49ers starting QB Brock Purdy doesn't shy away from airing his thoughts about playing Tom Brady
Tom Brady, the GOAT, is taking on Mr. Irrelevant. San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy (known as Mr. Irrelevant because he was the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft) stepped in when starter Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a broken foot. After vanquishing the Miami Dolphins in Week 13, Purdy gets to face Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14.
“He’s been playing football longer than I’ve been alive.”
Brock Purdy's first career start will come next week ... against Tom Brady 🐐 https://t.co/Qf3Ojd7Xhs
When asked about the upcoming matchup, Purdy did not hesitate to share his enthusiasm:
“Yeah I think it’s cool. I think it's really cool. Dude’s been playing football longer than I’ve been alive.”
Tampa Bay currently sits 5-6, but are the fourth seed in the NFC playoffs because they are the top team in the NFC South. The Buccaneers will play the 4-8 New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football before the Week 14 matchup with Purdy and the 8-4 49ers.
Both teams will look to solidify their seedings while fending off their division rivals. The Buccaneers are tied with the Atlanta Falcons in wins at five, but the Falcons have eight losses (Atlanta has a bye in Week 14). Meanwhile, the 49ers are similarly looking to stay ahead of the 7-5 Seattle Seahawks.
Brock Purdy did his best Tom Brady impression in impressive win over the Miami Dolphins
When starter Jimmy Garoppolo came out of the game against the Miami Dolphins, the San Francisco 49ers had lost their second starting quarterback this season (Trey Lance was the first starter). Like Tom Brady back in 2000 when he stepped in for starter Drew Bledsoe for the New England Patriots, Brock Purdy coolly led his team to a win.
Tom Brady has 71 touchdowns and zero… ZERO interceptions in the redzone since joining the Bucs in 2020.
Do people realize how insane that is? https://t.co/bttoDQg7tR
Purdy completed 25 out of 37 passes for 210 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception. He averaged only 5.7 yards per attempt, but he kept the offense moving with dump-offs to running back Christian McCaffrey and short, high-percentage passes to wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
The New England Patriots famously drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, making him the biggest draft steal in NFL history. Although it’s still too early in Brock Purdy’s NFL career, if he can replicate the same success that Brady has, Mr. Irrelevant could take that distinction from the GOAT himself.
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