Brock Purdy’s record-setting day vs. Cardinals is even more impressive with context – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

Brock Purdy set a 49ers franchise record on Sunday for single-game completion percentage with the fourth-best mark by a quarterback in NFL history.

And that’s not all.

Purdy’s 95.2 percent completion percentage against the Arizona Cardinals was 28 percent higher than expected, according to Zebra Technology field tracking.

This number refers to the fact that Purdy did not include his accuracy numbers with a set of high-percentage throws.

Purdy Day posted the highest above-expected completion percentage mark of any quarterback with at least 20 pass attempts in a game over at least the past seven seasons in the NFL.

Purdy completed 20 of 21 pass attempts for 283 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a 134.6 passer rating in the 49ers’ 35-16 victory over the Cardinals.

This week, coach Kyle Shanahan had a hard time answering the question of whether Purdy has shown noticeable improvements in the mechanics of running the system. Shanahan said Purdy started at a high level after being moved into the starting lineup last season.

“He has it [improved]“But he was really good last year, too,” Shanahan said. “He came in right away and didn’t make a lot of mistakes in those matters.”

On Sunday, Purdy caught the longest air-distance pass of his career with a throw that traveled 46.8 yards, which Brandon Aiyuk caught for a 42-yard gain. This play had a 27.8% chance of completion, according to Zebra Technologies.

Purdy’s previous best completion percentage for the game was 5.1 percent.

He’s off to a strong start for the 49ers, who remain one of only two undefeated teams in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles also won 4-0.

Purdy leads the league with a passer rating of 115.1. He completed 81 of 112 pass attempts (72.3 percent) for 1,019 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Shanahan said the way Purdy progressed last season, and his willingness to play well in just a few practice reps, made it easy to make the decision to keep him as the starter as he enters his second year in the NFL.

“That’s why he gave us the confidence to go into this year with him, and he picked up where he left off,” Shanahan said. “Just like everyone else, the more you get out there, the more you put yourself through all the stressful situations, the more confident you become, the easier it gets.

He added: “But he was very good last year and I feel like he has stayed the same, if not improved a little.”

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