Purdy, 49ers clinch division
Rookie Brock Purdy threw a pair of touchdown passes to George Kittle, and the San Francisco 49ers won their first NFC West title since 2019, beating the Seahawks, 21-13, in Seattle on Thursday night.
Despite using their third starting quarterback, the 49ers (10-4) continued to show they might be the class of the NFC alongside Philadelphia. San Francisco won its seventh straight, using its stifling defense to frustrate Seattle into countless mistakes.
The Niners got a handful of big plays from their rookie quarterback. Playing on the road for the first time in his career, Purdy connected on his first 11 pass attempts, including a 28-yard TD to Kittle in the first quarter when Purdy executed two fakes before hitting his wide open tight end.
They connected again early in the second half as Seattle’s defense blew a coverage and left Kittle open for a 54-yard TD and a 21-3 San Francisco lead. Purdy finished 17 of 26 for 217 yards, joining Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers as the only QBs since at least 1950 to have a passer rating of at least 115 in each of their first two starts.
Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and Christian McCaffrey rushed for 108 yards, including a 1-yard TD run in the final minute of the first half following a Seattle turnover.
Seattle (7-7) lost for the fourth time in five games and its playoff hopes took another hit. Geno Smith threw for 238 yards and Seattle’s first offensive TD this season against the 49ers, but was under constant pressure.
Seattle pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter after Robbie Gould missed a 43yard field goal and the Seahawks went 67 yards in 1:25. Smith hit Noah Fant on a 10yard TD with 3:35 remaining.
It’s cold in Buffalo
Growing up in Houston, and spending his college career at Alabama, Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle acknowledged having never played in a snow game in his life.
And the potential of finally doing so on Saturday night in Orchard Park, N.Y., when Miami (8-5) travels to play the Buffalo Bills (10-3) in an AFC East showdown, barely registers for the second-year player given what’s at stake.
When asked if he’s packing extra clothes to brace for a forecast calling for cold and snow, Waddle responded by saying: “Our competitive spirit. Shoot. That’s what I’m going to bring.”
Putting aside the distraction of weather, and how it might affect two teams with players who mostly hail from warm climates, Waddle is more focused on furthering the Dolphins’ bid to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in six seasons and their outside shot to claim the division title.
The Dolphins have an opportunity to sweep the season series with Buffalo following a 2119 win in September, and just as important, snap a two-game skid that dropped them to sixth in the AFC playoff race after a 23-17 loss at the Chargers on Sunday.
Miami faces an opponent that has won four straight, while also dealing with an altogether different set of elements after the Bills wore down in the 89-degree South Florida heat in their previous meeting.
The AFC-leading Bills are one win from clinching their fourth straight playoff berth, and have the inside track to their third straight division title. Buffalo is also driven to make up for the last meeting, in which it blew a 17-14 thirdquarter lead and lost despite outgaining the Dolphins, 497 yards to 212.
Jets’ White wants in
There’s still no doubt in Mike White’s mind he’ll start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday.
“Uh, no,” White said Thursday. “None at all.”
Sore ribs and all.
“Like I said on Monday, I’m preparing as such,” he added. “And until something changes, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
White has been limited at practice this week after he was twice knocked from the Jets’ loss to the Bills in Buffalo last Sunday by big hits. He finished the game, but left the stadium in an ambulance to be examined at a hospital. White was cleared, flew back with the team, and has been doing what he can in practice.
“I feel good,” White said. “Just kind of general soreness from playing football and being hit, but I feel good.”
That has been White’s consistent response all week while he heals from the injuries to his ribs. He has been inside the facility receiving treatment during the early portion of practice reporters are allowed to watch.
White acknowledged he will likely wear protection around his midsection against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
“Nothing too crazy,” he said. The Jets (7-6) are in the middle of the AFC playoff hunt, sitting just outside on the bubble. New York has two home games in five days with Detroit (6-7) on Sunday and Jacksonville (5-8) next Thursday night.
White remains on track to start his fourth straight game in place of the benched Zach Wilson, who was promoted this week from No. 3 on the depth chart to No. 2. Joe Flacco took over while White was sidelined against the Bills.