San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has made the passing game the engine of the team’s 4-0 start, creating a different kind of challenge for the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s NFC West showdown at home at Lumen Field. Locked On 49ers host Brian Peacock called it “The Brock Purdy show,” arguing that Purdy’s command of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense has allowed the pass to set up the run rather than the other way around.
Peacock pointed to Purdy’s early efficiency — including 11 touchdown passes and no sacks through four games, as discussed on the crossover — as evidence that the quarterback has elevated his play. He said Purdy has been decisive from the pocket, has kept his eyes downfield when plays extend and has helped calm concerns about an interior offensive line that entered the season with questions.
The matchup provides the clearest measuring stick yet for that offensive shift. Seattle brings a defense Peacock and Locked On Seahawks host Dan Viens described as one of the league’s best, with head coach Mike Macdonald’s unit built to limit explosive plays and force opponents to sustain long drives. Purdy’s ability to stay on schedule underneath could determine whether the 49ers avoid the offensive breakdowns that defined their two lopsided losses to Seattle late last season.
Shanahan has shown more urgency early in games, Peacock said, using first-drive misdirection and other wrinkles to build leads before the 49ers’ depleted defensive front has to play from behind. That approach puts even more weight on Purdy’s decision-making: An early advantage would give San Francisco a chance to stay balanced, protect its defense and turn a revenge game into a division statement.
Purdy now gets the kind of road test that can validate both his MVP buzz and the 49ers’ revamped offensive formula. A productive performance against Macdonald’s defense would give San Francisco a valuable early tiebreaker edge and a much different result from its final two meetings with Seattle last season.
49ers News and Notes
– With wide receiver Ricky Pearsall out for the season, the 49ers must lean more heavily on veteran wide receivers Mike Evans (ribs) and Deebo Samuel. Peacock said Evans played through the injury last week, while Samuel has recaptured the urgency and physical style that made him such a difficult matchup in San Francisco.
– Peacock identified the lines of scrimmage as the other decisive area after Seattle overpowered the 49ers in their final two games last season. He said the offense still needs enough room in the run game to avoid becoming one-dimensional, while San Francisco’s injury-hit defensive front must withstand Seattle’s double-team run concepts.
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