The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens in perhaps the biggest game of the season to date on Christmas Day. Interestingly, 49ers star quarterback Brock Purdy saw himself get pulled from the game in the fourth quarter for veteran quarterback Sam Darnold, which head coach Kyle Shanahan explained after the game.
Purdy came into the game as one of the clear candidates to potentially win the 2023 MVP award after what has been a terrific season for him to this point.
Unfortunately for 49ers fans, Purdy struggled heavily to find much success in this game, throwing several costly interceptions that ended up playing a big role in the 49ers loss.
Purdy finished the game with four interceptions on the day, the most in any game of his two-year career.
Purdy is picked off by Kyle Hamilton!
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/EDsINAHRCx— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
Tipped and picked. @Ravens pick off Brock Purdy again!
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/DJSsEhHkkP— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
KYLE HAMILTON HAS ANOTHER INT
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/eoBujEffZz— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
Ravens pick off Brock Purdy for the 4th time tonight. #RavensFlock
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/bvuYHRfC6X— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
Purdy was pulled from the game for Darnold after suffering a stinger injury. However, he was cleared to return to the game and stayed on the sideline.
Kyle Shanahan spoke about the decision to not put Purdy back into the game, detailing in a press conference after the game that this decision was precautionary to avoid any further injury, and not due to his poor performance in the game.
“Our whole team struggled there in the second half so it wasn’t just him,” said Shanahan in a video of the press conference shared by NFL on CBS on social media. “I know he was disappointed not being able to finish it there. But getting that stinger again I wanted to keep him out of there and get ready for next week. I know he had a bad stinger and we had three o-linemen out at the time. I don’t want him to not be ready for next week.”
"Possibly. I didn't even ask. I know he had a bad stinger … didn't want him to go in and not be ready for next week."
– Kyle Shanahan on whether or not Brock Purdy could have gone back in pic.twitter.com/NmxuY3xHC6
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 26, 2023
It sure seems like despite his poor play on Monday night, Purdy will be the guy for the 49ers moving forward as the team’s starter. That obviously makes sense considering this game is largely a blip on the radar for Purdy, who has largely been excellent this year aside from a few games like this one.
The 49ers and Purdy will look to get back on track in Week 17 when they head to Washington to take on the Washington Commanders.
