SANTA CLARA — The season after things went horribly wrong for the 49ers in Philadelphia, they bounced back in impressive fashion at the same venue.
The 49ers meet the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday, and that brings back some memories.
It is difficult to forget that day in January 2023 when Brock Purdy sustained a devastating elbow injury and the 49ers lost 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game.
“Recency bias,” 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I remember the blowout victory we had in ’23.”
Sure enough, fewer people seem to associate the 49ers playing in Philadelphia with the 314-yard, four-touchdown game Purdy put together in the 49ers’ 42-19 victory toward the end of the 2023 regular season.
When asked about any reflections toward returning to play in Philadelphia, Purdy highlighted his successful return.
“I already went there in 2023 and played after what happened in ‘22,” he said. “So I feel like that’s out of the way and ready to move on.”
Purdy sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in the first quarter of the 49ers’ playoff loss to the Eagles with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo sustained season-ending injuries earlier in the season, forcing Purdy into the lineup.
After Purdy’s exit in the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers turned to veteran journeyman Josh Johnson. He sustained a concussion and could not return in the second half.
Purdy was forced to re-enter. He mostly handed off and attempted only two passes as the 49ers’ offense was completely ineffective after halftime.
At the time of the injury and for some time afterward, Purdy’s future for the 2023 season and beyond was uncertain.
“You tear your UCL, the ligament that you use as a quarterback, as a thrower, obviously, you start thinking about your future,” Purdy said. “It was at the end of the year, so I was questioning, ‘Will I be back in time. Will I be the guy come the start of the season?’ ”
Purdy underwent surgery and made a full recovery in time for the start of training camp. He ended up setting single-season team records that season in passing yards (4,280) and passer rating (113.0).
The 49ers’ return trip to Philadelphia in the 2023 regular season served as a springboard for the No. 1 seed and, ultimately, a trip to the Super Bowl.
So, Purdy and the 49ers felt as if they had already put the devastating playoff loss behind them.
But the subject resurfaces this week, as the 49ers get set to travel Friday for their first-round playoff showdown.
“People out there, they seem to fixate on ’22,” Purdy said. “That must have had a more lasting impression on people, which, I mean, understandably, it’s the NFC Championship versus a regular-season game.
“But I think ’23 just proved that we were able to bounce back and it’s not an impossible task to go in there and win.”