{"id":83502,"date":"2026-01-10T22:11:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T22:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/83502\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T22:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T22:11:12","slug":"playoff-preview-brock-purdy-leads-49ers-back-to-philadelphia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/83502\/","title":{"rendered":"Playoff Preview: Brock Purdy leads 49ers back to Philadelphia"},"content":{"rendered":"

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) \u2014 When Brock Purdy walked off the field following his first playoff trip to Philadelphia<\/a>, his future was in question.<\/p>\n

NFC Playoffs Preview: A look at 1-seed Seahawks and rest of the field<\/a><\/p>\n

Purdy had gone from the last pick of the 2022 draft to an improbable starting quarterback in the NFC title game for the San Francisco 49ers in a span of nine months only to tear a ligament in his right elbow on his opening drive of a loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tear your UCL, the ligament that you use as a quarterback, as a thrower, obviously you start thinking about your future and things and coming back from the injury and 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? Stuff like that,\u201d Purdy said Thursday. \u201cBut now we\u2019re moved on and ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Purdy returned from the major surgery and proved his late-season run as a rookie wasn\u2019t a momentary flash, establishing himself as the franchise quarterback for the 49ers (12-5).<\/p>\n

49ers\u2019 Trent Williams, Ricky Pearsall questionable vs. Eagles<\/a><\/p>\n

He won in his return to Philadelphia in 2023 when he helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl and leads the 49ers back to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (11-6) on Sunday in a wild-card matchup.<\/p>\n

Purdy\u2019s concerns this week are with Vic Fangio\u2019s defense featuring stars such as Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and a tough Philadelphia crowd instead of the elbow which has been completely healed since 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we know Philly from being there and their environment, their fans, all the things,\u201d Purdy said. \u201cIt\u2019s getting prepared for that right now rather than having flashbacks or anything like that. I already went there in 2023 and played after what had happened in \u201922. So, I feel like that\u2019s out of the way and ready to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Purdy recovered from that injury to become an AP NFL MVP finalist in the 2023 season when he set a franchise record for yards passing and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl before losing in overtime to the Chiefs.<\/p>\n

After the Niners struggled to a 6-11 record last season, they are back in the postseason again with another visit to Philadelphia on Sunday for the wild-card round.<\/p>\n

The season hasn\u2019t been an easy one for Purdy, who was rewarded for his early success with a five-year, $265 million contract extension in May. Purdy injured his toe in the season opener and missed the next two games.<\/p>\n

He returned and struggled in a Week 4 loss to Jacksonville before sitting out the next six games because of the injured toe. He returned in Week 11 and quickly got back to his old form, leading San Francisco to six straight wins including back-to-back five touchdown games in prime-time wins over Indianapolis in Chicago in Weeks 16 and 17.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the type of performance the 49ers have grown used to seeing from Purdy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to say, when he showed up from the first game he played, he looked pretty incredible in that game too,\u201d running back Christian McCaffrey said. \u201cHe\u2019s never gotten enough credit. When I look at his resume and how well he\u2019s played throughout his entire career, he\u2019s a special football player. He\u2019s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. \u2026 He\u2019s always played with that swagger and that energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Purdy and the San Francisco offense struggled in the regular-season finale with the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line against Seattle. The Niners managed one field goal in a 13-3 loss as Purdy was held to 127 yards on 27 attempts.<\/p>\n

Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said that has served as motivation this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got punched in the mouth,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t play good and we got beat. That\u2019s what happened. I think our guys were a little pissed off. I think they were disappointed. We were all disappointed in how we played and how we coached. It wasn\u2019t our best.\u201d<\/p>\n

When we\u2019ll know who and when Seahawks play in playoffs<\/a><\/p>\n

\t
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