SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy passed his final test and now has the San Francisco 49ers in position for a potential playoff bye.
On a day when San Francisco’s usually stellar defense struggled with a backup quarterback, Purdy showed that he can thrive coming from behind as well as playing with a lead.
Purdy had his fifth straight game with two TD passes, throwing for 284 yards to help the Niners rally from a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 37-34 in overtime on Sunday for their ninth straight win.
“I don’t think anyone wants to close out a game or anything,” said Purdy. “You always want to get points and win in a comfortable way. But for us to go through those kinds of scenarios and for our offense and then even for myself, the game is on the line, we have to get out on the pitch and get points up and the defense confidence, all that sort of thing.
“I think it’s been great to see where we are in terms of what our goal is in all of this. It’s good for us to go through that.”
The 49ers (12-4) can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win against Arizona next week or a loss against Minnesota. San Francisco also has a shot at No. 1 and a bye if Philadelphia loses to the Giants in Week 18.
Purdy had not committed a single offense in the second half of a game trailing San Francisco since taking over when Jimmy Garoppolo was injured in the first quarter in Week 13.
But Purdy was unperturbed after the Raiders took a 24-14 lead early in the third quarter. Purdy led San Francisco on four scoring drives on the next five possessions, then drove the 49ers into position for a possible game-winning field goal that Robbie Gould missed at the end of regulation.
San Francisco won it after Tashaun Gipson intercepted Jarrett Stidham to set up Gould’s winner.
That was one of the Niners’ few big defensive plays on a day when they allowed 34 points and 500 yards in their worst performance since a 44-23 loss to the Chiefs in Week 7.
“Obviously it’s a ton to correct defensively, but it was huge that the offense took control and won for us,” Bosa said. “We needed that. I’m proud of them.
WHAT WORKS
Bringing the ball to Christian McCaffrey. The running back Niners had 19 carriers for 121 yards and six catches for 72 yards and scored a TD for the fifth straight game. McCaffrey also generated nine first downs in the game, giving him a team-best 60 on the season despite only playing 10 games with San Francisco.
WHAT SHOULD WORK
Defending deep passes. Stidham completed five passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield for the most allowed in a game by the Niners, as Josh Allen also had five on December 7, 2020. The Raiders gained 177 yards and had two TDs on those plays.
STOCK OUT
Attacking line. The Niners allowed no sacks for the fifth time this season with right tackle Mike McGlinchey doing a good job neutralizing Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The line also helped San Francisco rush for 170 yards, marking the fourth time in six seasons under Shanahan that the Niners rushed for that many yards in a game without allowing a sack.
STOCK DOWN
Gould missed a potential game-winning field goal when his effort went wide right from 41 yards on the final play of regulation. Gould has missed five field goals this season, with all misses coming on punts under 50 yards. The last Niners kicker to miss that much from within 50 yards in a season was David Akers with nine in 2012.
INJURIES
G Aaron Backs (knee, ankle) will probably miss the game this week, but could be back for the playoffs. … The Niners are waiting for more information on LB Dre Greenlaw’s back injury, but he could play this week. … McCaffrey (single) is day to day. … WR Deebo Samuel (knee, ankle) and RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) practice this week and could return on Sunday.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
2-33 — The Niners generated a rare double-digit comeback under coach Kyle Shanahan. This was only the second in 35 attempts since Shanahan took over that San Francisco won a game after trailing by at least 10 points in the second half. The other came against the Rams in Week 18 last season.
WHAT’S NEXT
San Francisco hosts Arizona on Sunday.
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