San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner hailed the team for standing tall on the road after they held off a Seattle Seahawks fightback for a crucial 36-24 win.

The Niners were in dire need of a victory after blowing double-digit fourth-quarter leads in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 3 and 5.

They made a strong start to Thursday's meeting between two NFC West rivals, assuming a 23-3 lead early in the third quarter, as Brock Purdy threw a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown to Deebo Samuel and another score to George Kittle.

However, the defending NFC champions let Seattle back in and saw their lead trimmed to six points by the start of the fourth, with the Seahawks reeling off 14 straight points then getting the ball back via a Rasheem Green interception.

However, they held firm and another two touchdowns – a second Purdy-Kittle link-up and a six-yard Kyle Juszczyk rush – ensured they improved to 3-3, level with Seattle. 

Asked if doubts began to creep in as the Niners' lead shrunk, three-time All-Pro Warner said: "A thousand percent. 

"It sucks, but yes, it was something that felt familiar for sure. We could go one of two ways right there. 

"We could stand tall in a hostile environment and get the game that we got to get or we could settle for exactly how we've been playing the last couple losses."

The 49ers' season has seen them hampered by injuries to the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Dre Greenlaw and Javon Hargrave, and head coach Kyle Shanahan was handed another headache on Thursday as running back Jordan Mason was forced off with a shoulder issue.

Asked for an update on Mason's condition after the game, Shanahan said: "He thought he was going to be alright.

"He went back in, and it just hurt him too much, so he went out. We'll find out more tomorrow."

San Francisco's victory came at a crucial time as they are involved in the matchup of the season so far in Week 7, when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in a repeat of February's Super Bowl LVIII clash.

Offensive tackle Trent Williams said of that game: "It's not like we can get payback for losing in the Super Bowl. That ship has sailed. 

"Obviously, we know what type of team that is, one of the best teams in the league... All-Star quarterback, great coach. 

"We're going to take these three days off and regroup and try to put a complete game together."

Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers never trailed in a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

Deebo Samuel had a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown and finished with three catches for 102 yards for the defending NFC champions (3-3), who moved into a tie with Seattle (3-3) for first place in the NFC West after an uneven start to the season.

George Kittle added five receptions for 58 yards and two scores for the 49ers, who beat the Seahawks for a sixth straight time. Kyle Juszczyk added a late TD run for the 49ers, and he and Kittle both celebrated their scores by leaping into the stands to embrace their wives, who were sitting together in the first row.

Matthew Wright, who joined San Francisco earlier this week to replace injured kicker Jake Moody, had a trio of first-half-field goals from 25, 41 and 35 yards.

Geno Smith passed for 312 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, and the Seahawks lost their third straight after a 3-0 start under new coach Mike Macdonald.

Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers never trailed in a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

Deebo Samuel had a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown and finished with three catches for 102 yards for the defending NFC champions (3-3), who moved into a tie with Seattle (3-3) for first place in the NFC West after an uneven start to the season.

George Kittle added five receptions for 58 yards and two scores for the 49ers, who beat the Seahawks for a sixth straight time. Kyle Juszczyk added a late TD run for the 49ers, and he and Kittle both celebrated their scores by leaping into the stands to embrace their wives, who were sitting together in the first row.

Matthew Wright, who joined San Francisco earlier this week to replace injured kicker Jake Moody, had a trio of first half-field goals from 25, 41 and 35 yards.

Geno Smith passed for 312 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, and the Seahawks lost their third straight after a 3-0 start under new coach Mike Macdonald.

Jared Goff was proud of making history, as he set an NFL single-game record by completing all 18 of his pass attempts to help the Detroit Lions to victory.

The Lions beat the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks 42-29 on Monday, with Goff eclipsing Hall of Famer Kurt Warner's 10-for-10 performance in 2005, the previous standard for most passes in a game without an incompletion.

The quarterback threw for 292 yards, including touchdown passes to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown on his perfect evening, while also hauling in the latter's 7-yard toss for a touchdown in the third quarter.

That made him the first quarterback with a receiving touchdown since Zach Wilson in 2022, while he also became the first QB in NFL history with 15 or more pass attempts with no incompletions in a game.

Goff was aware that he was closing in on a perfect game, even if he had doubts at one point.

"I knew I did it in the first half last week, so I was aware of it then, and I was kind of aware of it today in the middle of the third quarter," he said.

"I couldn't think of one [incompletion], but then I threw the one out of bounds that ended up being offensive pass interference, and I was like, 'Does that count?' I didn't know if that counted or not.

"But yeah, it was a good day."

