"And apparently, you can even get away with your franchise quarterback entering a fugue state and tossing three first-half interceptions, all while playing as if the game was on fast-forward. You can get away with all of that every last bit of it and so much more, provided one crucial variable is met: You are playing Bryce Young's Carolina Panthers."
"But Young won't be playing in January. And if Monday's woeful Purdy performance proves to be anything but a one-night dalliance, neither will the 49ers. Let's call the 49ers' 20-9 win what it was: A gift. Perhaps even a grift. Yes, the 49ers' defense elevated its game, but the 5-foot-10 Young hardly sets a high bar. And, absolutely, everyone else on the 49ers' offense had a great game on Monday."
"The defense? Outstanding. But the Niners stole one on national television. A heist in plain sight. If the Niners had it their way, this game would not be remembered. Because the legacy of this game the thing that sticks in your craw will not be all the good the Niners did, but rather the bad: Purdy's woeful, indefensible performance. There is only one way to wash the taste of this game out of everyone's mouth: Wins. Lots of them. And no more ugly ones, either."
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday night despite an uneven showing by their quarterback. Brock Purdy produced a woeful, indefensible performance that raised concerns about the team's January prospects if it is not an anomaly. Carolina's Bryce Young also played poorly, leaving the 49ers to survive mistakes and secure victory. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and the offensive line performed well, while the defense elevated its play. The victory felt like a gift or a grift rather than a statement win. The 49ers must follow with convincing, clean victories to erase lingering doubts.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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