SANTA CLARA — As the 49ers head into Week 12 with a 5-5 record, coach Kyle Shanahan is trying to keep a level head, especially when it comes to quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy had an amazing 2023 season, helping the 49ers make it to the Super Bowl and leading the league in several key quarterback stats. But this season hasn’t quite gone the same way, and Shanahan knows things would look very different if a few things had gone right for the team.
“I think Brock’s doing a lot of good things,” Shanahan said. “But at the end of the day, we all get judged by wins, and that’s why we need to find a way to win games, especially in the fourth quarter.”
If Purdy’s stats were similar to last year’s and the 49ers had held on to their leads in those three close losses, Shanahan believes the narrative around Purdy would be much more positive. However, there are some notable stats to consider.
In the 49ers’ 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy threw for just 159 yards — his lowest of the season and one of his lowest career totals. His previous lowest was 125 yards in a loss to the Cleveland Browns last season.
“It’s a fine line,” Shanahan said. “We’re a 5-5 team, and that’s not where we want to be. If we were 8-2 with the top offense in the league, we’d be feeling a lot better.”
Shanahan reminded everyone that four of the 49ers’ ten games have come down to the final moments. They’ve only won one of those close games — against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10. If they had been able to win those other three, they’d be 8-2, and there would be less concern about Purdy’s performance.
“A couple plays here and there and we’d be looking at it differently,” Shanahan said. “But we’ve put ourselves in a tough spot, and that’s made it harder on us.”
Shanahan also pointed out that Green Bay has won six of their seven close games this season, which is why they have a better record.
Despite the struggles, Shanahan is still confident in Purdy. The quarterback has added a running element to his game, helping keep drives alive, but Shanahan wants him to spread the ball around more.
“It’s hard to make big improvements after the way he played last year,” Shanahan said. “But I think Brock’s playing at the same level. There are just different circumstances around him.”
Shanahan believes the next seven games will likely come down to the fourth quarter, and it’s up to the team to find a way to get it done when it matters most.