On his touchdown reception, he added: "No, I think that's my first one, too. Ever.

"And I'm saying all the way back to 7 years old, I think that's my first one."

Lions coach Dan Campbell did not realise how impressive Goff's performance had been after the game, choosing to give the game ball to Williams and safety Kerby Joseph for their strong play.

"I just gave the game ball to somebody else," Campbell laughed. "So, I feel awful right now.

"I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not realize he was perfect. I did not know he was literally 18 for 18.

"I thought what really kick-started him was that he had to move a little in the pocket, got spun around and hung with Jamo [Williams] and hit him on the hook for the first down, that was big because he was rolling after that."

Jalen Hurts has been downgraded to questionable for the Philadelphia Eagles' game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday due to illness.

The 2022 Pro Bowler did not practice with the rest of the team on Saturday and his condition only worsened overnight.

In a statement on their official website on Sunday, the Eagles announced Hurts will still travel to Seattle but separately from the rest of the team.

He has passed for 3,192 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns – the second-most in the NFL.

Should Hurts not recover from illness in time, Marcus Mariota – who has started 74 career regular-season games – would be in line to take his place.

The Eagles (10-3) have lost successive games, but they can win the NFC East title if they defeat the Seahawks (6-7) and win their final three games.

Seattle's Geno Smith is also doubtful due to a groin injury sustained in practice prior to last weekend's game with the San Francisco 49ers.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is dealing with an ankle injury and is unlikely to play in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Young missed his second straight day of practice Thursday, and the winless Panthers released a statement on social media saying he isn't expected to play.

The top pick of this year's draft evidently injured his ankle during Carolina's 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, but coach Frank Reich wasn't sure when. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said the injury occurred in the first half, but Young never came out and didn't tell anyone until after the game.

With Young expected to sit, Andy Dalton will make his first start with the Panthers after starting 14 games for the Saints last season.

Young has started each of Carolina's first two losses and is experiencing the growing pains that come with being a rookie quarterback.

He ranks 31st in QB rating (66.6) while throwing for 299 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He's completing 59.2 per cent of his passes and his average of 4.21 yards per attempt is the worst in the NFL among starting quarterbacks.

Without a viable passing game, the Panthers are 28th in total offence and are tied for last in scoring.

Dalton, a 13-year-veteran, is 83-77-2 as a starter with 244 TD passes and 144 interceptions. Carolina will be the fifth franchise he starts a game for following one-year stints with Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans from 2020-22 after spending his first nine pro seasons with Cincinnati.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft, getting the chance to join a formidable group at the position with the Seattle Seahawks and prompting on a run on picks at the position.

Five wide receivers had gone in the top 10 over the course of the previous two drafts, but it wasn't until pick number 20 that the Seahawks finally selected Smith-Njigba.

He links up with a receiver group that already features two Pro Bowlers in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, giving more ammunition to quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith-Njigba missed all but three games for Ohio State last season owing to a hamstring injury.

However, he was outstanding in 2021, racking up 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, his success coming in large part through his tremendously smooth route-running, excellent ball tracking skills and elusiveness after the catch.

The Seahawks, who earlier took cornerback Devon Witherspoon fifth overall, will look for Smith-Njigba to help lift them to the top of the NFC West. Seattle reached the playoffs last season with a 9-8 record, finishing second in their division to the San Francisco 49ers, whom they lost to in the Wild Card round.

Another wide receiver went with the next pick after Smith-Njigba as the Los Angeles Chargers selected TCU star Quentin Johnston and the run continued as the Baltimore Ravens took Zay Flowers from Boston College on the day that saw them finally agree to terms on a new deal with former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

USC's Jordan Addison, maligned by many because of his 5ft 11in and 178-pound frame, was the next to go off the board as the Minnesota Vikings put those concerns to one side, betting on his route-running prowess and yards after catch upside.

Bobby Wagner has returned to the Seattle Seahawks one year after he was cut from the team.

The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams but has now returned to the Pacific Northwest after mutually agreeing to end his five-year contract with the Rams earlier this year.

Wagner was one of the top defensive players available in free agency, with murmurs of a return to the Seahawks being ever present since the period began.

Quandre Diggs, who had campaigned on social media for a reunion, broke the news of Wagner's return before it was later confirmed by the franchise.

"According to my sources future hall of famer LB Bobby Wagner has agreed to terms to return home to the Seattle Seahawks," he posted on Twitter.

"Seahawks fill a huge need in the middle of their defense. 12's rejoice!"

