There were some concerns about the San Francisco 49ers heading into the 2023 season. A contract holdout by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and a groin injury to tight end George Kittle led many to believe both could miss the first game of the season.
Both players ended up being on the field and helping the 49ers dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers. San Francisco won 30-7, but the game wasn’t even as close as the score would indicate as the 49ers went into cruise control in the third quarter.
It was another strong performance by quarterback Brock Purdy, as no one should doubt the team made the wrong choice in naming him a starter. Purdy completed 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
His chemistry with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was on display as he caught both touchdown passes, totaling eight receptions for 129 yards. In the process, Purdy made some history in the game.
As shared by StatMuse, Purdy is undefeated in the regular season as the starter. He went 5-0 last season and has started this season 1-0. That makes him the first player in NFL history to start 5+ games without suffering a loss.
Winning is obviously the most important stat for a quarterback, but that record isn’t the only one that Purdy set in the win over the Steelers. He also became the first quarterback to win all six of his first starts while throwing for 2+ touchdowns in each game. In those games, he also recorded a passer rating of at least 95, which is another record.
Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft certainly looks like the real deal. The 49ers didn’t miss a beat with him stepping into the lineup last season and he looks to have carried all of that momentum over into the 2023 season.
Any concerts that existed because of the elbow injury he had surgery on this offseason and rehabbed are seemingly gone. Purdy looked excellent against the Steelers and the 49ers once again look like Super Bowl contenders.
