The first half of Sunday's game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams ended with Brock Purdy keeping the football for a quarterback sneak into the end zone, tying the game 17-17. It was a play that gave the Niners a lot of momentum against their division rivals.


The Bay Area team went on to beat the Rams 30-23.

"They go down and score, and then it's like, 'All right, we got two minutes or so left,'" Purdy told reporters after the game. "Obviously, we want to score to get some momentum, but once we did and capitalized on it, I was like, 'Okay, defense.' [The defense went] out in the first drive of the second half, got a stop. [Then it was], 'Offense, let's roll.'

"Everyone felt good about it, but, man, it's a team game. Defense gets a stop, offense goes and scores. That's what it's about. So going in the second half, that was huge for us to be able to score."


Purdy's predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo, is known for his ability to pick up first downs on quarterback sneaks. The veteran has seemingly mastered it. Did Purdy pick up any tips in that department from Garoppolo last year? What made Garoppolo so great at the quarterback sneak?

Apparently, that remains a secret.

"We always tried to figure it out," Purdy said. "Like, what does Jimmy do so good with the QB sneak? It's a question around the team. He just found little creases and whatnot, got his shoulder pads down, and would find a way. So that was really about it.

"I don't think there's necessarily a secret to it or anything, at least as far as I know. But we watched a lot of the QB sneaks and stuff that Jimmy did well and what he did. So, he did a good job with it. And I learned a couple of things, but he never really told me."

One reporter, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, told Purdy that Garoppolo always claimed there was a secret. He just didn't want to tell anybody. That sounded like news to Purdy.


Maiocco was surprised the information wasn't shared with the young quarterback, asking for confirmation that the two never discussed it.

"Nah," Purdy responded as reporters laughed. "But it's all good, man. I love Jim. I love Jim."

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