In Week 14 we learned that, if anything, it’s time to tighten our embrace on the Brock Purdy–led 49ers. Conor and Gary discuss how the seventh-round rookie was far from perfect in his first career start, but he’s looking like he’ll be more than enough for the 49ers to stay in the Super Bowl conversation.

Also, Justin Herbert disproves the dumbest narratives while cracks show in the Dolphins’ offense, the Lions keep piling up the points in showing why they were legitimate favorites against the 10-win Vikings, the Jaguars beat the Titans like the Titans would beat opponents (if they had Trevor Lawrence), the Cowboys survive their off-week against Houston, and the Bills and Jets in an ultra-violent matchup in which everyone lost (except for the Bills, but especially Mike White’s rib cage).

Plus, Deshaun Watson’s new kind of struggles in his second start, all the backup quarterbacks are called upon in Ravens-Steelers, Wilks-McAdoo 2023, and much more!

Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email [email protected] or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrr

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