In a stunning display of precision, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy engineered a near-flawless Sunday outing against the Arizona Cardinals. The second-year player completed 20 of his 21 pass attempts for 283 yards and a touchdown, helping lift the 49ers to a 35-16 victory and a 4-0 record.
The only pass that eluded the grasp of his target was one intended for running back Christian McCaffrey.
"His one incompletion, he threw to me, so that's on me," McCaffrey said after the game. "We'll have to check the tape. It could have been my fault. We'll see."
Purdy's 95.2 completion percentage set a new record in franchise history. The 23-year-old's 21 consecutive completions (going back to Week 3 vs. the Giants) have solidified his place in 49ers history. He now ranks No. 2 all-time when it comes to consecutive completions, sandwiched between two Hall of Famers, Joe Montana and Steve Young.
Purdy fell short of tying the top spot, owned by Montana since 1986, by one completion.
#49ers record for consecutive completions:
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) October 3, 2023
1. Joe Montana, 22 (1986)
2. Brock Purdy, 21 (2023)
3. Steve Young, 19 (1996)
The 49ers have undoubtedly found a gem in Purdy. The quarterback has not lost a regular-season game as a starter since taking over the top spot on the depth chart in December of last season.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan appears to have found a quarterback capable of executing his offensive schemes with near perfection. The pairing could mean big things for the 49ers this season, a Super Bowl-hopeful team widely regarded by many as the best in the league.