Brock Purdy shuts doubters up even more after 49ers beat Steelers

Those who think Brock Purdy is a fluke are running out of things to say, especially after he and the 49ers walloped the Steelers on Sunday.

In the visiting locker room at Acrisure Stadium, San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams was speaking to the media about his quarterback, second-year pro Brock Purdy, who still remains undefeated in the regular season after the Niners throttled the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 30-7 in the 2023 season opener.

We voted him team captain," Williams said of Purdy. "Obviously, you see how he played today. Can't tell he was hurt [after offseason elbow surgery]. So we're proud of Brock, man. He's taken everything in stride and he's become our leader, become a quarterback that we can lean on."

Purdy being named a team captain in only his second year at the pro level is quite an honor, but there are those who feel he deserves it.

You know, his teammates who did the voting.

That said, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft is still going to carry his share of doubters. There are plenty who felt five regular-season starts and two postseason wins aren't enough evidence to suggest Purdy is the real deal. He was, after all, the last pick in the draft for a reason, right?

Right?

Well, those doubters were proven wrong a little more again on Sunday, thanks to what Purdy and Co. did in Pittsburgh.

Brock Purdy silenced one doubter, Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson

Prior to Sunday's contest, Steelers veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson noted how he thought San Francisco's offense had "tells," and he also predicted he would intercept Purdy at some point in the game.

"We'll see," was Purdy's cool response to what Peterson said.

Instead of being picked off, Purdy picked on Peterson, targeting him twice when connecting with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the two passing touchdowns thrown during the day.

Read more: Patrick Peterson said he'd pick off Brock Purdy, instead Purdy picked on Peterson

And no interceptions recorded.

The quarterback finished with a modest 19-of-29 mark for 220 yards with the two scores and a 111.3 passer rating. Nothing overly flashy or commanding, but there was plenty of success stories.

Brock Purdy critics are running out of ammunition about 49ers QB

To quote All-Pro edge Nick Bosa, speaking to reporters after the win, "Purdy shut some haters up."

Indeed. And it wasn't just calmly knocking off a tough Steelers defense in front of a hostile crowd on the road amid all the energy of a season opener.

It was also in a record-setting fashion, as pointed out by ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Granted, it helps that Purdy is on a stacked team like that of the 49ers. But fans have seen good Niners teams before with less-than-adequate quarterbacks under center, and the results haven't always been great.

Purdy is not only what he needs to do to help San Francisco win, but he's helping elevate the offense, too, by extending plays with his legs and not being afraid to take risks deep.

And those who are thinking the quarterback is a mere fluke are running low on argument material with this latest win.

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