49ers' Brock Purdy addresses critics after loss to Browns

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is brushing aside predictable criticisms lobbed his way after he produced the first clunker of his NFL career in last Sunday's 19-17 loss at the Cleveland Browns. 

"I would just say I don't really care, in a sense," Purdy remarked about such takes during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I just want to win. I want to help this team win. People can say what they want. That's cool. I just want to help this team win and reach our goals. And then we'll see at the end of all this if that's true or not."

Purdy lost a meaningful pro game he started and finished healthy for the first time and completed just 12-of-27 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the defeat. Of course, the 23-year-old has reasons to remain positive beyond the fact that his 49ers are 5-1 heading into the upcoming "Monday Night Football" matchup at the 2-4 Minnesota Vikings. 

According to ESPN stats, Purdy enters the weekend leading the NFL among qualified players with a 77.0 adjusted QBR on the season. He's ranked second with an average of 8.6 yards per pass attempt and eighth with 10 touchdowns through the air. 

Purdy famously was the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft and, thus, is no stranger to being doubted. As has been the case throughout his brief career, he again credited his faith for his ability to keep his composure amid what's been a whirlwind 11 months for the second-year pro. 

"All the other stuff that comes about—obviously, you've got legends and people that you grew up watching that you're able to now talk to and stuff, but, man, they're human, too," Purdy continued. "I'm human. We're not these gods or anything crazy. So, I don't know; I just try to keep it simple. I'm living life, I'm playing football, and I get to get paid doing this job, and it's a blessing."

As of late Friday morning, OddsChecker listed Purdy fifth among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to earn regular-season Most Valuable Player honors. That same outlet had the 49ers as six-and-a-half-point favorites to beat Minnesota on Monday.