49ers' Brock Purdy discusses being a favorite in MVP race

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is doing his best to remain focused on team goals even as he's emerged as a favorite to earn Most Valuable Player honors for the 2023 season. 

"When I get asked the question and stuff, it comes to mind, and the first thing is, 'what an honor,'" Purdy said during a Tuesday morning appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR about being part of MVP conversations, as shared by David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I'm not taking anything away from that. It's, 'what an honor,' and very honored to hear that. But at the same time, I'm trying to do what I can for this team, for this Sunday and for this practice or this meeting. I'm not getting caught up in awards and stuff like that." 

According to ESPN stats, Purdy ended Week 14 leading the NFL among qualified signal-callers with a 74.7 adjusted QBR, a 116.9 passer rating, an average of 9.9 yards per pass attempt and a 70.2% completion percentage on the season. He's tied for second with 25 touchdown passes and third with 3,553 passing yards. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, oddschecker listed Purdy as second among the betting favorites at +200 odds to win MVP. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys topped the list at +160 odds at that time. 

"If anything, I look at it more as a team award," Purdy added about the MVP race. "I have a great surrounding cast. I've got guys around me that are all making plays, a great defense, great special teams. And so that's a testament to the team that I have."

The 10-3 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth and enter Week 15 sitting atop the overall NFC standings. Purdy seems to care more about the Niners earning the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the postseason tournament than about his MVP candidacy. 

"If you get the first seed, you obviously get, that first round of [the] playoffs, you have that game off," Purdy explained. "And so for us, it's like, yeah, I think anybody, any team in the NFL, can look at it and be like, man, you only have to win two games to get to the big game." 

San Francisco next plays at the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals this coming Sunday. On Tuesday afternoon, oddschecker had the 49ers as 13.5-point favorites for that contest.