic.twitter.com/k54u1Viu4g
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 16, 2022
Could this be the start of a dynamic duo in the bay?
Purdy and Kittle may not yet be at Brady-Gronk levels, but they sure do seem to be developing a nice connection just in time for a San Francisco playoff run.
Kittle finished the game with four receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy had 17-of-26 for 217 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He looked more composed than veteran Geno Smith, who went 31-of-44 for 238 yards and one touchdown.
With the win, the Niners have clenched the NFC West, their first division title since 2019.
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