A Super Bowl winner with the Seahawks in his second year in the NFL, Wagner amassed nearly 1400 tackles and 23.5 sacks over 10 seasons.

His return continues a strong free agency period for the Seahawks, who had already bolstered their defense with the additions of defensive ends Dre-Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, LB Devin Bush and safety Julian Love.

The Seattle Seahawks have added to their talented young secondary with the signing of former New York Giants safety Julian Love.

Love has signed a two-year, $12million deal with Seattle, according to multiple reports, after helping the Giants to the Divisional round of the playoffs last season.

A fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2019, Love enjoyed his best season in 2022, emerging as a valuable and versatile defender.

He intercepted two passes, recorded five pass breakups, six tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

His 109 tackles were a career-high by a wide margin, Love's previous best tally having come in 2020 (61).

Used primarily as a deep safety but also deployed in the box and in the slot, Love allowed receivers to get open on 60 per cent of his targets in 2022, the eighth-best ratio among safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps, per Stats Perform data.

He will join a secondary that features one of the NFL's premier safeties in Quandre Diggs and cornerback Tariq Woolen, who recorded a league-leading six interceptions as a rookie last year.

The Seahawks will be hoping Coby Bryant can make further strides after an encouraging rookie year at nickel corner, while Jamal Adams will look to bounce back after tearing his quad in the 2022 season opener. 

With Love's arrival, the Seahawks can claim to have one of the deeper and most talented secondaries in the NFL, which will likely be key as Seattle aim to build on a 9-8 season that ended in a Wild Card round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.

Reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith has reportedly signed a three-year extension to remain the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, Smith's new deal is worth $105million.

The 32-year-old took the starting role this season after Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos for a haul of draft picks.

It was meant to be a rebuilding season in Seattle, with the veteran acting as a bridge to their next franchise signal-caller, but eight years after his last season as a full-time starter Smith blew all expectations out of the water.

He led the Seahawks to a 6-3 start, finishing above .500 at 9-8, all while leading the NFL in completion percentage (69.8 per cent).

By all statistical indicators, Smith was a top-10 quarterback in the league this past season.

His 30 touchdown passes were the fourth-most, he finished eighth in passing yards (4,282), and his QBR of 60.8 had him tied for sixth. It was not all simple, short passes either, ranking ninth in yards per attempt (7.5).

After spending time with the New York Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, Smith has found a home in Seattle the past three years, and was one of 15 players to receive an MVP vote for the 2022 season.

Having made a grand total of $17.55m in his nine-year career, Smith is set to make up to $52m in the first calendar year of his new deal

The Seattle Seahawks are considering drafting a new quarterback despite ongoing contract negotiations with Geno Smith.

Last year's blockbuster trade that sent Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos has left the Seahawks with strong draft capital, the franchise possessing the fifth overall pick and the 20th selection for April's draft.

It leaves Seattle in relatively unchartered territory, having only two top-10 picks since 2010 – the first being the sixth pick in 2010 after the previous regime went 5-11.

In the 2022 draft, the Seahawks had pick number 10 but traded to the Jets for Jamal Adams, leaving 2023 as the first time in 13 years that the team will be among the first names on the board.

Despite being settled with Smith, who is negotiating a new contract, head coach Pete Carroll is aware this provides a rare opportunity to select a QB.

"We don't get this opportunity [often]. When you're picking in the bottom of the first round, those guys aren't available," Carroll told reporters.

General manager John Schneider further explained why a move for a QB was on the cards, despite it being a rarity for him – having selected players in this position just twice in 13 drafts with Seattle.

"Because they don’t grow on trees. It's the hardest position to acquire a talent, a guy that everybody feels very confident in," Schneider said.

Discussions with Smith regarding a new deal are continuing and, while Schneider was positive on the situation, he did not give a timeframe on when a fresh contract with last year's NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

"All these negotiations, some go a little bit faster than others. Usually when you're talking about larger numbers, they take a little more time," he added.

"It's obviously much more complex than different sports with guaranteed contracts, so there's a lot more that goes into these contracts."

Asked whether they would consider a franchise tag for Smith, Schneider replied: "That's not something I would share with you."

Sean Payton is the right man to get Russell Wilson's career back on track, according to the quarterback's former coach Pete Carroll.

Carroll and Wilson reached two Super Bowls together with the Seattle Seahawks after the latter was drafted in the third round of the 2012 draft.

Wilson earned Pro Bowl honours nine times with the Seahawks and threw two touchdowns as the team beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

But the relationship between Carroll and Wilson reportedly soured in the later years of their time in Seattle, and the quarterback was traded to the Broncos prior to the 2022 season for a haul of picks.

