The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line is doing an excellent job keeping quarterback Brock Purdy upright this season. Purdy has yet to be sacked through four games, contributing to his MVP-level start.
The 49ers' offensive line will face a tough challenge Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who have recorded 11 sacks this season, the seventh-most in the NFL. Center Jake Brendel hopes to keep the 49ers' no-sack streak alive in Week 5.
"Obviously, as an offensive line, we're really proud of that," Brendel said on Bay Area radio station KNBR Tuesday. "But also, it comes down to the entire offense really just working as efficiently as possible on those pass downs—and Brock. I mean, Brock is just gunslinging right now, so that's awesome."
Purdy has completed 69.9 percent of his passes for 1,007 yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception, and an NFL-leading 126.2 passer rating. He is on pace to match—and potentially surpass—the career-high and franchise-best 4,280 passing yards he recorded in 2023.
Purdy's mobility helps, too. The 49ers quarterback can extend plays and avoid pressure before finding his playmakers for big gains.
"He already makes a lot of plays within the pocket, on his feet, just kind of opening windows and viewing angles for himself," Brendel said. "He just kind of extends those things a little bit wider when the protection kind of breaks down, maybe by one or two blockers.
"He really can extend the play, double the amount of seconds—like five to 10 seconds—which, obviously, opens a lot of routes downfield."
Seattle's defense sacked Purdy six times in three meetings last season. Brendel acknowledges that opposing pass rushers will eventually get to Purdy, as the streak has to end at some point. The goal, however, is to limit that pressure's impact on the 49ers' offensive success.
So, how do the 49ers plan to combat the Seahawks' pass rush on Sunday?
"Sacks, really, it all kind of comes down to being efficient on first and second down, and then getting in a position on third down, where you have enough guys in protection, and you can run the protections you want, where you only need two or three receivers out—you don't need four," Brendel said. "And then you really are in a better position to protect Brock and keep him upright.
"It's really going to come down to just having a well-rounded offense that's really clicking on all cylinders. And also, we've just got to keep kind of doing what we're doing, getting three hands on defenders when we can get three hands on them, and helping the guy next to us until we have to get to our guy. And then, having confidence on first and second down.
"And then, keeping the third downs to like one or two yards, and then we'll be good."
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