Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson certainly had Brock Purdy’s attention in the lead-up to their Week 1 matchup in Pittsburgh. But when you give an opponent bulletin-board material, you better be prepared to back it up.
That’s where Peterson stumbled spectacularly on Sunday.
In the days before the game, Peterson said that he had “the tells” on Purdy and the Niners offense, adding that he expected a big game for himself. The opposite happened with Peterson getting burned on two touchdowns. After the Niners’ 30-7 win, Purdy seemed thrilled in the postgame press conference that he was able to win that battle with Peterson.
But on the field, Peterson was among the first players to show some respect to Purdy after the quarterback’s strong performance.
"It wasn't nothing personal."
It was all love between @brockpurdy13 and @P2 postgame. 🤝#InsideTheNFL Tuesdays 8/7c on @TheCW pic.twitter.com/9oXXdGzwzI
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2023
In mic’d-up footage from NFL Films’ Inside the NFL, we saw as Peterson met up with Purdy after the game, and they shared a gracious exchange. That also came after Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were heard mocking Peterson’s comments from the bench. Peterson gave the Niners some extra motivation — that was clear.
Yet in that postgame meeting, Peterson told Purdy that his comments weren’t personal and that he wished the Niners quarterback nothing but the best. Purdy — who is from the Phoenix suburbs — made a point to tell Peterson that he grew up a huge fan of the former Arizona Cardinals star.
Even amid the game-week trash talk, fans enjoyed hearing that postgame conversation. The respect was real between the two players.
This was how Twitter reacted
You love to see it https://t.co/BH0i3juUA5
— Rob “Stats” Guerrera (@StatsOnFire) September 13, 2023
A moment of HUMILITY for Patrick Peterson. https://t.co/07xJ0PZ3kD
— October_SCORPIO (@OctoberSCORPIO8) September 13, 2023
Super cool moment. Respect on both sides makes the game fun and you love to see it.
— Rippe🎯 (@MichaelRippe) September 13, 2023
After getting beat for 2 TDs, I would say this too https://t.co/H6buNgPQ82
— Quanny Appleseed (@_Quan2x16_) September 13, 2023
Respect to Peterson on this one. https://t.co/DXeZqHjvnE
— JustFloydNoPink 🥃 (@MRCONSISTENT10) September 13, 2023
Damn now I’m Patrick Peterson fan https://t.co/0KFymoYZI3
— Steven Graber (@stevengraber) September 13, 2023
ok, this is great. https://t.co/IUlOozvtwq
— tony (@tonyybalogna) September 13, 2023
Respect https://t.co/7Cl3jN3u6n
— 🎮187🇵🇷 (@187xG) September 13, 2023
Mic’d Up: 49ers QB Brock Purdy and Steelers CB Patrick Peterson showing respect to each other after the game.🙏
Peterson said he would get an interception off of Purdy last week before the game because there are “tells” that Purdy gives off.
pic.twitter.com/426idUamXI— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) September 13, 2023
