Brock Purdy is gearing up to lead his San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks for the second time in three games. This time, the Niners will play host, with Sunday's NFC West clash taking place at Levi's Stadium.
Purdy has faced Seattle more than any other opponent in his NFL career, creating a familiarity with the division rival. Despite never losing to the Seahawks, the second-year quarterback emphasizes that he won't take any opponent for granted.
"They got good players, some really good dudes that have a lot of experience and stuff, obviously with [LB] Bobby Wagner and then [DB Quandre] Diggs in the secondary, some boys that are playing corner that have got some experience now under their belts," Purdy told reporters after Thursday's practice.
"And so for us, it's like, they can make plays. They're smart, they play a bend-but-don't-break kind of defense. And so it's always a challenge when we play them every single time. It's not like, oh, we've beaten them, so we're just going to walk in this game. It's not like that, man. It's the NFL. They're a team right now who needs to win, and so do we. And it's going to be a dogfight like it always is."
While the 49ers have won four straight games, the Seahawks have lost three consecutive games and four of their last five. Their season is spiraling, and they are desperate to turn things around, making them a dangerous opponent that San Francisco is not overlooking.
Purdy added, "So we respect the heck out of Seattle, and anytime we play them, we know it's always going to be a dogfight. So that's how we look at it."
The second-year quarterback is putting up MVP-caliber numbers this season, leading the league in several statistical categories, including completion percentage (70.2), touchdown percentage (6.9), yards per attempt (9.6), yards per completion (13.7), and passer rating (116.1). Purdy's impressive 2023 campaign has made him the betting favorite to win league MVP.
Despite his accomplishments, Purdy believes there is room for growth.
"Like I said before, there's so many areas I feel like I can get better, really, just within the operation of our offense, some reads, being consistent," Purdy shared. "I look at that last game, and I look at the first two drives, and it's like we're a couple plays away from really having our foot on the gas pedal from the jump. And so that's where I'm hard on myself.
"And so, I sort of look at those things, and I always want to get better in that area. But at the same time, playing in the NFL, winning some games, you do have to, I think, take a step back and be able to look at it and be thankful for what's going on. But obviously, we have a bigger goal in mind, and that's where I have to stay even-keeled and keep chipping forward."