Napa Valley RegisteR
NFL ANALYSIS
Purdy, 49ers get back on track for key stretch
JOSH DUBOW
Associated Press
SANTA CLARA — The
San Francisco 49ers got
back to their early-season
form just in time for their
most crucial stretch of the
regular season.
Thanks to a flawless per-
formance from Brock Purdy,
big plays from Brandon Ai-
yuk and a strong defensive
performance, the 49ers beat
Tampa Bay 27-14 on Sunday
for their second straight
convincing win following
a three-game losing streak.
“We’re taking steps in the
right direction,” tight end
George Kittle said. “We’re
definitely not there yet.”
The 49ers (7-3) will need
to get into top form soon if
they want to make a run at
the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
San Francisco begins a
tricky three-game stretch
with a visit to division rival
Seattle on Thursday night,
following a trip to defending
NFC champion Philadel-
phia and then a home game
against the Seahawks.
San Francisco enters this
stretch looking much more
like the team that began the
season 5-0 instead of the
one that lost three straight
games before a bye week.
The biggest difference has
been in the production from
Purdy, who threw five inter-
ceptions during the losing
streak but has been nearly
flawless the last two games.
He is 40 for 51 for 629
yards, six touchdowns, no
interceptions and a 157.3
passer rating the past two
games for the best rating
ever over a two-start span.
Head coach Kyle Sha-
nahan said he never was
worried about Purdy and is
pleased that he is still will-
ing to be aggressive even
after the turnovers during
the losing streak.
“The guy was playing
unbelievable in those three
losses, so there was noth-
ing to really worry about,”
BEHIND THE CALL
Ex-Cowboys coach Johnson not only NFL legend overlooked
ARNIE STAPLETON
Associated Press
With Jerry Jones finally
letting Jimmy Johnson into
the Dallas Cowboys ring
of honor next month, it’s
time to take stock of any re-
maining glaring omissions
by NFL teams that give es-
teemed organization figures
their flowers by naming
them to their hall of fame,
ring of honor or other circle
of celebration.
Men like Larry Fitzgerald,
Tony Gonzalez, Bernie Kosar
and Demaryius Thomas.
Teams all have their own
protocols, processes, criteria
and even waiting periods for
these honors. Some of the
exclusions aren’t necessar-
ily oversights or miscalcula-
tions and many may follow
in Johnson’s footsteps soon
enough.
Jones announced Sunday
that Johnson will go into the
Cowboys ring of honor on
Dec. 30 when the Cowboys
host the Detroit Lions.
Johnson led the Cow-
boys to back-to-back Super
Bowls in the 1992 and 1993
seasons during his five-year
tenure in Dallas, but the re-
lationship between the two
men who played football
together at Arkansas in the
1960s deteriorated with a
bitter feud leading to a sepa-
ration following that second
Super Bowl win.
“I’m appreciative of the
ring of honor, but more ap-
preciative of him bringing
me to the Cowboys in ‘89,”
Johnson said at a news con-
ference with Jones.
Three teams — the Bears,
Rams and Raiders — don’t
honor their revered stars
in this way at all. So, sorry
Brian Urlacher. Apologies,
Jack Youngblood and con-
dolences, Gene Upshaw.
Seven franchises have no
00
1
SPORTS HOliDay eDitiON • NOVeMBeR 22-23, 2023 | B3
SCOT TUCKER
San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) and teammates celebrate a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Santa Clara.
Shanahan said. “You just yards downfield, accord- stretch. 49ers got stopped on two their hands on balls with
got to make sure he doesn’t ing to NFL Next Gen stats, red zone drives in the first 11 passes defensed for the
make up stuff that other for 213 yards and two TDs. STOCK UP half, setting for field goals. game. That’s the highest
people are making up. So Purdy has a 120 passer rat- Ja’Ayir Brown. The rookie That’s been an issue of late single-game total for the
you just try to get him to ing on throws at least 10 safety had played only 30 as San Francisco has scored team since San Francisco
stick with practice, stick yards downfield this sea- defensive snaps all season TDs on only 6 of 14 (42.9%) had 11 against Arizona on
with the film and doing son for the third-best mark before being thrust into ac- red-zone drives the past Nov. 13, 2016.
what you’re doing. He in the league and his 1,482 tion in the second half after four games for the eighth
had a couple bad picks in yards on those throws are Talanoa Hufanga went out worst rate in the league NEXT STEPS
those games but there was also third best. with an injury. Brown broke after being fourth-best
San Francisco visits Seat-
none that he felt he had up a fourth-down pass to through the first six games
tle on Thursday night look-
to change with what he WHAT NEEDS HELP Mike Evans in the end zone at 69.2%. ing to win a fourth straight
was doing because he was Punt coverage. The 49ers and intercepted another game in the series. The
playing such a high level in allowed a 51-yard punt re- throw in the end zone on INJURIES Niners won all three games
those losses too.” turn by Deven Thompkins back-to-back drives in the Hufanga has a torn ACL
against the Seahawks last
in the fourth quarter that season, including a wild-
fourth quarter. He finished in his right and will miss the
WHAT’S WORKING nearly led to a score. San with four tackles and three rest of the season. card playoff win. That’s San
Downfield passes. Purdy Francisco had been solid on passes defensed. Francisco’s longest winning
did far more than just dink punt coverage this season KEY NUMBER streak in the series since
and dunk. He completed but any slipups could be STOCK DOWN 11 — The 49ers’ defend- winning four in a row from
7 of 10 throws at least 10 big during this upcoming Red zone offense. The ers did a good job getting 2010-12.