After signing a bumper $245million contract following the trade, Wilson's first year in Denver was one of the worst of his career, throwing a career-low 16 touchdowns as the team limped to a 5-12 record and finished bottom of the AFC West.

Nathaniel Hackett did not make it through a full first season as head coach, but the Broncos made a trade with the New Orleans Saints to bring the sought-after Payton in to replace him.

Payton won a Super Bowl during a successful spell with New Orleans before stepping away at the end of the 2021 season, and Carroll feels he could be the correct coach to get Wilson back to his best.

"I don't think you can come up with a guy better at coaching quarterbacks than Sean," Carroll told reporters. "He's proven that.

"He's had such tremendous success. He's got a great playcaller mentality to him. They're very fortunate to have him."

Reports last week stated Wilson asked for Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider to be fired towards the end of his time with the Seahawks.

"My response to that is a similar response to what it's always been with guys I've coached,'' Carroll said.

"I'm always going to hang with them, I'm never going to leave them and I'm going to be there at the end. All of the good stuff, all of the bad stuff, I'm still going to be there.

"[It] doesn't matter who the guy is. Regardless of what had happened, what has taken place, things that have been said. [If] you hang with them, it all comes back around. I'd like to demonstrate that faith in the relationship and the depth of what we did together, and the growth challenges it brings to us along the way."

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf stole the show during Friday's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, dunking and blocking his way to MVP honours.

Metcalf – standing at six-foot-four with explosive athleticism – made sure to show off what he could do on a basketball court at every opportunity, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in a 81-78 win for Team Dwyane Wade.

Team Wade was coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo and his two brothers, Thanasis and Alex, while Team Ryan Smith – named after the Utah Jazz governor, since they are the hosting city – was coached by WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, rapper Fat Joe and Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman.

Metcalf was not the only athlete suiting up, with 37-year-old Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson also taking part, as did tennis star Frances Tiafoe and MLB legend Albert Pujols.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin life without Tom Brady next season and will look to former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales to get the offense back on track as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Canales was hired Thursday to replace Byron Leftwich, who was fired last month after four seasons – the last three working with the now retired Brady.

Canales has spent 13 seasons on Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle, working with receivers and quarterbacks from 2010-2019 and serving as the passing game coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

He was the team’s quarterbacks coach again last season, helping Geno Smith to a breakout season that earned him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honours.

"Dave has done a great job in a variety of roles with Seattle the past 13 years, and he brings a passion for coaching and an energy level that players just seem to respond to," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said in a statement. "He has played a significant part in the development and growth of many Seahawks players who have contributed to their offensive success over the past decade, and I look forward to seeing what he will do with our players on offense."

The 41-year-old Canales was among 10 candidates interviewed for the position that opened when Leftwich and five other members of Bowles' staff were fired on January 19. Three other assistants announced their retirements in a major shakeup that followed a lopsided playoff loss to Dallas in the wild card round.

While Brady ranked third in the NFL last season with 4,643 passing yards, Tampa Bay scored 198 fewer points than the previous season while averaging 18.4 points per game – down from over 30 in both 2020 and 2021.

Kyle Trask is the only quarterback the Buccaneers have on their roster under contract for next season, but he has yet to appear in a regular-season game.

The trophy every player in the NFL wants to lift will be hoisted in Arizona a week on Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

On the preceding Thursday, a host of players and coaches will receive recognition for their individual efforts at the annual NFL Honors ceremony.

The candidates for the awards are furiously debated throughout each season, though this year the field has been trimmed for each prize with the NFL releasing list of finalists for the first time.

In the case of MVP, the top two candidates are the quarterbacks facing off in the Super Bowl, with Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts also going head to head for the game's most illustrious award.

But who does Stats Perform's advanced data say should be the recipients of the prizes on offer at Symphony Hall in Phoenix? Here we name our award winners for 2022, including one not among the finalists who'll be on the red carpet next week.

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Though these are regular-season awards, Mahomes' heroics on one leg in the AFC Championship Game were the perfect illustration of why he is the most valuable player in the league.

Even when physically impaired by a sprained ankle, Mahomes can produce magical plays through the air and on the ground in the biggest moments, and this season he has elevated a supporting cast shorn of the downfield threat of Tyreek Hill.

Only Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills averaged more yards over expected in true passing situations than Mahomes' 1.66 (minimum 100 such plays). Mahomes, though, had the edge in terms of accuracy, delivering a well-thrown ball on 82.1 per cent of his pass attempts, outperforming both Allen (79.7%) and Hurts (81).

