"Ultimate check down merchant": NFL fans ignite Brock Purdy vs. Mac Jones debate after 49ers QB's scintillating performance in win vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers entered Thursday's game at the Los Angeles Rams without many key pieces, including franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. Yet they came away with a 26-23 overtime win.

Backup Mac Jones battled through pain in his legs from repeated tackles to complete 33 of 49 attempts for 342 yards and two touchdowns against no interceptions in arguably his best performance since debuting with the New England Patriots in 2021:

JPA

@jasrifootball

49ers QB Mac Jones: 33/49 342 passing yards 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions You can’t take him out.

That sowed the seeds of a debate over whether to start Jones over Purdy:

Delusional Cowboys Fan

@Delucowboysfan

@_MLFootball @thewaynebreezie @CoachCrocky @SSN_Alabama @TheRealCruzOx @DiehardsAlabama Absolutely, Brock Purdy is the ultimate check down merchant

Cønnør

@DTownCnnrBrown

All this is doing is confirming Brock Purdy was a ginormous waste of money

quintamio bay 🦅

@Nbamemes2008

Mac jones in the big 25 is a better qb and Brock Purdy insane

"Purdy was always a Shanahan system merchant," one insisted.

"Brock Purdy is never beating the system QB allegations," another prophesied.

"Mac Jones is proof that Brock Purdy is overpaid and it’s more about Shanahan," another concluded.

Jones' primary target was, unsurprisingly, his fellow ex-Patriot Kendrick Bourne, who caught 10 passes for 142 yards. His touchdowns came courtesy of star running back Christian McCaffrey and backup tight end Jake Tonges, who combined for 123 yards on 15 grabs.

The Rams, meanwhile, were led by Matthew Stafford, who completed 30 of 47 attempts for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Kyren Williams caught two of them but also committed a costly red-zone fumble in the fourth quarter.

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HC Kyle Shanahan, Mac Jones react to 49ers’ thrilling OT win at Rams

After the game, 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan was first to address the media. He praised his team’s “unbelievable” ability to compete, fight, and win despite a litany of injuries to their star players:

“It was a huge character win. We’ve been in tight ones - all five of them. …Cant’ be more proud of the guys.”

He was also “real impressed” at how Mac Jones “played his ass off” - especially not committing a turnover despite all the pain in his legs that persisted throughout the second half:

“(He) was unbelievable… I can’t say enough good things about Mac.”

And speaking of Jones, he had this to say:

“I feel like I can protect myself, and I feel like it’s my job to be the author. …Even if we lost, I was still super proud, but the way the guys fought and had my back… it was really cool.”

Next for the 49ers is a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 13. Kickoff is at 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT on CBS.