San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy attempts a pass play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday NOV 19, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

It’s been 34 years since a San Francisco 49ers quarterback has had a perfect QB rating.

Brock Purdy matched a couple of quarterback legends in a 27-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco has won two games in a row after dropping its past three and are in sole position of first place in the NFC West after the Los Angeles Rams upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last six games.

Purdy recorded a QB rating of 158.3 for the first time in his NFL career. A feat that hasn’t been done in San Francisco since both Joe Montana and Steve Young did it during the 1989 season.

San Francisco scored on its second possession when Purdy led the team on a 12 play 80-yard drive against Tampa Bay’s defense that forced a punt on the 49ers first possession. Purdy connected with running back Christian McCaffery on a four-yard touchdown reception.

“I kind of hope the critics keep coming cause it pisses him off,” said McCaffery on Purdy’s detractors. “He plays really well.”

After a Jake Moody 37-yard field goal, the Buccaneers marched down the field on a 10 play 75-yard drive for it first touchdown. Baker Mayfield threw a one-yard touchdown reception to Mike Evans who tight-roped the back of the endzone.

The 49ers received a 28-yard field goal from Moody with :16 left in the second quarter to close out the first half on a positive note.

Purdy and the offense opened up the game on its first possession of the second half as they went 98 yards in just three plays for its next touchdown. Purdy threw a deep pass to the left to Brandon Aiyuk who raced into the endzone for a 76-yard touchdown reception.

The 76-yard touchdown reception is the longest in the NFL this season. Purdy has the two longest touchdown receptions in the league this season. Last week’s 66-yarder to Geroge Kittle was the longest till Aiyuk’s catch.

The 49ers offense kept the pedal to the metal when Purdy threw for his third touchdown of the game when he found Kittle in the back of the endzone all alone for a three-yard touchdown reception with 1:42 left in the third quarter for a 20-point lead.

Rachaad White rushed for a one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give Tampa Bay hope, but San Francisco’s defense shut down Mayfield and company the rest of game with two turnovers on downs and one interception.

Ji’Ayir Brown intercepted Mayfield in the endzone with 3:38 remaining in the game to seal the deal for San Francisco. It was the first interception in the red zone by Mayfield in four years.

Fred Warner, who celebrated his 27th birthday, was the defensive player of the game with 12 total tackles, a forced fumble and half a sack. Nick Bosa led the 49ers in quarterback hits with three. Chase Young had a sack in back-to-back games since being acquired at the trade deadline by San Francisco.

Purdy finished his career day going 21 of 25 for 333 yards with no interceptions or sacks to go along with his three touchdowns and perfect QB rating. Aiyuk led all receivers with five catches for 156 yards. Kittle, overshadowed by Aiyuk, had eight catches for 89 yards. Deebo Samuel chipped in with three catches, including a 40-yarder, for 63 yards.

“Brock (Purdy) is solid, a really good quarterback, anything he can do. I don’t know if he can run a 4.3 (40-yard dash), do a lot of Wildcat stuff. But everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done at a really high level,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

McCaffery, who started a new touchdown game streak, led all rushers with 78 yards on 21 carries. He also tallied five catches for 25 yards for another game with 100 plus all-purpose yards.

Mayfield was 29 of 45 for 246 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked four times. White led the Bucs in rushing with 30 yards on nine carries. Cade Otton led Tampa Bay in receiving with four catches for 49 yards. Evans chipped in five catches for 43 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-10 on third down conversions. Tampa Bay went 7-for-14.

49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a knee injury during the game and did not return.

UP NEXT: San Francisco travels to the Pacific Northwest for a Thanksgiving (11/23) showdown with the Seattle Seahawks at 5:20pm at Lumen Field.