Purdy posts strong numbers as 49ers beat Cardinals, PFF grades show strengths

Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sunday. Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades indicated that while his completion rate fell to 55.6 percent, his average depth of target was 11.0 yards per attempt and his passer rating reached 133.8.

The quarterback was clean on 21 of his drop-backs, completing 14 of 19 throws for 271 yards and four scores. He also performed well against the blitz, connecting on five of seven attempts for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Unlike the short-passing approach used in Week 1, Purdy spread the ball more in Week 3, making only one attempt behind the line of scrimmage (incomplete) and completing 10 of 13 throws in the zero-to-nine-yard range. He was less effective from 10-to-19 yards (four completions on eight attempts) and had just one catch on three attempts beyond 20 yards.

Purdy’s quick release, averaging 3.02 seconds, was aided by an offensive line that had not allowed a sack in the first three games and recorded only five pressures, with a sixth pressure charged to running back Christian McCaffrey. The line’s individual grades included left tackle Trent Williams (one hit, one hurry) and left guard Connor Colby (one hit, one hurry).

Tight end George Kittle posted an 84.2 grade, catching six of seven targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while second-year receiver Jordan Watkins earned an 86.3 grade by hauling in both of his targets for 60 yards.

Defensively, the unit logged 87 snaps. The line, featuring two NFL debutants and rookie Gracen Halton, generated 14 pressures on Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, including sacks by Keion White and Ogbo Okoronkwo. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw received the highest defensive grade (85.9) after 61 snaps, eight tackles and limiting opposing receivers to four catches for seven yards. Fred Warner posted a 76.0 grade with a team-high 18 tackles, while rookie defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez earned a 75.0 grade in his debut.

Seven players were each charged with a missed tackle: Jaden Duggar, Upton Stout, Viliami Fehoko, Keion White, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner and Osa Odighizuwa.