Brock Purdy was extremely candid this week when speaking to the media following his four-interception performance in the San Francisco 49ers' Christmas Day loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The 49ers' quarterback was open in revealing what he felt were the learning experiences from the worst game of his career, which unfortunately came on a huge national stage and likely put an end to his MVP hopes.

Purdy conceded to buying into the hype around the matchup with the Ravens, a battle of two number one seeds in the NFL who each held the best record in football, and perhaps by extension the MVP chatter around his performances.

"The whole season building up to what they’re saying is a huge game on Christmas, Monday Night Football and all that," said Purdy. "It was a big game. So for me, it’s a great learning experience just in terms of not buying into what’s going on around and what’s being said. Instead, executing in the moment, making the right reads, being consistent, protecting the ball, all those things. When things are going well, people can say some great things and it’s easy to buy into it a little bit."

Though the 49ers likely need to win out to clinch the one seed in the NFC, the scrutiny on Purdy's display will be significantly less great in Sunday's game with a 4-11 Washington Commanders team that won't be on the TVs of most people on the country.

But the value of another more tangible learning experience will be tested in Week 17.

Though three of Purdy's interceptions came off unfortunate deflections, his first pick came on a play that saw him attempt to force the ball to Deebo Samuel in the endzone on San Francisco's first offensive series, costing the 49ers at least three points.

That throw came after the Niners gained 71 yards across the two previous passes to George Kittle, with Purdy admitting to making a mistake with his progressions and getting overly aggressive at a point in the game where it was not required.

Said Purdy:

“Yeah, that drive we had two really explosive plays, the third down and then the next play after that to George again. So it’s like the emotion, everything’s built up, we’re feeling good and then we call this play with what wasn’t the right coverage. So for myself, it’s like, ‘all right, dude, progress and check it down.’ In the moment for myself, I was aggressive. I was like, ‘all right, just had two big plays, I’m trying to fit this one in.’ Which obviously looking back on it was not the right decision, wasn’t the smart play as a quarterback. That’s something that I have to grow in, in terms of you make some big plays and stuff, but every play has a life of its own. Now whatever play is next, you’ve got to play the play the right way and not just feed off the emotion and everything that you felt from the previous plays. So, that’s something that I had to learn the hard way.”

He added:

"The games that I’ve played in there’s a fine line of obviously ripping something that’s a tight window or tight contested, but at the same time being smart with the ball in the situation of wherever the game is at. So for myself, I’ve played in enough games where I think I understand when and where I can be aggressive, and take a chance, take a shot, and when I should progress, check it down, throw it away, those kinds of things. Like I said, it’s a situational kind of thing, and football is a game of situations. So that’s where I have to grow and continue to bank on experiences that I’ve gone through. But at the same time, being a quarterback in the NFL, you’ve got to be able to take some chances and some risks and some windows at the right time. That’s what I’m learning right now."

Against a Ravens defense that is one of the premier units in the NFL and arguably the best in the NFL at changing the picture post-snap, some of Purdy's errors processing were understandable, as was his desire to chase explosive plays in the second half after the 49ers fell into a deep hole.

Instances in which the Niners are playing from behind against the Commanders are expected to be extremely rare, and Washington's defense is a far cry from that of Baltimore.

In other words, there is likely to be little need for Purdy to chase explosives. 

Opportunities for him to create them should be clear throughout and he and the 49ers should be able to move the ball without much resistance. The situations in which Purdy will likely be placed should be more conducive to him being able to take checkdowns without sacrificing clear opportunities for explosive plays 

While fewer eyeballs will be on him, Purdy must prove he has immediately taken the lessons from the 49ers' fourth loss of the year with a more diligent performance that ensures he stays on the right side of that fine line between aggressiveness and smart football and helps San Francisco stay on course for the one seed.

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