DETROIT LIONS NEW ORLEANS
Pride of the Lions: WR SAINTS
Calvin Johnson. A three-time
first-team All-Pro, Johnson Ring of Honor: QB Drew
earned six Pro Bowl berths in Brees. He led the Saints to
nine seasons in Detroit. their only title with a win
over Peyton Manning and
GREEN BAY PACKERS the Indianapolis Colts in
Hall of Fame: LB Brian No- Super Bowl 44.
ble.Hiscareercamejustbefore
Green Bay’s return to glory in NEW YORK JETS
the1990sbuthewasatackling Ring of Honor: OT Mar-
machine between 1985-92. vin Powell. He spent the
first nine seasons of his 11-
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS year career with the Jets,
Ring of Honor: DB Bob making first-team All-Pro
Sanders. He played in just 50 three times and five Pro
games during his seven inju- Bowls.
ry-filled years in Indy, but he
was the NFL’s 2007 Defensive PHILADELPHIA
Player of the Year. EAGLES
JACKSONVILLE Hall of Fame: CB Herm
JAGUARS Edwards. He totaled 33 in-
terceptions in nine seasons
Pride of the Jaguars: HC with the Eagles and scored
TomCoughlin.Thefirstcoach the touchdown in “ The
RUSTY JONES, ASSOCIATED PRESS in franchise history, Coughlin Miracle at the Meadow-
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks with former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson led the Jags to the AFC cham- lands.”
before Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. pionship game in 1996 and
‘99. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
waiting list of notable exclu- All-Pro and three-time Pro 1997-2003. Ring of Honor: QB Rus-
sions: the Texans, Vikings, Bowler, McAlister was a key KANSAS CITY CHIEFS sell Wilson. Too soon? OK,
Chargers, Patriots, Giants, member of the team’s first CLEVELAND BROWNS ChiefsHallofFame:Former the divorce was messy but
Steelers and 49ers. Super Bowl winner. Ring of Honor: QB Ber- GM Carl Peterson.The Chiefs netted the ingredients for a
The rest with major omis- nie Kosar spent nine sea- wenttotheplayoffsninetimes franchise makeover. Plus,
sions: BUFFALO BILLS sons in Cleveland and led in his 1989-2008 tenure after Super Bowl 48, right?
Wall of Fame: DB Butch the Browns to three AFC making it once in previous 20
ARIZONA CARDINALS Byrd. He collected 40 inter- championship games in the years. TAMPA BAY
Ring of Honor: WR Larry ceptions between 1964-70 1980s. BUCCANEERS
Fitzgerald. The 11-time Pro for Buffalo before finishing MIAMI DOLPHINS
Bowler scored 121 touch- his career in Denver. DALLAS COWBOYS Honor Roll: CB Sam Mad- Ring of Honor: QB Tom
downs over his 17-year ca- Ring of Honor: Now that ison. He teamed with Patrick Brady. He spent only three
reer, all with the Cardinals. CAROLINA PANTHERS Johnson is in, Jones should Surtain to form one of the seasons in Tampa, but what
He retired in 2020. Hall of Honor: QB Cam add DE Ed “Too Tall” Jones, league’s best cornerback tan- a time it was: 32-18 and a
Newton. The first overall who was a three-time Pro dems around the turn of the Super Bowl 55 title at Ray-
ATLANTA FALCONS pick in the 2011 draft led the Bowler and 1982 first-team century. mond James Stadium, no
Ring of Honor: TE Tony Panthers to Super Bowl 50 All-Pro. less.
Gonzalez. Although he spent where Von Miller thwarted NEW ENGLAND
his first 12 years in Kansas his title hopes. DENVER BRONCOS PATRIOTS TENNESSEE TITANS
City, he cemented his Can- Broncos Ring of Fame: Ring of Honor: LB
ton credentials with 35 TDs CINCINNATI BENGALS WR Demaryius Thomas, Hall of Fame: With no glar- Keith Bulluck. He had
in five seasons in Atlanta. Ring of Honor: RB Corey who died at age 33 in 2021, ing omissions, we’ll leave this 35 interceptions and six
Dillon. He’s the franchise’s had the most famous catch space open to add HC Bill Be- 100-tackle seasons in a
BALTIMORE RAVENS all-time leading rusher with in franchise history to beat lichick should his days in New decade with the Titans and
Ring of Honor: CB Chris six 1,000-yard seasons and the Steelers in the ‘11 play- England be as numbered as so he appeared in Super Bowl
McAlister. A 2003 first-team 82 touchdowns between offs. many speculate. 34 as a rookie.