Did the 49ers Offensive Line Fail Brock Purdy Against the Browns?
Brock Purdy played the worst game of his career in the 49ers' 19-17 loss to the Browns in Week 6.
He completed 12-of-27 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and threw his first interception of the season. His stats from the game do not tell the whole story of just how abysmal he was in that game.
Look no further than in the final few minutes of the second quarter. Purdy had Christian McCaffrey wide open, drifting towards the sideline down the field, but overthrew him. Had that pass connected, it is likely that McCaffrey gets into the end zone for a score. There wasn’t a defender in front of him to stop him.
The theme of the game for Purdy's woes were inaccuracies. He struggled immensely in that department. However, there are arguments being made that the 49ers offensive line did Purdy no favors in this game. That he was constantly pressured throughout the game, which is why he was throwing so pitifully. Pressure makes even the most elite quarterbacks look average or mediocre. Maybe that was the case for him.
So, did the 49ers offensive line fail Purdy against the Browns?
The offensive line didn't have its greatest game against the Browns, but they're not the reason Purdy had a poor performance. Purdy was missing throws regardless of pressure -- that does not fall on the offensive line. When he attempted to hit McCaffrey late in the second quarter for what would've been a walk-in touchdown, he was not pressured at all. Purdy simply missed McCaffrey, which was a game changing one. His interception that was intended for Brandon Aiyuk was from a clean pocket as well.
That wasn't the only example of Purdy being inaccurate with a clean pocket. 15 of his pass attempts were in a clean pocket. He only completed eight of those attempts for 80 yards with a touchdown and a pick, according to Pro Football Focus. Below is a thread of some of his pass attempts clearly showing he wasn't constantly pressured and missed because of horrendous accuracy.
It was a terrible day for Purdy against the Browns. That much is cut and dry. There is no debating that, and making up excuses for him by blaming the offensive line isn't fair. The Browns have a phenomenal defense. It's okay for him to have a poor outing against them. It really should have been more expected because they are a legitimate defense that can stonewall any offense. They were always going to give the 49ers a run for the money.
The sky isn't falling in San Francisco. It was one bad game, and Purdy wasn't the only one. He gets emphasized more because he plays the most influential position in the sport. So, just like in previous games when he was being highly praised, he gets highly criticized for his poor outing too. I will say that despite how bad he looked, I never got the sense that he was timid. He wasn't shook at all in that game, which is great to see for the bigger picture.
Now, it is all about how he bounces back. I fully expect him to get back to looking silky smooth again. And it's not like he is going to be facing a premier defense like the Browns on a weekly basis. Next week the 49ers play the Vikings on Monday Night Football, so that matchup should be so much more lighter for them after facing the Browns. In the long run, the 49ers may end up even benefitting from being pushed by the Browns in their loss.
