Player A vs Player B

In lieu of having anything to root for in the NFL, let's play a game

Have you checked out BlueSky? It’s what appears to be an actual replacement for Twitter/X, without the crazy petulant rightwing owner and white nationalism! I have (if you’re so inclined, I’m here: Greebytime - Bluesky)

But I mention this not because I think it’s great and a gamechanger, etc., but because upon joining it and engaging, I realized that by not spending time on X, or much social media outside of Reddit and Instagram, I’d avoided a lot of very, very bad sports takes. What’s nice is the ones at Bluesky tend to be either ignored or rarer, but they’re there.

Anyway, it got me thinking about player evaluation and how “the media” or the general public just has preconceived notions about players and it’s so, so hard to break those. So here’s a blind comparison of Player A, and Player B. Conveniently, they are both quarterbacks who have played in six playoff games in their careers. These are their playoff stats:

It’s hard to look at most of this data and not take away a conclusion that the second player (Player B) has been a much better playoff quarterback. Higher completion rate, WAY fewer interceptions, taken significantly less sacks, etc. It’s worth noting (though it’s not above) that Player B’s record in these games is 4-2, while Player A’s is 2-4.

But, if you notice, I left the last column in there which is Fantasy Points. It’s weird, right, that Player A is so much higher given all of this? Well, that’s because of this:

Way more rushing yards (though only two extra rushing TD) - the rushing yards alone are more than the difference in points here.

Have you figured this out yet?

Player A is Lamar Jackson. Player B is Brock Purdy.

Fans of Lamar - nicknamed the Lamarmy - will defend his truly bad playoff record by saying that it’s not his fault, it’s coach John Harbaugh who calls a completely different style of game in the playoffs, and so forth. It’s NEVER Lamar’s fault that they lose in the playoffs. Honestly, the consistency of his defense is pretty impressive, if (in my opinion) misguided.

I’m not sure how it is Harbaugh’s fault that Lamar averages an interception every playoff game. I’m not sure how one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the history of the league runs himself into an average of 4 1/2 sacks a playoff game. (Sacks are often the fault of the offensive line but the offensive lines of the Ravens are consistently above average. Additionally, the 49ers offensive lines have been objectively BAD during Purdy’s entire tenure.)

I’m not here to say that Brock is a better quarterback than Lamar. But I am asking why the Lamarmy can look at the above data and not even flinch. Why is it NEVER Lamar’s fault that he collapses in the games that matter the most? Why does it not matter that after 2022, before signing a massive contract extension, Lamar chose not to travel with the team during the playoffs because he was injured? By all accounts, he’s a very good person but that wasn’t leadership. Can the Ravens be THIS bad at drafting wide receivers (maybe) or is there something off between Lamar and the modern passing game?

I realize I’m talking about a two-time MVP here, and someone who spent most of this season as the leading candidate for a third trophy. But the playoffs matter - and they SHOULD matter when we talk about player evaluation.

I’d love it if Lamar goes out and dominates this playoff - at least, to an extent. I don’t want to see the Ravens win a Super Bowl (though it would be better than the Chiefs doing it again). I’d love to see growth here, and that he can lead his team to victories in the clutch. But I feel confident that if he doesn’t, his biggest fans won’t care a whit. That’s weird, right?

Folks who aren’t fans of the 49ers laugh at how much the fanbase does revere Purdy, though two things this year have happened to calm down that a bit - the national press has finally admitted that Purdy is actually pretty good, while conversely the massive injuries the team has had across the offense - skill positions and the offensive line - have led to a few pretty bad games by Purdy, including his most recent MNF game against the Rams, which effectively eliminated the team from the playoffs. Most 49er fans I know are willing to acknowledge that Purdy isn’t great with the deep pass, and in very bad weather he’s had his worst games. That said, he played four years at Iowa State. He can play in bad weather. And this week, he was playing without Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Mason and Trent Williams, as well as with Deebo Samuel who seems to have tied literal anchors to each ankle. Creating a great game with that is hard work - and without a key Deebo drop of a surefire TD, the team probably wins despite Brock’s performance.

But for Brock detractors? This is it. This is the proof that he’s not good, doesn’t deserve a contract extension and that the Niners are foolish to still believe in him.

We need some middle ground, folks. In every way, shape or form these days. Let’s try to do better.