Following a challenging Week 16 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed after a decisive victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 17.
Their path to the top seed was bolstered by an unexpected loss for the Philadelphia Eagles, who were defeated at home by the Arizona Cardinals.
By clinching the No. 1 spot, San Francisco earned a first-round bye, thanks in large part to an impressive showing from quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy bounced back strongly after a rough outing against the Ravens, where he was intercepted four times.
In the matchup with Washington, the second-year quarterback delivered a clean performance, throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns without any turnovers.
Purdy has excelled in his first full season as the team’s starting quarterback, and his efforts in the win over Washington earned him a notable place in franchise history, as highlighted by NBC.
“Brock Purdy stands alone as the 49ers’ single-season passing yards record-holder,” NBC shared in a tweet. Purdy’s total of 4,280 passing yards in the 2023 season surpassed the previous record of 4,278 yards set by Jeff Garcia during the 2000 NFL season.