Surpassing 5,000 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns in a single season for the second time in his career, Mahomes was the best regular-season player in the NFL in 2022, and the reality is it wasn't especially close.

Offensive Player of the Year: Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders' acquisition of Adams in a blockbuster trade with the Packers did not produce the team results they desired in 2022, but individually his debut season with Las Vegas ranked as one of the finest of his career.

Adams' 14 receiving touchdowns led the NFL and, though his 1,516 receiving yards trailed Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill, his combined open percentage across man and zone coverage of 52.18 was superior to both Jefferson and Hill.

With 10 touchdown receptions of 20 yards or more in 2022, Adams was the NFL's most explosive receiving threat in a season where he once again reaffirmed his status as one of the finest route-runners of his generation. The Raiders may want to forget this season in a hurry, but Adams' campaign was one well worth remembering.

Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

This award will almost certainly go to Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers next week, but there's a strong case for Jones as a more impactful defender on a down-to-down basis in 2022.

Indeed, Jones' pass rush win rate of 58 per cent and his run defense win rate of 72.7 per cent outstrip those of Bosa, who finished a season in which he led the NFL in sacks (18.5) with a pass rush win rate of 51.4 per cent and 63.6 per cent run block win rate.

Like his quarterback, Jones shines when the situation is at its most pressurised, with his ability to create pass rush working on the interior and off the edge making him a ceaseless nightmare for opposing offensive lines. If the Chiefs are celebrating under confetti in Arizona next Sunday, Jones will likely have been a big reason why.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Sample size be damned! Purdy not only kept the 49ers afloat after Jimmy Garoppolo joined Trey Lance in heading to the sideline with a serious injury, but helped the offense improve as San Francisco won all five of his regular-season starts as part of a 10-game winning streak to end the 17-game campaign.

Albeit undoubtedly aided by the cavalcade of offensive talent at San Francisco's disposal and the play-calling of head coach Kyle Shanahan — Purdy threw to an open target on 84.7 per cent of his attempts — the last pick in the 2022 draft piloted at an offense that was remarkably efficient in expected passing situations.

Purdy averaged 1.2 yards over expected in true passing situations, fifth among quarterbacks with at least 100 such plays.

Other rookies may have played well for a longer period, but in terms of level of influence on his team's performance, no first year offensive player matches Purdy, who unfortunately now faces a long recovery after tearing an elbow ligament on the first offensive series of the Niners' NFC Championship Game loss in Philadelphia.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sauce Gardner, New York Jets

Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner backed up his ostentatious nickname by quickly establishing himself as one of the league's premier defenders and a lockdown corner at the highest level.

Gardner lost just 19 of his 92 matchups in man coverage and 24 of his 92 in zone. His combined open percentage allowed of 18.8 was bettered by only four defenders across the  entire NFL.

In addition to his remarkably impressive coverage skills, Gardner showed a knack for finding the football in the air, registering a league-leading 20 pass breakups.

If he can improve on his interception tally of two, Gardner will be in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion in the coming years.

Comeback Player of the Year: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

From the forgotten man whose hopes of becoming a starter in the NFL looked to be over, to the most accurate quarterback in pro football.

Smith led all quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts with a well-thrown rate of 87.1 per cent, improbably guiding a Seahawks team that appeared to be rebuilding to a playoff berth.

The former New York Jet also had the best passer rating (125.8) on throws of at least 21 air yards among all signal-callers with at least 10 such attempts. Smith threw for 13 touchdowns and one interception on his 52 attempts of that distance.

Smith unexpectedly emerged as the answer at quarterback for the Seahawks in the wake of the Russell Wilson trade. With a better ecosystem around him in 2023, he could be the leading man for a true contender.

Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

Brian Daboll and Doug Pederson deserve a great deal of credit for transforming also-rans into playoff teams in short order, while Nick Sirianni's case is an extremely compelling one after turning the Eagles into the favourite to win the Super Bowl next week.

But for a combination of overcoming adversity and leading a Super Bowl-contending team, no coach can compete with Shanahan.

Shanahan calmly navigated his team through the stormy waters of losing not one by two starting quarterbacks during the regular season, putting Purdy in a position to succeed, with the rookie's readiness and the support he received from the NFL's best defense a testament to the 49er head coach's ability to assemble a top-tier staff.

Winning 13 games, 15 when counting the pair of playoff victories, in the circumstances the 49ers faced on offense is a remarkable achievement. San Francisco finished the season first in overall Efficiency Versus Expected, doing so after being forced to turn to Purdy is a feat worthy of Coach of the Year recognition.