49ers lose to Ravens on Purdy’s career-worst game
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is sacked by Jadaveon Clowney (24) in the second half as the San Francisco 49ers lost 33-19 to the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2023.12.25 – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy fell apart in a four-interception performance and a 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Purdy and the 49ers seemed poised for another fast start when two big passes to George Kittle moved them into the red zone on the opening drive of the game.
What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game.
Purdy threw an interception to Kyle Hamilton in the end zone to thwart the drive and then kept giving the ball away in the worst performance of his career.
“I have to look myself in the mirror and ask myself why or how that happened and why I made those decisions,” Purdy said. “Our team came ready to play and for me to make some decisions like that, it pains me. It’s not fair to these guys. I have to realize that and understand that, and I have to get better for my team.”
Purdy threw three more interceptions on the next six possessions to become the first 49ers player with four in a game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015. Purdy didn’t produce a TD — either running or passing — for the first time in 20 career starts and looked over-matched against Baltimore’s stellar defense.
2023.12.25 (SF 49ers vs. BAL Ravens) Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy scrambles before throwing his 3rd interception of the 1st half against Baltimore Ravens during NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday, December 25, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.12.25 (SF 49ers vs. BAL Ravens) Game (SW-Highlights)
2023.12.26 – 49ers vs. Ravens (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
2023.12.26 – 49ers vs. Ravens (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
Purdy finished 18 for 32 for 255 yards before leaving with a stinger late in the game that isn’t considered serious. But his performance looked much more like a player picked in the seventh round a year ago than one who came into the game as the favorite to win MVP.
“I didn’t mind his demeanor,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He stayed in there and kept battling. Our whole team struggled there in the second half, so it wasn’t just him.”
Purdy was far from the only problem for the 49ers, who came into the game as the NFL’s most complete team but got dominated in all phases of the game.
The offense kept giving the ball away and produced only two scoring drives until Sam Darnold threw a late touchdown with San Francisco trailing by 21 points.
The defense couldn’t keep up with Lamar Jackson, who beat them by running as well as extending plays to hit big passes in a turnover-free performance.
Even the special teams had issues, allowing a big punt return followed by a personal foul on punter Mitch Wishnowsky to set up one TD drive.
“Mixed emotions about it, honestly,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “We know the recipe for winning football games for our team. We’ve got to take the ball away on defense. We didn’t take the ball away. We’ve got to protect the ball on offense. We gave it away. So when you do that, that’s how you lose games.”
Despite the loss, the Niners are in a three-way tie with Philadelphia and Detroit for the best record in the NFC and can still clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with wins in their final two games.
“Our guys are real disappointed tonight,” Shanahan said. “They should be. But when it comes down to it, we’re still in the same situation that we were before the game started. We’ve got to take care of our business.”
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (NBC Sports-Post Game)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson eludes a sack attempt by 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) during San Francisco’s 33-19 loss Monday night at Levi’s Stadium. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (NBC Sports-Post Game)
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (NBC Sports-Post Game)
As a statement game, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens delivered a loud one to the rest of the league.
Jackson threw two touchdown passes in a span of 18 seconds in the third quarter.
“Our guys work hard. They compete hard. Everybody wants to be respected,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There’s one way to be respected, and that’s to go out there and earn that.”
Jackson and the Ravens (12-3) turned a highly anticipated match-up between the top two teams in the NFL into a lopsided win with strong performances on both sides of the ball.
Jackson scrambled 30 yards to set up a field goal on the final play of the first half to give the Ravens a 16-12 lead and then helped put the game away early in the third quarter.
After Baltimore forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half, Jackson capped a drive by throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor.
Purdy then was intercepted by Patrick Queen on the next play from scrimmage. Jackson immediately turned that into another score with a 9-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers that made it 30-12.
“I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” Harbaugh said. “It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level, to play at an MVP level, it takes a player to play that way. Lamar was all over the field.”
Jackson threw for 252 yards, ran for 45 more and vaulted past Purdy to become the MVP favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (Damon Bruce – Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is sacked by Jadaveon Clowney (24) in the first half as the San Francisco 49ers lost 33-19 to the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (Damon Bruce – Post Game)
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (Damon Bruce – Post Game)
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (Krueger & Crew-Post Game)
2023.12.25 – 49ers vs. Ravens (Krueger & Crew-Post Game)
Jackson’s only real mishap came when he got called for intentional grounding in the end zone after nearly tripping over the umpire, leading to a safety in the first quarter.
“We got the W,” Jackson said. “I don’t really care about performance. I just want to win. That’s what happened tonight. On Christmas, I got my gift.”
The Ravens remained a game ahead of Miami for the best record in the AFC and can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win next week against the Dolphins.
San Francisco’s other MVP candidate fared far better, running back Christian McCaffrey running for 102 yards and a TD and adding 28 yards receiving. He set a franchise record with his eighth straight game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
“The mindset is we can’t let one turn into two,” linebacker Warner said. “We’ve got to wipe this one. Learn from it, of course, watch the tape hard, be honest with yourself, but we’ve got to get right back to work. We can’t let this affect our confidence as a team. We know who we are.”
INJURIES
Ravens: Hamilton (knee) left the game in the fourth quarter and didn’t return, while G Kevin Zeitler (thigh) and RT Patrick Mekari (head injury) also left in the second half. Harbaugh said none of the injures appear serious.
49ers: LT Trent Williams (groin) left the game in the third quarter and will need an MRI. … T Jaylon Moore (concussion) and LG Aaron Banks (toe) also left with injuries in the second half.
UP NEXT
Ravens: Host Miami on Sunday.
49ers: Visit Washington on Sunday.
Related: 49ers rout Cards with McCaffrey’s “Hat Trick”
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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