49ers vs Seahawks: Purdy’s Rematch & Playoff Outlook

Thanks to one of his most memorable moments, when he led the 49^ers of San Francisco, although deprived of several players, to a spectacular comeback in the last quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, Purdy has a new chance to face Macdonald’s defense.

The 49^ers (13-5) will face the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) Saturday night in the conference semifinals, two weeks after the Seahawks clinched the section title by muzzling Purdy and the 49 offense^ers in a 13-3 victory.

“He’s great at making the quarterback fight for every point,” Purdy said of Macdonald. I feel like there aren’t many easy games. You have to play for four quarters, be smart with the ball and follow your play options well.

Additionally, you have to take into account the defensive line, how they run it, including constant pressure in the pocket, playing very far or very close to the ball, which prevents explosive plays. You have to earn every yard. »

This will be the fifth time that Purdy and the 49^ers will face a defense led by Macdonald. The first time was Christmas 2023, when Purdy threw a career-high four interceptions in a 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens while Macdonald was defensive coordinator.

Building on this success in Baltimore, Macdonald landed the head coaching job with the Seahawks starting in 2024, which calls for two matchups per season against the 49^ers.

Purdy took the lead in the first meeting last season in Seattle, with three touchdown passes in a 36-24 victory. But the Seahawks won the next game in 2024, limiting the 49^ers just 17 points away.

The Seahawks have only given up 20 points in two games this season. They managed to slow down the ground game of the 49^ers thanks to an imperturbable defense and two deep safeties to limit long passes.

Purdy recovered from two interceptions in the season opener to lead his team to a 17-13 fourth-quarter victory, but totaled just 127 air yards in the return game in the 18^e week.

In five career games, Purdy has six touchdown passes against eight interceptions.

“It’s a big challenge, but it’s up to us to take it on,” said the offensive coordinator of the 49^ersKlay Kubiak. We need to improve our ground game; We need to be more efficient on third down to have more opportunities to run.

“The most important thing is to stay on the field so you can continue to attempt runs and hopefully force the defense to add a player in the running zone, which makes other plays easier. »

Purdy had a strong showing in the playoffs and has the chance to become just the sixth player in history to have at least five playoff games of 250 or more passing yards and at least one touchdown.

But it was in the decisive moments that he performed best.

Seattle’s dramatic Week 1 comeback, capped by an improbable four-yard touchdown pass to Jake Tonges with 1:34 remaining, was one of four late-game comebacks by Purdy on 14 opportunities.

Purdy ranked last in the league when the 49^ers led by less than eight points in the regular season, but he rose to the occasion in crucial moments in the playoffs.

He orchestrated a comeback victory in 2023 against the Green Bay Packers and did it again last week in Philadelphia, where his four-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey with 2:54 remaining gave his team a 23-19 lead.

Purdy also led the 49^ers to a 17-point comeback against the Detroit Lions in the 2023 conference final, and threw a game-clinching touchdown pass and led two offensive drives for fourth-quarter and overtime field goals in Super Bowl 58, where the 49^ers lost 25-22 to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I can’t say enough about Brock’s composure and fighting spirit late in the fourth quarter,” Kubiak said. I think Brock himself would tell you he didn’t play his best game for the first three quarters.

“But when the decisive moments arrived, in the fourth quarter, under the pressure of the moment, he was focused. He didn’t flinch. That’s kind of the image he always had of himself, in my opinion. »