On Sunday night in Santa Clara, Brock Purdy carried the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff hopes with a five-touchdown performance as the Niners beat the Chicago Bears 42-38 on Sunday Night Football. The victory pushed San Francisco to 12-4 and sets up a decisive, winner-take-all regular-season finale at home vs. the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday for the NFC West title, the NFC No. 1 seed and full postseason home-field advantage. The game also featured notable absences and limitations — All-Pro tight end George Kittle did not play, and left tackle Trent Williams was on the field for only one snap — increasing the onus on Purdy. After an opening-drive pick-six, Purdy responded with 303 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, one interception and two rushing scores to seal the win.
Key takeaways
- Brock Purdy accounted for five total touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) in a 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.
- The 49ers improved to 12-4 and will host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday with the NFC West, the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage on the line.
- Purdy completed 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards and threw one interception; he also rushed six times for 28 yards and two scores.
- This marks the first time the 49ers have scored 40-plus points in back-to-back games since November 1995.
- Purdy is the first 49ers quarterback with at least three passing and two rushing touchdowns in a game since Jeff Garcia in Week 14, 2003.
- Since returning in Week 11 from a right big toe injury, Purdy ranks third in QBR (80.0) and third in touchdown passes per game (2.67).
- League-wide metrics since Week 11: second in completion percentage over expectation (7.5%), ninth in passing yards per game (242.3), fifth in yards per attempt (7.9), and lowest off-target throw percentage (10.3%).
Background
The 49ers entered Sunday with control of their path to the NFC’s top seed: a win over Seattle in Week 18 would secure the division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. San Francisco’s roster has been tested by injuries this season; All-Pro tight end George Kittle was out for the Chicago game and left tackle Trent Williams was limited to a single snap, a reminder of the durability challenges the team has navigated. Brock Purdy, who became the full-time starter in 2022 after an unexpected rookie run, suffered a right big toe injury earlier this season that sidelined him until Week 11. Since returning, his play has been markedly sharper, prompting renewed confidence in the Niners’ offensive ceiling heading into a critical finish to the regular season.
The broader stakes extend beyond the immediate matchup. San Francisco is slated to host Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, making playoff seeding and any additional home games especially consequential for the franchise. The 2019 season offers recent precedent: that year the Week 17 meeting with Seattle decided the NFC’s top seed and ended in a dramatic Niners victory en route to a Super Bowl appearance. With history and a Super Bowl at stake, this week’s Seahawks game carries both competitive and symbolic weight for the organization and its fanbase.
Main event
Sunday’s contest opened poorly for Purdy, who threw a pick-six on the game’s first play. Rather than rattle him, the early turnover set up one of Purdy’s most resilient performances; he finished 24-of-33 for 303 yards and three passing touchdowns, and added two rushing TDs. The offensive outburst gave San Francisco back-to-back 40-point games, a rare scoring streak for the franchise and a clear sign the offense can function at a high level even with key personnel limited.
Purdy’s third-quarter touchdown to fullback Kyle Juszczyk illustrated his improved feel for improvisation: he escaped pressure, kept his eyes downfield and found a teammate alone in the end zone on a play that coach Kyle Shanahan said made him first nervous and then very pleased. The quarterback’s mobility — six carries for 28 yards and two scores — has become an important complement to his passing accuracy and pocket patience. Against Chicago, only two of Purdy’s 33 pass attempts were classified as off-target, a concrete measure of his recent ball placement consistency.
The game’s finish was a classic late-possession test where which team had the ball last nearly decided the outcome. San Francisco’s defense surrendered enough points to keep the finish tight, but the offense’s ability to respond and sustain drives — particularly when protections were not ideal — proved decisive. With the win the 49ers preserved control of their destiny, pushing the pressure, in effect, onto their next opponent, Seattle.
Analysis & implications
Purdy’s back-to-back five-TD games (he also had five passing TDs vs. the Colts on Monday night the week prior) place him in a rarefied group of quarterbacks who’ve produced five or more TDs in consecutive games. That consistency over a multi-week stretch argues that Purdy has advanced beyond sporadic hot streaks into a sustained peak of play. For the 49ers, that matters because the roster currently lacks the same level of elite skill-position depth it has shown in prior seasons; a high-performing quarterback reduces dependence on top-end weapons by elevating complementary pieces.
From a strategic standpoint, Purdy’s growth in recognizing when to move and when to create with his legs gives Kyle Shanahan more schematic flexibility. Plays that start as designed looks but finish as improvisational opportunities force defenses to account for a mobile QB threat, opening intermediate routes and seams for runners. If Purdy sustains these efficiency metrics — high QBR, a low off-target rate and strong yards-per-attempt — the 49ers’ offense projects as one of the most dangerous in the postseason environment.
League-wide, Purdy’s recent surge alters the playoff calculus for opponents. Seattle’s defense will now prepare for an opponent who can attack vertically and on the ground while protecting the football at a higher rate than earlier in the season. For San Francisco, securing the No. 1 seed would not only grant home advantage but would also preserve greenery in the pass rush and time of possession strategies that play to the 49ers’ roster construction. Conversely, a loss would force a different playoff path with attendant travel and matchup risks.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Since Week 11 (value / NFL rank) |
|---|---|
| QBR | 80.0 / 3rd |
| Touchdown passes per game | 2.67 / 3rd |
| Completion % over expectation | 7.5% / 2nd |
| Passing yards per game | 242.3 / 9th |
| Yards per attempt | 7.9 / 5th |
| Off-target throw % | 10.3% / lowest in NFL |
These figures underscore how Purdy’s efficiency — not just raw yardage — has driven the 49ers’ recent offensive success. The low off-target rate, in particular, suggests improved decision-making and ball-placement under varying pass-rush conditions. Comparing these per-game and efficiency metrics to the league’s best quarterbacks highlights why Purdy is now routinely mentioned among the top-performing signal-callers since his return from injury.
Reactions & quotes
It’s his best [football] right now. And it’s when his best is needed.
Colton McKivitz, 49ers right tackle
McKivitz credited Purdy’s leadership and the offense’s scoring output as key to the team’s confidence heading into the season finale.
Brock has been playing his ass off, made some huge plays in this game… he’s playing as good as it gets right now.
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers head coach
Shanahan highlighted both Purdy’s toughness and playmaking — including off-schedule runs that extended drives — as central to the win.
How can I be smart outside of the design of the play but also have my eyes downfield… it’s something I continue to learn as I go.
Brock Purdy, 49ers quarterback
Purdy framed his mobility and on-field growth as incremental learning, stressing decision-making when improvisation is required.
Unconfirmed
- Full injury statuses for George Kittle and Trent Williams heading into Week 18 have not been officially released at the time of publication.
- Any roster changes or lineup decisions for the Seahawks in response to Purdy’s recent form remain unannounced and subject to confirmation.
Bottom line
Brock Purdy’s performance against the Bears was both a statistical standout and a timely statement for a 49ers team chasing the NFC’s top seed. His ability to rebound from an early turnover and produce three passing and two rushing touchdowns sharply increased San Francisco’s odds of hosting more postseason games, a benefit amplified by the Super Bowl’s scheduled location at Levi’s Stadium.
Saturday’s meeting with Seattle will determine more than a division title; it will shape the Niners’ playoff path and test whether Purdy’s recent peak is sustainable under the highest pressure. For opponents and analysts, the question is no longer whether Purdy can flash brilliance, but whether he can keep this level of efficiency over a playoff stretch — a scenario that would make San Francisco a legitimate title favorite.