Niners Bulletin: The Niners offense is a freight train, Brock Purdy is the conductor

Anyone still not sold on the explosive 49ers offense had to have been converted to a believer after watching that Monday Night performance in Indianapolis. The 49ers offense was explosive, ultra efficient, dazzling, all the above. In their first test since receiving control of their own destiny, the 49ers passed with flying colors on the offensive side of the ball. 

Brock Purdy enjoyed what was possibly his best game as a pro. He was 25-34, tossing five touchdowns and throwing one late interception. He hit four different receivers for the five scores. It was clear that a Niners offense that sports a healthy Purdy, McCaffrey and Kittle is just as good if not better than any unit in the league. 

Where San Francisco left some to be desired was on defense. Robert Saleh’s unit was good enough, and better in the second half, but being diced up for a half by a 44-year-old next to immobile quarterback is not a great look. The Colts scored on their first two drives, systematically picking apart the 49ers defense in the pass game. With Fred Warner’s return still just a playoff fantasy, the 49ers’ defense will need to be much sharper in the interim. 

Kittle had another big game, but Niners fans were forced to hold their breath when the star tight end left the game late in the third quarter. He didn’t return, although he remained on the sidelines in full regalia. Kittle spoke to the media following the win, which in and of itself is a good sign. He didn’t seem too concerned. 

Brock Purdy almost sent his five touchdown passes to five different receivers, but Kyle Shanahan didn’t have a quick enough trigger on the challenge flag to make what would have been an incredible Jake Tonges catch a reality. On second and goal, Purdy fired towards the boundary of the end zone, where a streaking Tonges hauled in the pass with a dive but landed out of bounds and was ruled as such. 

The immediate replay showed that he seemed to get both toes on the turf with control, but the Niners ran a quick play before Shanahan could challenge. That quick play was a touchdown, this time to Christian McCaffrey for his second of the night. Shanahan was apologetic to Tonges in the postgame.

If you were surprised by Brock Purdy’s massive night, you aren’t familiar with how the young quarterback conducts himself as a professional. George Kittle gushed over Purdy’s work ethic when asked about the big night. To put it simply, it’s what Kittle expects given the maniacal preparation Purdy puts into his game.