Sensational rookie quarterback Brock Purdy is’ thankful’ after his San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
On Sunday night, the 49ers sent the Cowboys crashing out of the postseason with a 19-12 win at Levi’s Stadium. The vaunted San Francisco defence led the team to the victory as they snatched a pair of interceptions from quarterback Dak Prescott.
In the win, 49ers rookie signal-caller Purdy struggled against the Cowboys’ own dominant defensive unit, but he still got the job done. The 23-year-old - who became the first rookie quarterback to win on his playoff debut since Russell Wilson in 2012 - threw for 214 yards to continue his unbeaten start to his professional career.
Purdy is the reigning ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ after he was selected with the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His path has been remarkable, transitioning from third-string quarterback to starter as the replacement when sophomore Trey Lance and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo went down with injuries.
In the rekindling of the classic rivalry between the 49ers and Cowboys, Purdy ultimately did enough to ensure San Francisco move closer to winning a first Super Bowl since January 1995. No rookie quarterback has ever reached the Super Bowl - but Purdy is just one win away.
“Yeah, I mean I'm just so, right now I'm still focused in a sense with just the game and what we could have done to be better,” Purdy said. “But yeah, it's pretty cool to see the clock at zero and then you see like the Niners over the Cowboys, that's pretty sweet in the playoffs.
“So definitely, credit to the coaching staff in getting us right all week. Defence, offence, special teams, everyone just playing, it takes everybody, not just one person or a couple guys, it literally takes everybody.
“I'm just so proud of the team and playoff football is not easy, so to go and pull off a win like that against a great team like Dallas and now going to the NFC Championship, it means a lot to us and for myself. When I take a step back, it's pretty cool. Very thankful.”
The 49ers will take on the Philadelphia Eagles after they crushed the New York Giants 38-7 on Saturday night. Philadelphia have arguably been the best team in the NFL this season as they posted a league-best 14-3 record while quarterback Jalen Hurts would be the MVP frontrunner but for a minor injury.
Against the Giants, Hurts starred as he threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns while the run game dominated. The 24-year-old rushed for a score while Kenneth Gainwell went for 112 yards and a touchdown alongside Miles Sanders’ 90 yards.
The Eagles will face the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday night.
