As Monday night began, Purdy came out firing, responding to an impressive opening salvo from Rivers as the return kid was 5-of-7 for 73 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown to Alec Pierce. Purdy and Co. responded with a 69-yard touchdown run that ended with a Demarcus Robinson 22-yard score.
Rivers, who retired as a high school football coach and was playing Monday in just his second game since 2020, was close to returning for the 49ers he faced again in the 2023 playoffs. That initial agreement to retire would have come true had the 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl with every quarterback on the team injured, including Purdy. Unfortunately, the Eagles defeated the 49ers and Rivers’ return was postponed until 2025.
When he took the field against the 49ers, Rivers came swinging and throwing.
After Indy’s first three drives, Rivers had thrown two touchdowns — both to Pierce. It was River’s first multi-TD game since December 20, 2020, against the Houston Texans.
Purdy knew he had to keep firing back.
“When I saw him do that the first drive, I was like, ‘That’s the Hall of Fame quarterback right there,'” Purdy said. “Like going through his reads and making you pay. So, that’s how we can go and be our best offensively every drive and go at the beginning of the drive to score.”
Purdy was at his best, leading the 49ers to touchdowns on their first three drives and a score on their fourth. He didn’t sulk either, throwing his fifth touchdown to Christian McCaffrey in the fourth quarter as San Francisco took a 41-27 lead.
Purdy’s pick came on the 49ers’ second-to-last drive, but Dee Winters’ pick-six on the insurance drive squashed any thoughts of a Rivers-led miracle.
A turf toe led to two sideline stops this year for Purdy, who missed eight games combined. At times, he wasn’t sharp when he returned, especially when he flashed three interceptions in a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 and in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns when he completed just 55.2% of his passes.
Since the Week 14 bye, though, Purdy has been in top form.
Over the past two games in wins against the Tennessee Titans and Colts, Purdy is 2-0, completing 75% of his passes (48-of-64) for 590 yards (295 yards per game), eight touchdowns, one INT and a 136.1 rating.
“I think he’s operating at an incredibly high level,” said shortstop George Kittle.
The 49ers have booked a return to the playoffs after missing out last season. They still have a chance to win the NFC West and the top seed in the conference. As was the case Monday, with Purdy performing the way he is, the 49ers are playing at a level not seen since the 2023 campaign when they reached the Super Bowl.
“He’s incredible,” Shanahan said. “He looks like I remember, the ball always goes to the right place. He makes it go as fast as anybody. He can understand almost any coverage you’re in. He got them into so many good plays today. The ball was coming out and he’s amazing.”