The San Francisco 49ers closed out the season with a 12-0 winning streak. They had one of the most stacked rosters in the National Football League, and a strong chance to upset the league-best Philadelphia Eagles.
But no team can win without a starting-caliber quarterback; thatâs just a fact. Thatâs why they were doomed as soon as QB3 Brock Purdy had to leave the field with an elbow injury. There wasnât a lot more they couldâve done right there.
Thatâs why, looking back, NFL legend Tom Brady believes they never stood a chance to beat the Eagles. It was a bummer for Niners fans after such a great season, but thatâs just the way it goes in this sport.
NFL News: Tom Brady Says Niners Never Stood A Chance
âInjuries play a role in every game,â Brady said on his podcast, âand your margin of error changes quite a bit. Obviously San Fran had, you know, really no chance to compete yesterday. That was tough just to see that happen, but at the same time, itâs the reality of the sport. Philly deserved it. They had an incredible season. They played well on defense. They forced that pass and the injury to Brock [Purdy] there on his wrist or his elbow.â
âItâs truly part of the sport. Itâs a contact sport, and thatâs why itâs a demolition derby,â Brady added. âAnd thatâs why, you know, all these games are somewhat unpredictable. You go to the Super Bowl, Patrick [Mahomes has] had a sprained ankle, Jalen [Hurts has] had a hurt shoulder. Anything can happen in the first quarter of the game, and of course itâs going to affect the outcome. So if youâre relegated to handing the ball off down 28 points or whatever it was there in the fourth quarter, thereâs no chance of coming back at that point.â
The Niners will now have a full offseason to evaluate their QB situation, with even Tom Brady as a rumored target for the organization. At least, having three potential starters is the best problem any team could wish for.
