Three weeks into the season, Brock Purdy is already getting pulled into the MVP debate, and the early case is easy to see.
Dan Orlovsky said on the Pat McAfee Show that no quarterback is playing better right now than the San Francisco 49ers passer.
“No quarterback in football is playing as well as Brock,” said Orlovsky. “The offense gets to excel with the way that he is playing. He also has so many off-script plays that get overlooked so often.“
McAfee backed that up and pushed Purdy into the award conversation.
“This might be Purdy's year of winning it,” said McAfee on the MVP conversation. “All he has done is continue to dissect and beat the hell out of defenses. Brock Purdy is playing on another level right now.”
The production supports the hype. Purdy ranks second among qualified quarterbacks in completion rate, trailing only Geno Smith.
He sits eighth in passing yards, but he’s second in yards per attempt behind Lamar Jackson. The 49ers are scoring so fast that he simply hasn’t needed to pile up huge volume.
What jumps out even more is the touchdown work. Purdy leads the NFL with nine touchdowns and has thrown just one interception, giving him the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the league.
Still, there’s room to push back on the strength of the competition he’s faced so far. The Rams are a solid defense and should have strong outings this season, but their trip to Australia drew plenty of scrutiny, and even Sean McVay said it was not smart.
After that, the 49ers faced the Dolphins and Cardinals, two teams that rank in the bottom five in efficiency. Some of that comes from playing San Francisco, but both defenses have had problems beyond those games too.
The Dolphins allowed 24 points to the Chiefs at home and gave up 27 to Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cardinals were helped by an injury to Ladd McConkey in Week 1, then surrendered 31 to Drew Lock and the Seattle Seahawks the next week.
So yes, Purdy has been sharp, and the film backs it up. But he also should have been able to handle those opponents. The tougher measuring stick comes in Week 4, when the 49ers face a talented Denver Broncos defense.
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Iowa State Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just Bouncing Back
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For the Cyclones, the backdrop is bigger than simply getting back in the win column, because the next step has to come with cleaner execution against a West Virginia team that is also trying to find its footing. The game also gives the spotlight to two of the leagues top running backs in Cam Cook and Aiden Flora, a matchup that could shape the rhythm of the afternoon even before either side starts worrying about the long view. [Read more 🡒]