Brock Purdy is going to the Super Bowl.
Let’s say this one more time: Brock Purdy — yes, that guy! — is going to Super Bowl LVIII.
The system quarterback. The game manager. Mr. Irrelevant. The guy who wins because of the talent around him. The guy who only wins because of his head coach’s brilliant play designs.
And there’s nothing any of his critics can do or say to change that reality.
All the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback did was lead one of the greatest comebacks in NFC Championship Game history in the 49ers’ 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions.
Only one week after directing the first come-from-behind victory of his young career, Purdy went out and did it again — except he was even more impressive the second time around.
With 49ers legend Joe Montana on hand at Levi’s Stadium, it’s not hyperbole to say Purdy turned in a Montana-like performance. Purdy guided the 49ers on five straight second-half scoring drives, erasing a 17-point halftime deficit with 27 straight unanswered points.
The 17-point comeback tied for the largest in NFC title game history. The only other time it was done? In 2012, by the San Francisco 49ers.
Brock Purdy’s brilliant second half leads 49ers back
Purdy’s second half was legendary: 13-of-16 passing for 174 yards and one touchdown. But even more surprising than the clutch passing numbers were the plays he made with his legs.
In a style reminiscent of 49ers’ Hall of Famer Steve Young, who was known for his exceptional scrambling ability, Purdy broke free from the pocket for a pair of 21-yard runs — one on a touchdown drive that tied the game at 24 and the other on a drive that helped them extend their lead to 34-24 in the fourth quarter.
Sure, Purdy got lucky on a few plays. An obvious one was the 51-yard pass play to Brandon Aiyuk that bounced off the defender’s facemask before Aiyuk made the tumbling grab at the Lions’ 4-yard line.
And then there was one where Purdy spun out of a near-sack in the pocket, ran left and threw a sideline dart to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who managed to keep both feet inbounds.
But were those plays really lucky? Or the product of a player who’s able to create his own luck?
Brock Purdy has nothing left to prove
Two straight playoff comebacks. An NFC Championship Game one season, and a Super Bowl the next season. Purdy has nothing more to prove to his critics who either can’t seem to forgive his draft status, which shouldn’t really matter anyway, or can’t believe he could be this good.
Guess what, Purdy haters: The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to Super Bowl LVIII in spite of Brock Purdy. They are going because of him.
His next assignment comes two weeks from now against Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas.
Mahomes vs. Purdy. As it should be. Mahomes, the best quarterback of this generation. And Purdy, the greatest quarterback story of this generation.
In two weeks, Brock Purdy will be at Allegiant Stadium — where he belongs.