Purdy seeks the right mindset

That’s what made his four-interception performance on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens unusual, failing to strike the right balance in decisions about when to take risks and when to protect the ball.

“I just didn’t have the right mentality as a quarterback, I had to be aggressive to throw, to make a big play, but also, when you throw, you don’t want to turn the ball over. That is the learning, going back and saying that each play has a life of its own,” he reflected on Thursday.

Purdy’s night got off to a bad start when he forced a pass in the red zone to Deebo Samuel on San Francisco’s first drive, only to have safety Kyle Hamilton pass him for an interception.

Before that, two big passes to George Kittle had San Francisco in the end zone, making Purdy too aggressive to make a perfect pass.

“In hindsight, it wasn’t the right decision, it wasn’t the least smart move as a QB. That’s something I need to grow into. You have to play the right way and not just because of the emotion and everything you felt in previous plays,” he accepted.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan described the other three interceptions more as bad luck than bad decisions. Two deflections put the ball into defenders’ hands instead of hitting the ground, and another interception came after Purdy was hit while he was throwing.

His biggest concern was the way Purdy played after throwing the fourth interception in the third quarter.

“It’s hard to have much football after four interceptions, especially when you’re facing this type of defense. “I think it was the best experience for him, like feeling it, knowing what was happening and why, and still having to throw and play,” Shanahan said.

While the poor performance was a blow to Purdy’s MVP hopes, it did little to shake the confidence of his teammates, who publicly backed him after the game and expressed their belief that the team’s goal is to win. . the Super Bowl.

Brock Purdy continues to lead the most important categories for NFL quarterbacks; rating (112.2), yards per opportunity (9.7) and is second in yards (4,050) and touchdown passes, as well as third in completion percentage.