Brock Purdy may not be the biggest, fastest, or strongest-armed quarterback in the NFL, but he’s found a lot of success throwing the ball down the field since taking over as the team’s QB1 in Week 13 last season.
His numbers particularly in the intermediate area (10-19 yards beyond the line of scrimmage) were astronomical last year. He completed 82.9 percent of his intermediate throws from Week 13 through the playoffs. He also tossed three touchdowns and one interception in that stretch. The NFL’s leader in completion rate on those throws was Deshaun Watson at 68 percent.
Buy 49ers TicketsIt would’ve made sense for Purdy to regress some in 2023 given how astronomical his efficiency was on medium-depth throws. For reference, Jimmy Garoppolo’s best mark with the 49ers was 64.8 percent in 2021 with 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Somehow the second-year QB has gotten better in that area through four weeks this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Purdy is 22-of-24 for 385 yards and two touchdowns on medium depth throws in 2023. That’s a 91.7 percent completion rate, bringing his mark up to 86.2 percent since Week 13 of last season. He’s thrown for 965 yards, averages 14.8 yards per attempt, and has five TD passes to just one interception. It’s reaching a sample size that trends toward sustainability for Purdy and the 49ers’ passing attack.
Perhaps even more important to San Francisco’s offense though has been Purdy’s deep throws (20-plus yards beyond the line of scrimmage). Last year he was 11-of-27 for 346 yards with four touchdowns and one interception on those throws. This year Purdy is 5-of-10 on deep shots for 153 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His total through 13 games is 16-of-37 (43.2 percent) for 499 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
That ability to attack the intermediate areas, but also force defenses to respect deep throws is a significant key to the 49ers’ offensive success. It definitely helps to have the level of offensive weaponry that surrounds Purdy, but he’s been efficient and accurate enough down the field that he’s playing a key role in elevating the 49ers’ offense over the last 13 games.
