On Saturday, Brock Purdy will play against a defense led by coach Mike Macdonald for the fifth time. Their first matchup was on Christmas night in 2023, where Purdy struggled, tossing four interceptions in a 33-19 defeat to Baltimore.
Since Macdonald took over as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024, the 49ers’ offense has averaged only 18.3 points across four games. This is the lowest scoring average against any coach Shanahan has faced at least three times, including playoffs.
In their most recent game, Seattle completely shut down the Niners, limiting them to just three points and 173 total yards. This marks Shanahan’s lowest offensive output since Week 1 of 2017. Seattle has effectively neutralized the 49ers’ run game and employed deep safety coverage to thwart long passes.
“It’s a tough challenge, but it’s up to us to respond,” said Klay Kubiak, the 49ers offensive coordinator. He stressed the need for the team to improve their running game and third-down efficiency. “We need to stay on the field so we can call more run plays. That could force the defense to bring in extra players, which opens up other possibilities.”
Since returning from injury that sidelined him mid-season, Purdy has a record of 7-1. However, his only loss post-injury was to Seattle in Week 18. Although he recorded a solid 111.5 passer rating from Weeks 11 to 17, his performance against Seattle and Philadelphia dropped to a 73.1 passer rating in their last two meetings.
Interestingly, Purdy has performed well in Seattle before. He holds a perfect 4-0 record on the road against the Seahawks, matching the longest win streak for a quarterback in Seattle’s history, tied with Hall of Famer Dan Fouts.
This matchup sets the stage for an intriguing contest. With added pressure on Purdy to improve against Macdonald’s defense, it could be a pivotal game for him and the 49ers. As teams evolve, the dynamics of each game can drastically change, making every performance crucial.
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