San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scrambles for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, as surprisingly impressive as he was in relief last Sunday to beat Miami, put forth a masterpiece Sunday. He became the first of seven quarterbacks in NFL history to win a debut against Tom Brady, a San Mateo native who played only once previously on the 49ers’ field (a 2016 New England Patriots win).
Purdy’s first career start had his dad shedding joyful tears in the Levi’s Stadium stands, and the 49ers’ Faithful shared that sentiment Sunday by chanting “Pur-dy! Pur-dy!” at times in Sunday’s 35-7 rout of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A 28-0 halftime lead made certain Purdy – and the 49ers’ top-ranked defense — would upstage Brady’s rare and perhaps final homecoming to his native Bay Area.
On the 49ers’ way to a sixth straight win, however, came trouble, in the form of Deebo Samuel getting carted off with an ankle injury, 5 minutes before halftime. It’s the latest, scary injury to a franchise that deployed Purdy as its third starting quarterback this season, a week after losing Jimmy Garoppolo to a potentially season-ending foot fracture.
Thursday night brings their next game, at Seattle’s daunting venue where they’ll face the Seahawks (7-6) to possibly clinch the NFC West crown.
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San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) talks to Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady (12) after the 49ers 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates after making a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) dives to try and make a first down against Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Keanu Neal (22) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. The play was nullfied due to a holding call. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) has his photograph taken with his family after his first career start and the 49ers 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes the ball to San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady (12) waits to head onto the field before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) spikes the ball after making a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel (19) celebrate after making a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is congratulated by San Francisco 49ers’ Tyler Kroft (81) after his touchdown throw against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco 49ers’ Drake Jackson (95) does a backflip after the 49ers 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) chats with Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady (12) after the 49ers 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Jane Tyska is an award-winning staff photojournalist, videojournalist, drone pilot and picture editor based out of Oakland, and has worked for the Bay Area News Group since 1997. She's there when news breaks and has been known to arrive on assignment by many modes of transport, including motorcycle and boat.
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