The Herd with Colin Cowherd 3 & Out - Brock Purdy SHINES as 49ers DEFEAT Bears on SNF + NFL Week 17 Reaction
Dec 29, 2025
Brock Purdy shines as the 49ers defeat the Bears in a thrilling Sunday Night Football clash. John Middlekauff discusses the 49ers' path to the NFC's top seed and Purdy's standout performances that could earn Coach Shanahan accolades. The conversation shifts to the Steelers' embarrassment against the Browns and the critical decisions ahead for Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers. He also highlights the impressive Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans as potential AFC Championship contenders.
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Creative Play-Calling Exploits Weak Defenses
- Kyle Shanahan and Ben Johnson can turn poor defenses into 80-point shootouts when given time and space.
- Offensive play-calling and elite running create huge scoring margins against weak defenses.
Keep Late-Game Plays Simple Near The Goal Line
- On goal-line scrambles, prioritize quick, high-probability plays instead of elaborate lateral plays.
- Avoid complex time-consuming plays late with no timeouts when one play likely wins or loses the game.
Offense Covers Defensive Shortfalls — To A Point
- The 49ers' offense carries them despite a below-average defense that ranks last in sacks.
- John Middlecoff warns they can't win a Super Bowl with that defensive level.